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In light of the recent release of Dragon Quest VIII, and my even more recent purchase of it, I started thinking about games that have silent heroes. Silent heroes, to me, are characters that either don't say much at all or spend an entire game saying "Yes", "No" or some other predefined phrases that you get to choose from. I find stories with silent heroes rather enjoyable, because it interests me how well, or how poorly, a plot can develop with the main character so limited. In the past week, I've noticed a few people complain about the fact that the hero in Dragon Quest VIII doesn't say anything. So I thought I'd analyze several games that pulled off the silent hero.
Earthbound. Nothing beats saving the world as a boy in a red cap that doesn't complain when you send him wandering aimlessly through the hot desert or make him wear a pig's nose through the deep darkness. I feel that Ness is a pretty likable character in Earthbound, regardless of the fact that he doesn't talk at all. In fact, I can't imagine the game any other way. While your other party members talk occasionally, the majority of the story is told through NPCs that you meet throughout the game. Important plot points are discovered by speaking with the right person at the right time.
Chrono Trigger. Everyone loves Chrono Trigger. Well, maybe not everyone, but the vast majority do. Crono is probably one of the most well rounded characters from the SNES era. I am sure a lot of people got very upset when Lavos killed him in the Zeal Kingdom. And though it was only little 8-bit images, the scene that followed Crono's revival was, as I recall, very heartfelt. Even without dialogue. It just goes to show you can fall in love with a character that doesn't say much.
Legend of Zelda. Then there's Link. You have to admire him for never complaining once, even though he is destined to save Princess Zelda in every one of his incarnations. With little more to say than a few battle cries, Link is another classic character that everyone has grown to love. Through each game, characters get a chance to help Link save Hyrule or, in some cases, an alternate world. His background is a little less in depth than other silent heroes, but it is made up for with all the skills that he learns and the items he can use. He is everyone's favorite fairy boy.
Breath of Fire. I find that out of all the games I've played, though, Ryu is one of the best silent heroes I've seen. His story, in every generation, has been the most in depth. His friends, through their dialogue, reveal how he is feeling every step of the way. He has a hidden drive to save the world, and a strength of character like no other. Through the first three games of the series, players come to an understanding of how or why Ryu sets out on such an epic journey. Even in the fourth installment, which breaks away from the traditional Breath of Fire theme, Ryu still has the same drive and sense of purpose. Every thought or emotion he has is revealed in an artistic way, leaving no rock unturned by the end of each story. Even in Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter, Ryu returns with his same sense of purpose, this time to see the light of day. Though it is in no way a traditional Breath of Fire game, he keeps up his strength of character as more is revealed with each playthrough.
Dragon Quest VIII. While I am only around thirty hours into the game now, and the hero is still a mystery to me, I am finding that the silent hero approach brings a lot to the game so far. This game, more than any other that takes on the silent hero, makes the player feel like they are the hero of the game. Choices that are made bring on different reactions from certain NPCs, bosses, or random creatures that are wandering in the dungeons. While the options are still "Yes", "No" and the occasional pregenerated response, even after falling in battle, the choices you make affect how some NPCs react to you. King Trode even reacts to you based on your habits that develop early in the game. I often get scolded for taking too long to make any real progress in the journey.
Other games, such as Secret of Mana and Chrono Cross pull off the silent hero. It is a common theme in games and I will be happy if that theme continues through the next generation. Some people might not like that, as voice acting becomes the norm, the hero doesn't talk. However, I am finding that when it is done well, the silent hero still brings more to the table than a game without one. Important details about the hero must be revealed in some other, often times artistic, way that makes the game feel more complete.
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