The only real problem I have with voice acting in Zelda is that, at least for me, the games don't seem intended to provide a cinematic experience. I've always felt the atmosphere of the games to be more comparable to reading a story book or a fairy tale, following the lore and immersing yourself in the world, rather than watching scene after scene unfold. And part of that, I think, is allowing your imagination to fill in some of the blanks. I wouldn't be averse to the games attempting some experimentation into that cinematic quality realm, as long as the core gameplay and formula weren't drastically altered. I just think it's a very narrow line to cross, trying to provide that experience without sacrificing what really makes the games what they are.
As for Link though, he really needs to actually talk before they can consider including him in a voice cast. XD
I know Nintendo's track record with voice acting is spotty at best but they shouldn't just give up.
Actually, just having played Kid Icarus: Uprising, I'd say Nintendo's starting to wise up in that area. They fully out-sourced the English voice acting for that game, and I actually found the voice acting to be pretty enjoyable. No one really famous (err as famous as voice actors get anyway), but it did include some relatively well-known VAs, like Ali Hillis and Troy Baker. If they went with a cast like that in a voice-acted Zelda game, I think I'd be pretty impressed. Just as long as they don't do it in-house.
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...I don't think is a problem considering his name is canonically Link and that's what everyone calls him.
Hmm, I don't know if I'd agree with that. Everyone calls him that, sure, and it's his name in the manga canon, but he's really intended to be an avatar for the player. It's why the character doesn't talk (other than interjections and occasional short commands), and also why the game lets you name him. I recall reading somewhere that the character was supposed to be the "link" between the game and the player, which further cements him as actual avatar character (versus a regular action RPG hero, I guess).
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Still I'm excited I only just recently got into Zelda (only played Ocarina of Time for the first time last year). I do kind of wish they'd go back to a style like Wind Waker though that was my favourite art style and it's guaranteed to not age as technology increases.
Welcome to the fandom!
And yeah, I also loved Wind Waker's art style. I felt like I was playing in a painting or something! Skyward Sword also really appealed to me, though the art wasn't quite the same as WW. I really wished they'd go in that direction in a future console release, but judging by how Twilight Princess sold, and the reception the Wii U demo got, it seems like more fans like that darker, more realistic style. Which is a shame, since I prefer a more animated style over photo-realism. Though I suppose I'd like to play it before coming to conclusions.
It's on sale for ~$25 on Amazon right now, which is a pretty good deal, considering it's priced at around $40, and fans were spending twice that to get the Japanese version before this localization was announced.
