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The Silent Protagonist

Analyse what makes a silent protagonist work and what doesn't: when does a game benefit from having one? When does it not? What are some instances where a silent protagonist could have been better as a speaking one, or vice versa?

Or maybe, what warrants the use of a silent protagonist, particularly in plot-heavy, character-driven series' like Persona? How are they characterised, if at all, and why?

  • Could look at Link in The Legend of Zelda as well! – Sean Gadus 5 years ago
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  • There's also the case where silent protagonists stop becoming silent in the series, such as Jak in Jak and Daxter. – Emily Deibler 5 years ago
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  • One could consider the role of the silent protagonist’s “silence” as it pertains to immersive purposes. Some silent characters are not only mute—they have no explicit Idiosyncrasies or traits to establish themselves as full characters. Others, like Link in “The Wind Waker,” have more a sense of character through facial expressions and other complex reactive behaviors to story and gameplay elements. Exploring this dichotomy can prove useful in answering the question of the benefit of a silent protagonist. – James Polk 5 years ago
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