I was just wondering because I absolutely cannot stand having a silent protagonist to the point that it ruins the game for me sometimes. I can't help but thing games like Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and the Breath of Fire series would be infinitely better if the main characters actually had somewhat of a personality and said something once in awhile. I think the main character should be the one the player gets the most attached to, but maybe that's just me.

One good thing about a silent protagonist is you never have to worry about them being annoying as hell like Tidus and Vahn... :\

I want them to talk! If they don't say anything or don't have any personality, they are not really a "character". Also, this appears to exist a little bit in Persona 3 but not a huge amount. :D

I don't like/prefer silent protagonist.

I want them to talk!

I agree they should talk, but I would never change anything about chrono trigger or Chrono Cross. But after those, there shouldn't have been silent characters.

How come you want them to talk but don't like Crono from Chrono Trigger talking? Also, was there talking in Chrono Cross by the main character? I haven't played that game much.

yeah i think they should talk.

in ffx they made it so that no one ever said the main characters name. as weird as that sounds, i think it actually made you feel more like the character that way. even though he spoke.



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I really don't mind whether protagonists are silent, or not. Sometimes it's quite humorous to see how they communicate with other characters, especially via pantomiming.

I really don't mind whether protagonists are silent, or not. Sometimes it's quite humorous to see how they communicate with other characters, especially via pantomiming.

Don't really mind, as long as the game has a good story that far makes up for any line the main protagonist might have had. At least a silent hero won't run the risk of being annoying, having a poorly chosen voice actor, or lame lines. Of course, this implies extra effort to make sure they don't have the personality of a cardboard box, but a good designer/producer/etc can get the job done.

The Ryus from BoF were always great characters and the only things coming out of their mouths were grunts or yells when they transformed.

Crono, from Chrono Trigger, is perhaps the best example.

I prefer a protagonist that has a little character, so no, I don't prefer the silent protagonist.

How come you want them to talk but don't like Crono from Chrono Trigger talking? Also, was there talking in Chrono Cross by the main character? I haven't played that game much.

Read the post again dude, its not that hard to understand. I said "I wouldn't change anything about CT"

One good thing about a silent protagonist is you never have to worry about them being annoying as hell like Tidus and Vahn... :\

Yes, that is why I prefer the silent protagonist. But Vahn wasn't so bad.

Also: I'M BASCH!

One good thing about a silent protagonist is you never have to worry about them being annoying as hell like Tidus and Vahn... :\

...or like all the characters in Skies of Arcadia, even though they only make grunts, giggles and cheers, etc. lol

...or like all the characters in Skies of Arcadia, even though they only make grunts, giggles and cheers, etc. lol

Oh man that was annoying as hell. They should've just muted them entirely.

Anyway, I can't say I actually prefer the silent protagonist, but when the developers make that choice, it's usually the right one. The only game where I actually got annoyed by it was Digital Devil Saga. Serph should've just had a voice. But in other games like Persona 3 and Dragon Quest VIII (actually, I shut off everybody's voices after about 5 hours because they were too damn slow), it's fine with me.

Don't know if he counts as a silent protagonist exactly, but I liked Squall until like the rest of FFVIII he started going severly downhill in disc 3 with his retarded development. Converesely, I hated Paine of FFX-2 for much of the game until the later chapters where she becomes more than just an annoying sounding archetype.

I have to agree with Portuguese Colossus. If the game's well scripted, quieter characters can be good. If it's badly scripted, they can be equally woeful.

it can sometimes be a little annoyed if the protagonist is silent, for example in suikoden V, all he does is either smile, nod and frown

I tend to prefer games with silent protagonists, at least if the alternative is non-selectable, or very narrow/linear dialog.

With a silent protagonist your imagination, as well as the words and actions of those around the character, fills in the blanks; makes the game more personal and more immersive, in my opinion.

I just adjust to the protagonists personality and never really get annoyed with it, only with people who aren't main characters.

I think the main character should be the one the player gets the most attached to

You do get to be most attached to them, because you literally take their role, i.e. "Role Playing Game". It's the intended notion of the entire genre concept. That's the thing that seems to be the problem. You guys--especially new school fellas--really miss the point. It's not a silent protagonist, it's just the vessel for your actions and decisions. It's the avatar for your role in the events of the game. He doesn't "lack personality" unless YOU lack personality. The avatar's relationship with the events of the game are yours.

I find it strange that you guys claim to value character role and development when you're apparently so detatched from the material in the first place. You're not supposed to treat videogames like movies. If you just want to witness completely 3rd person events take place in front of you, put down the controller. You're supposed to get involved, hence the interactive nature of the medium.

Being able to transpose your own personality on a character due to lack of development in the game is not a characteristic of role-playing. Role-playing is about free-form creation and development of a character. In that sense, very few games that claim the title are even RPGs in the first place; they're more like bloated adventure games.

sometimes if the main character is a female it makes me feel like i am a lesbian or something

Being able to transpose your own personality on a character due to lack of development in the game is not a characteristic of role-playing.

It is certainly a characteristic. It may not be the sole characteristic, but it is among the core concepts.

Anyway, this still has nothing to do with "lack of development." They're not characters, they're avatars. We're not talking about characters with bad dialogue and underdeveloped personality that inspire us to use our imaginations to make up for their failings. This is characters with no voice of their own whatsoever, specifically for the purpose of allowing us to fill that void in with our own.

I don't really mind. To me, the important thing about a RPG are the story, gameplay and controls. I don't mind if the game lacks eye/ear candy (although it's a different matter if the graphics/sound/music/controls are total crap that it hurts your eyes/ears).

So yeah, I don't mind.

It is certainly a characteristic. It may not be the sole characteristic, but it is among the core concepts.

Anyway, this still has nothing to do with "lack of development." They're not characters, they're avatars. We're not talking about characters with bad dialogue and underdeveloped personality that inspire us to use our imaginations to make up for their failings. This is characters with no voice of their own whatsoever, specifically for the purpose of allowing us to fill that void in with our own.

Honestly, I'd love to have this discussion with you, but I seem to be trying rather hard to confuse myself, so I'll sit back for a bit until I figure it out.

If a character is "silent" and it fits up with the rest of the game, than it`s alright... But if it doesn`t fit up with the whole game then it`s shit... Talking about Cloud, or Squall.... They were kinda "silent" ones, but look how great those games are, and how cool those characters turned out to be!

I like silent characters really much... Maybe because they kinda remind me myself... Standing at a school`s corridor not even thinking to pay attention to anyone who`s talking to me...

Talking about Cloud, or Squall.... They were kinda "silent" ones, but look how great those games are, and how cool those characters turned out to be!

Quoted to preserve for future generations: an example of why being a fankid is bad.

JUST BECAUSE YOU ACT LIKE CLOUD OR SQUALL IN REAL LIFE IT NO MEANS THEY ARE COOLIO BIG DADDY MCFLY

TO ME THEY ARE COOL AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU PEOPLE! I AM LIKE I AM...

I`ve been like that even when I didn`t know who Cloud or Squall is.... FF made my life better, not ruined it... geesh... And the thread name says " Does anyone actually prefer the silent protagonist?" I just answered, that I DO PREFER THEM!

Serph annoyed the hell out of me in DDS; He's supposed to lead this hard-ass clan, but he barely says a word. Heat was cool as shit though. Ryu was pretty cool in the BoF series too, even though he was ridiculously linear.

I only like silent protagonists when the alternative is Tidus or Vanilla. Otherwise, I'd prefer someone with more character any day of the week.