Though it might have been inevitable, hearing Ganondorf’s voice for the first time in the latest trailer forThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomhas put the sequel in a tricky position. When it was announcedBreath of the Wildwould introduce voice acting, it was met with initial skepticism and even criticism from some fans, but the game’s success has since proved Nintendo was right to make the change. But after Ganon didn’t have – or even need – any lines inBreath of the Wild, his return inTears of the Kingdommeans the Demon King was overdue a voice.
Since he’s a character so vital to theZeldaseries and its most iconic villain, getting Ganondorf’s voice right will be difficult. While theinspiration behind Princess Zelda’s voiceand other characters were informed by Nintendo’s creative direction and the input from actors and actresses, many ofBotW’s characters don’t bear the same kind of canonical weight that Ganondorf does. Between his previous appearances in and out of the Zelda series, including his voice foley, and his current design,Tears of the Kingdomwill need a voice that can do Ganondorf justice.
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Why Ganondorf’s Voice Matters
Ganondorf has had many different versions throughoutZelda, ranging from his iconic and predominant appearances in the likes ofOcarina of TimeandTwilight Princessto the more unusual pig-like depictions seen inA Link to the Pastand even with Calamity Ganon inBreath of the Wild. Therefore, as the series' main recurring villain and with numerous attempts to create an all-new and awe-inspiring design, Nintendo has gradually built a deep and comprehensive image of Ganondorf in players' minds. Especially given that Link never speaks, their confrontations are often prime opportunities for Ganondorf to wax poetic and become the star.
As a result, even without giving him an actual voice, fans already have an idea about who Ganondorf is, what he is like, and what drives him. Unlike building a character from scratch and organically developing their voice, Nintendo is faced with the challenge of finding a voice that fits these expectations. Whether it is reflective of the arrogant omnipotence seen inTwilight Princess' Ganondorf, toWind Waker’sself-assured and grandioseincarnation. Though fans only heard a little of Ganondorf inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s too soon to say if he aligns with these previous versions.
Give Tears of the Kingdom’s Ganondorf A Chance
It might seem a redundant conclusion to make, but lettingTears of the Kingdomhave a chance to prove itself before fans make any snap judgments could avoid the backlashBreath of the Wildsuffered for no good reason. Afterthe criticism Princess Zelda’s voice actressreceived, her response to this negativity was an optimistic one, stating that she and other voice actors only want to help deliver the best experience for any game. Therefore, it would be worthwhile taking this experience fromBreath of the Wildand applying it toTears of the Kingdom.
However, fans might think twice about criticizingTears of the Kingdom’schoice of voice actor for Ganondorf, as the highly seasoned Matt Mercer appears to be in the role. Some of his most notable work includes playingOverwatch’sCole Cassidy and leadingCritical Roleas its main Dungeon Master, which altogether makes Mercer a well-liked and celebrated voice actor. Since Nintendo wouldn’t leave one of its most iconic villains to chance, by using Mercer as an already proven and popular voice actor, his performance as Ganondorf inTears of the Kingdomis likely going to impress regardless of how different it is.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis set to release onMay 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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