In the closing hours of the Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2, a silent hero breaks his long stillness with a single word. As Link and Zelda flee a collapsing Ganon's Castle, he hauls her to safety and speaks the Japanese "saa," a small human call of "come on" that marks the first time the mainline series has let its protagonist's voice be heard. The moment is brief and tucked away from English ears, yet it arrives just as a live-action Link prepares to speak on screen, suggesting that even a silent character may be learning how to sound.
Link Speaks His First Voice-Acted Word in Ocarina of Time Remake, but Only in Japanese
Link finally speaks, but only in Japanese
Mark
So Link finally speaks. Why is one word such a big deal?
Mimi
Because he's been silent for decades. Players only ever heard grunts and shouts. Now, at the escape from Ganon's Castle, he says "saa" to Zelda as he grabs her after a Hookshot.
Mark
What does the word mean?
Mimi
Roughly "come on" or "let's go." It's short, but it's the first voice-acted line in the mainline series.
Luke
Worth noting the "first" is carefully scoped. It's mainline games only, and the cartoon is excluded. Wind Waker also had a shout that sounded like "come on," but it may just have been a wordless call.
Mark
And English players don't get it in English?
Mimi
They don't get it at all in English. Shou Komura voices adult Link in every version, so the word stays Japanese.
Luke
Right, though the reason given for that is the outlet's reading. Nintendo hasn't been quoted explaining why there's no dub, so fan service and cost are interpretations.
Mark
What about the movie connection?
Mimi
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link in the film, due April 30, 2027. The timing invites the idea that Nintendo is easing audiences into a talking Link.
Luke
That's speculation. The article says it makes sense, but there's no statement from Nintendo tying the two. Also, the claim that Link will speak in the film is phrased as almost certain, not confirmed.
O Pulso
- Link and Zelda are trapped with the only escape a single Hookshot target, and the stakes of the castle flight peak in a heartbeat.
- A word long denied to the silent protagonist finally breaks through: a voice-acted "saa" spoken as he sweeps Zelda into his arms.
- The line is Japanese-only, voiced by Shou Komura, so English-speaking players will miss the moment entirely.
- The timing lands against the April 30, 2027 live-action Zelda film, where a speaking Link is expected to be seen and heard.
In the closing hours of the Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2, a silent hero breaks his long stillness with a single word. As Link and Zelda flee a collapsing Ganon's Castle, he hauls her to safety and speaks the Japanese "saa," a small human call of "come on" that marks the first time the mainline series has let its protagonist's voice be heard. The moment is brief and tucked away from English ears, yet it arrives just as a live-action Link prepares to speak on screen, suggesting that even a silent character may be learning how to sound.
Near the end of the Ocarina of Time remake on Nintendo Switch 2, Link and Princess Zelda are racing out of Ganon's Castle when the path ahead closes. Only one Hookshot target remains. Link fires, gathers Zelda into his arms, and speaks: "saa," roughly "come on" or "let's go." It is the first voice-acted line Link has ever given in a mainline Legend of Zelda game, a notable break for a character who has long stayed silent, his words left to selectable choices or the player's imagination.
The word exists in only one language. Adult Link is voiced by Japanese actor Shou Komura in every release, and since this is his only spoken line, it stays in Japanese everywhere. English-speaking players won't hear it. The likely reading is a small piece of fan service, a single word not worth hiring extra actors for across the dubs, though its soft determination suits the character.
The timing draws attention. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link in the live-action film due April 30, 2027, and that version is expected to speak. This is the first Zelda game released since the movie was announced, so the outlet suggests Nintendo may be easing audiences toward a talking Link. That remains an inference, not a stated plan.
Near the end of the Ocarina of Time remake on Nintendo Switch 2, Link and Princess Zelda are fleeing Ganon's Castle and reach a point where the way forward is shut. The only option is a single Hookshot target. Link fires, scoops Zelda into his arms, and says a word out loud: "saa."
It is the first voice-acted line Link has spoken in the mainline Legend of Zelda games. The word is Japanese and translates roughly to "come on" or "let's go." The animated cartoon doesn't count, as CBR points out, because this is a first for the video game series itself.
For decades Link has been a silent protagonist. He can technically talk in every game, but players never hear it. His dialogue shows up as selectable choices or is left to the player's imagination, which has helped make him a convenient stand-in for whoever holds the controller. In the original N64 Ocarina of Time, the only sounds players heard from him were his grunts and shouts.
The catch is that the word exists in only one language. Zelda and the other characters have English voice actors in the English version, but adult Link is voiced by one person in every release: Japanese voice actor Shou Komura. Because Link has essentially no other spoken dialogue, there was only this one word to record, and it stays in Japanese everywhere. English-language players will not hear it.
The likely reading, according to the report, is that the line is a small piece of fan service placed near the end of the game. It apparently wasn't worth hiring separate actors to deliver a single word across the game's other dubs. The reporting says the soft-spoken determination in the delivery suits the character.
There is one earlier moment that comes close. In Wind Waker, Link can shout something that sounds like "come on" or "come along" in the Earth Temple. That may have been simply a wordless shout to get his companions' attention, but it was the nearest the series came to letting him speak before now.
The timing stands out. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link in the live-action Legend of Zelda film, and the report expects that version of the character to speak. This is the first Zelda game Nintendo has released since the movie was announced, so the article suggests the company may have wanted to begin establishing that Link can talk. That is the outlet's inference, not something Nintendo has said.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is available now, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. The live-action Legend of Zelda movie arrives in theaters on April 30, 2027, when audiences will hear how Link sounds on screen.
Citações Notáveis
The word was likely meant as fan service but wasn't worth hiring multiple actors for the other dubs.— Comic Book Resources (the outlet's interpretation)
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