We think that there’s something to be said for the strong and silent type. Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. Sometimes, introductions peter out and we just get on with the list of our favorite silent protagonists in gaming.
Chell (Portal)
The choice between Chell and Half-Life’s Gordan Freeman was surprisingly simple. When you’re playing as Freeman, it’s implied that he had a pretty normal social life before everything went to hell. He’s employed as a scientist, after all; it’d be nearly impossible for him not to interact with people both on and off the clock.
Chell, meanwhile, is pretty much locked up by herself. We don’t know for sure what her origins are, but she has no one to talk to but a psychotic, murderous robot. Having to survive on pure instinct, her ability to constantly foil certain death despite no experience with the outside world is damned impressive.
Yu Narukami (Persona 4)
That’s the name that Persona 4’s protagonist was given in the official anime, but you can name him whatever you want — I went with Walter Danger. Walter (I’m calling him Walter, so deal) is an outsider, like so many others. He’s just living with his uncle for a year in the sleepy town of Inaba, and he has to quickly make friends at a new school.
Walter managed to do this with flying colors. Not only did he become friends with a great group of misfits, but he was also a beacon for them to overcome their personal demons. He was their rock. Most of all, he can kick a shadow’s ass like no one’s business. He’s especially good at that last one.
Red/Ash (Pokemon)
This entry can really be about any of the Pokemon protagonists over the years as they’re all treated more or less the same, but our hearts truly belong to the very first Pokemon Master. Once again, you can call him whatever you wish, but the cartoon went with Ash, so we will too.
In Pokemon Red and Blue, Ash went on a perilous journey through various caves, forests, and several major cities in the Kanto region, all despite being a child. He was able to capture and tame all manner of Pokemon, including imposing creatures that almost any other child would run away from. On top of that, he single-handedly took down a major crime syndicate. What did you do when you were still in elementary school? Not all of that, I bet.
Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)
Welcome to the most depressing entry on the list! Wander rides into a mysterious temple with a girl named Mono. She seems to be quite dead, but that’s pretty much all we know about her. What we do know is that Wander wants her back, and he embarks on a rather shady quest to do so.
Wander is told that slaying all of the colossi across the mysterious land is his ticket to getting her back, and he obliges, purely out of love for her. It quickly becomes clear that these towering beasts present no danger to anyone except Wander, and that’s only because he’s stabbing them all in the head.
Wait, Wander’s kind of a dick, right?
Link (The Legend of Zelda)
Finally, we have the ultimate silent protagonist. He’s been around for over 25 years, and we’ve heard nary a peep from Link. Well, except for various grunts and cries that come over the course of battle.
This pointy-eared elf has been an industry mainstay because, despite his utter lack of communication skills, Link has always shown tremendous courage and ingenuity in the face of doom and gloom, time and time again. I mean, technically it’s a different Link in most games, but they all display the same heroic traits.
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By Joe Garcia
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