• A new LGBTQ+ forum is now being trialed and there have been changes made to the Support and Advice forum. To read more about these updates, click here.
  • Hey Trainers! Be sure to check out Corsola Beach, our newest section on the forums, in partnership with our friends at Corsola Cove! At the Beach, you can discuss the competitive side of the games, post your favorite Pokemon memes, and connect with other Pokemon creators!
  • Due to the recent changes with Twitter's API, it is no longer possible for Bulbagarden forum users to login via their Twitter account. If you signed up to Bulbagarden via Twitter and do not have another way to login, please contact us here with your Twitter username so that we can get you sorted.

Do you think a talking protagonist with an established personality would work in a Pokémon game?

No, especially not now they've made the PC a customisable avatar for the player. Had they done this early on in the series, sure... But Pokemon just isn't a franchise where you play as the same character every time, unlike the Mario franchise or LoZ (sure, technically we get a different incarnation of Link every time, but still it's always Link).

That said, allowing us to give the protag a personality through choices we make would be pretty rad. Do you consistently pick the snarky replies? Well, NPC's might like you a whole lot less. Trying to avoid helping people out? They might see you as lazy. Always picking the 'brave' option and rushing headfirst into danger? People could consider you reckless.

I think there's definitely some room to play around with this
 
I don't think it's necessary or desirable for a main series protagonist to be voiced or have a pre-determined personality. More dialogue options and dialogue trees would be nice - you could have a system where the way you interact with your rival or the evil team leader would affect the way they view and address you, for example - but Pokemon isn't Mass Effect. We need to recall that the series is, ultimately, intended for children, and the blank protagonist is important for the purposes of immersion and wish-fulfillment for children. If GameFreak was to change anything about the way the protagonist is handled, I'd rather they implement a full character creator rather than voiced dialogue.

Now, in a spinoff game, sure, go wild. The Mystery Dungeon games already have pre-set dialogue and personality for the protagonist and it works fine for them.
 
Please note: The thread is from 5 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
Back
Top Bottom