Though it might have been inevitable, hearing Ganondorf's voice for the first time in the latest trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has put the sequel in a tricky position. When it was announced Breath of the Wild would 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 in Breath of the Wild, his return in Tears of the Kingdom means the Demon King was overdue a voice.
Since he's a character so vital to the Zelda series and its most iconic villain, getting Ganondorf's voice right will be difficult. While the inspiration behind Princess Zelda's voice and other characters were informed by Nintendo's creative direction and the input from actors and actresses, many of BotW'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 Kingdom will need a voice that can do Ganondorf justice.
Why Ganondorf's Voice Matters
Ganondorf has had many different versions throughout Zelda, ranging from his iconic and predominant appearances in the likes of Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess to the more unusual pig-like depictions seen in A Link to the Past and even with Calamity Ganon in Breath 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 in Twilight Princess' Ganondorf, to Wind Waker's self-assured and grandiose incarnation. Though fans only heard a little of Ganondorf in The 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 letting Tears of the Kingdom have a chance to prove itself before fans make any snap judgments could avoid the backlash Breath of the Wild suffered for no good reason. After the criticism Princess Zelda's voice actress received, 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 from Breath of the Wild and applying it to Tears of the Kingdom.
However, fans might think twice about criticizing Tears of the Kingdom's choice of voice actor for Ganondorf, as the highly seasoned Matt Mercer appears to be in the role. Some of his most notable work includes playing Overwatch's Cole Cassidy and leading Critical Role as 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 in Tears of the Kingdom is likely going to impress regardless of how different it is.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
