Top 6 Polyglot Video Game Heroes: Who’s the Most Fluent?

by

Video game languages often go beyond merely adding flavor or background ambiance. For certain characters, multilingual abilities are integral to their backstory, skillset, or survival tactics. While many main characters stick to speaking just one language, there are exceptions who could likely ace a university-level language test amidst their battles with bosses.

Some of these multilingual game characters wield language as a weapon, utilize it for diplomacy or manipulation, and a select few do so because their world necessitates it. Ranging from ancient assassins to modern archaeologists, these are the ones who can carry on a conversation in a war zone while still getting verb tenses right.

6. Claude Von Riegan

A Noble Tongue With a Global Twist

As a gamer who’s delved into the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you’d know that Claude isn’t just another charming tactician with a bow and a smile. He’s the heir to House Riegan and the leader of the Golden Deer, making him one of the most strategically brilliant minds at Garreg Mach Monastery. But what might not be immediately apparent is his linguistic prowess – a hidden depth that sets him apart as one of the most linguistically gifted characters in the Fire Emblem series.

Claude, who was originally known as Khalid, didn’t spend his childhood in Fodlan but rather grew up in Almyra, a place that many people in Fodlan look upon with mistrust, if not open hostility. This cultural divide is what led to his ability to speak multiple languages fluently. He can effortlessly move between the Almyran language and the dialect of Fodlan, while most other parts of the continent struggle to even say “Almyran” without clenching their teeth.

Beyond mere implication, it’s explicitly shown through various instances that Claude possesses the skill of fluently speaking multiple languages. He often serves as a liaison between different nations, using his linguistic abilities to strengthen political alliances and navigate complex diplomatic situations. This language proficiency is not just a casual trait but a crucial element in shaping his character’s political strategies, dialogues, and overall narrative journey.

5. Altair Ibn La’Ahad

The Hidden Blade Speaks Many Tongues

In the game “Assassin’s Creed”, before DNA memory machines became cluttered with side missions and collectible items, Altair was subtly reshaping the essence of being an assassin. A significant part of his deadliness wasn’t related to his weapon; it was his intellect.

In essence, Altair is known to be fluent in various languages due to his upbringing. Born in Masyaf to a Muslim Arab father and a Christian mother, he grew up immersed in diverse faiths, thoughts, and tongues. He’s proficient not just in Arabic but also Latin, Greek, and even an old form of Italian. The novel “Assassin’s Creed: The Secret Crusade” emphasizes this point, illustrating that Altaïr’s education encompassed reading, philosophy, theology, and numerous languages, which was quite distinct from the mute mercenaries prevalent in many games of the early 2000s.

In Assassin’s Creed 2, when Ezio discovers the pages of Altair’s Codex, it’s noted that the texts are written in a script that many can’t understand without assistance. This is because Altair didn’t write in just one language; he embedded his writings with symbols, encrypted languages, and obscure references that demanded a highly educated individual with proficiency in multiple languages to even start deciphering them.

4. Commander Shepard

Fulfilling The Many Responsibilities Of A Commander

Exploring interstellar diplomacy in Mass Effect isn’t merely about blasting aliens and wooing romance partners; it involves discussions, negotiations, and occasionally, using force to traverse the galaxy. Commander Shepard, whether Paragon or Renegade, relies on more than just charisma. They are proficient in multiple languages, though the games don’t often emphasize this skill.

In the world of Mass Effect, although a Universal Translator is employed for common conversations, it’s evident from codex entries and developer interviews that Commander Shepard is proficient in various alien tongues. Intriguingly, the Alliance military demands soldiers deployed on extraterrestrial planets to be conversant in fundamental communication methods across multiple languages, with a focus on Turian, Asari, and Salarian dialects.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed something fascinating in Mass Effect 2. During chats with some alien squadmates, there are instances where Shepard seems to understand untranslated phrases instantly – no pause, no prompt, just a natural comprehension. It’s a subtle detail, but it adds depth to the game.

Beyond battlefields, Shepard’s knack for managing intricate diplomatic situations among diverse species such as the Krogan and Salarians, as well as understanding ancient Prothean technology, is largely rooted in a multilingual talent that many Spectres likely overlook when listing their qualifications.

3. Big Boss

Language Is Just Another Battlefield

As I delve into the world of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, I’m amazed at how far language can be pushed when it becomes a tool for warfare. My character, Big Boss or Venom Snake, is no ordinary multilingual video game hero. He’s fluent in Russian, English, Spanish, French, and Pashto not to foster understanding among cultures, but to assert dominance over them.

In Metal Gear Solid 5, the game emphasizes that language serves as a tool for control, manipulation, and even biological warfare. The storyline involving vocal cord parasites centers around the concept that language can be turned into a weapon. These parasites specifically target speakers of certain languages, making Snake’s fluency in multiple languages crucial in a world where speaking could mean death.

Big Boss’ talent for comprehending various dialects is consistently evident in intelligence briefings, audio tapes, and his interactions with both locals and troops. His Diamond Dogs transcend nationality and belief systems, but they share a common skill: the ability to understand each other effectively under his leadership.

2. Geralt of Rivia

Monster Hunter, Poet, Linguist

In the world of The Witcher, it’s no surprise that many bards often compose songs about Geralt. He’s an enigma, a man who embodies paradoxes – rough yet intellectually sharp, private yet eloquent in his own way, and when he’s not wielding his sword against a monster, he’s subtly demonstrating that he possesses a linguistic repertoire that surpasses the combined knowledge of most royal courts.

In the world of The Witcher, Geralt’s linguistic skills are quite impressive. Though most of his interactions occur in Common Speech, he is fluent in Elder Speech – a language commonly used by elves, dryads, and high mages. He’s also conversant in Nilfgaardian dialects, Skellige languages, and even has a basic comprehension of gnomish and dwarven tongues.

In The Witcher 3, Geralt occasionally uses Elder Speech during conversations, particularly with sorceresses or non-human characters. This language doesn’t require translation for him; he comprehends, responds, and carries on as if it were commonplace because, to him, it essentially is.

Given his frequent encounters with cultures harboring mutual animosity, it’s quite remarkable how he manages dialogues that avoid escalating tensions, a skill often overlooked. Additionally, maintaining self-control when faced with the temptation to confront Dandelion is another impressive aspect of his character.

1. Lara Croft

The Only Tomb She Can’t Raid Is A Language She Doesn’t Know

In various timelines and restarts, Lara Croft has consistently been depicted as an individual who, at the crack of dawn, could easily be mistaken for a historian, code-breaker, or museum caretaker.

In the reboot trilogy of Tomb Raider, Lara Croft’s language abilities are intricately incorporated into the gameplay mechanics. As players progress, they can enhance her language fluency by discovering murals, inscriptions, and ancient artifacts. Regardless if it’s Greek, Mongolian, or Mayan, Lara doesn’t merely read the texts but translates them on the spot, which opens up new storylines and puzzles for exploration.

The mechanic isn’t merely for aesthetic purposes; it directly showcases Lara Croft’s academic background. Being an alumna of renowned schools such as Gordonstoun and Newnham College, Cambridge, Lara is not only well-educated but also self-taught in various languages, a fact evident in her numerous journals across different titles. In the game Shadow of the Tomb Raider, she even conducts conversations fluently in Yucatec Maya without the aid of a translator.

Read More

2025-03-15 13:35