Zelda: Ocarina of Time Player Spots NPC Who Looks Like Ganondorf’s Voice Actor

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time features a non-playable character (NPC) that bears a striking resemblance to Matthew Mercer, the talented voice actor known for his portrayal of Ganondorf. Prior to the release of Breath of the Wild in 2017, the Zelda series was largely devoid of voice acting. While Link has continued to be a silent protagonist in newer games, iconic characters like Zelda, Impa, and Ganondorf finally spoke in the latest installments. Interestingly, a dedicated fan recently pointed out that a minor NPC from Ocarina of Time might have predicted the character’s voice actor long before Mercer stepped into the role.

Matthew Mercer is widely celebrated as the Dungeon Master for the hit web series Critical Role, and his distinctive features—like chin-length hair and blue eyes—are not only noticeable but also mirrored in the appearance of this NPC. The similarities extend to Mercer’s charming smile, adding to the uncanny connection.

i keep getting jumpscared by matthew mercer running the ocarina of time items shop pic.twitter.com/kMYwIQkgRf — martie ð&Yuml;&OElig;¨ï¸\u008f (@leafspirits) January 26, 2025

Matt Mercer’s Connection to The Legend of Zelda Series

Mercer Played Ganondorf in a Web Series Long Before His Zelda Role

While it’s purely coincidental that Mercer shares traits with the NPC, given that he was only 14 years old at the time of Ocarina of Time’s release, he does have a unique connection to the franchise. Notably, Mercer portrayed Ganondorf in a live-action web series titled There Will Be Brawl, which featured darker takes on popular Nintendo characters from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He later officially voiced Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and even hosted a Zelda-themed one-shot on his Critical Role channel.

A prolific voice actor, Mercer has lent his talent to a myriad of video games and animated series, including Chrom in the Fire Emblem franchise and Vincent Valentine in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. His impressive portfolio extends into the anime realm, where he has voiced characters like Taro Sakamoto in the recently released Sakamoto Days on Netflix. While he may not appear in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it’s intriguing to note that his likeness was included in the animated series The Legend of Vox Machina, based on Critical Role.

Our Perspective: A Fascinating Connection

Ocarina of Time’s NPC: An Amazing, Yet Unintentional Coincidence

Matt Mercer poses with Baldur's Gate 3 characters — Custom Image by Bruno Yonezawa

As a long-time fan of Critical Role, I was truly taken aback when I stumbled upon this NPC that looks just like Mercer. The discovery prompted me to verify its authenticity, as the resemblance was astonishingly close.

While I’m not claiming that the unnamed Medicine Shop Man inspired Mercer’s signature style, it’s certainly poetic how a character in a game created over 25 years prior to Mercer’s involvement in the franchise bears such a resemblance to him. This parallels the concept of video game inception and demonstrates how influential storytelling and character design can ripple through time across different media.

Source: X/leafspirits

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