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Shulk
Xenoblade Chroniclescharacter
Artwork of Shulk, a young, blond man wearing a wine red vest and carrying a red sword
Shulk as depicted inXenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
First appearanceXenoblade Chronicles(2010)
Created byTetsuya Takahashi
Voiced byEN:Adam Howden[1]
JP:Shintarō Asanuma[1]

Shulk[a]is a character and protagonist ofMonolith Soft's 2010role-playing video gameXenoblade Chronicles,part of theXenoblade Chroniclesseries of video games. Shulk gained an increase in attention and popularity upon his inclusion inNintendo's 2014 crossoverfighting gamesSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DSandWii U.While futureXenobladeentries are not centered around Shulk,Xenoblade Chronicles Xfeatures acharacter creation toolthat allows the player to create characters that resemble Shulk, complete with both of his voice actorsAdam HowdenandShintaro Asanuma,and he was featured indownloadable content(DLC) forXenoblade Chronicles 2andXenoblade Chronicles 3.

Tetsuya Takahashi,the game's creator, wanted to make Shulk a more likable and sympathetic protagonist than those seen in most Japaneserole-playing video games.Takahashi thought that because JRPGs take such a large emotional commitment to finish, the more pessimistic and cynical main character type makes the player detest them.

The character has received a mixed reception fromvideo game publications.Although he has received recognition for his vision and convictions among his friends, he has also faced criticism for lacking personality.

Conception and creation[edit]

Tetsuya Takahashi,creator of theXenoseries,Xenoblade Chronicles,and Shulk, states that his primary motivation in creating Shulk was to make a more likeable and relatable protagonist than in mostJapaneserole-playing video games.[2][3]Xenobladefeatured a prolonged, four-year development cycle dating back to 2006, with Takahashi stating that although the game went through many changes, the overarching plot following Shulk remained largely the same.[4]Takahashi believed that the more negative and jadedJRPGmain character type leads the player to resent them due to the emotional investment required to complete such long games.[2][3]Takahashi worked withanimewriter Yuichiro Takeda on Shulk's creation, with Takeda feeling that the easiest way to make Shulk likeable would be to make him asilent protagonist.[5]However, Takahashi rejected this idea, feeling that it hurt the character's ability to "resonate with the player".[5]Ultimately, Takahashi went in the opposite direction, making Shulk's positive interactions and words of encouragement a focus of the game.[5]Takahashi tried to make Shulk react to in-game events as much as he thought game players would react to them.Nintendo's team ofdebuggers,the "Super Mario Club",assured Takahashi that he was on the right track for his goal.[2]Takashi stated that inXenoblade Chronicles,there was no character design artwork; instead, there were costume drawings for the characters' outfits. This meant that they had to construct CG character models to match the costume ideas. Furthermore, the only artwork produced featuring those characters were altered versions of the CG models; there was no concept art.[6]During the interview, Co-producer Genki Yokota stated that Shulk debuting in theSuper Smash Bros.series helped to attract new eyes to the brand and emphasized the importance of introducing these characters to an audience unfamiliar with RPGs.[7]

In English, Shulk isvoicedbyAdam Howden.He was given instructions on how to portray Shulk, largely that he should have aneutral Englishaccent, which was intelligent, "notposh",and fierce when necessary.[8]Howden was never given a full script of the game so he could more realistically sound surprised at the game's plot twists,[8]but was informed of the story progression shortly before he would have to voice it so he would not sound baffled.[8]In Japanese, Shulk is voiced byShintarō Asanuma.[1]Having not played the character on a regular basis for many years, Asanuma admitted to feeling anxious. Furthermore, he stated that he believed he had evolved during the previous ten years, acquiring voice acting skills and altering his breathing pattern. He thought that he had purposefully adjusted several aspects ofXenoblade Chronicles 2to give it a more "senior feel" to them. During his portrayal of Shulk, he made a particular effort to highlight his innocence.[9]

Appearances[edit]

Shulk debuted inXenoblade(2010) as the game's primaryprotagonist,portrayed as favoring "brains over brawn".[10][11]He lost his parents 14 years prior to the game's events during an expedition for the Monado, a powerful sword that only a select few can wield. Shulk lives in Colony 9, one of the two remaining Homs settlements, where he works as an engineer and studies the Monado. The story follows his quest to defend his homeland from the Mechon after they attack Colony 9 and kill his childhood friend and love interest Fiora, during which he succeeds Dunban as the Monado's wielder.[12][3]The Monado allows Shulk to glimpse the near future.[13]The game follows Shulk's quest to stop the Mechon and avenge Fiora and his struggle to understand his visions and change the future for the better, while uncovering the Monado's origin and hidden capabilities.[12]With the current universe threatened with death, Alvis asks Shulk to remake the universe as its new god. Shulk declines and wishes for a world without gods, where everyone can decide their own fates.[14]In the new universe, the survivors of Bionis and Mechonis build a new settlement and live peacefully together. Fiora is restored to her Homs form, and she and Shulk look forward to meeting the people of their boundless new world.[15]Optional side missions cover smaller quirks in Shulk's personality, such as a distaste for vegetables and fear of caterpillars.[3]

In August 2014, a handheld port ofXenoblade Chronicles,titledXenoblade Chronicles 3D,was announced for Nintendo'sNew Nintendo 3DSsystem, with Shulk reprising his role as the main character.[16]InXenoblade Chronicles: Future Connected(2020), an epilogue campaign added to theDefinitive Editionrelease of the game, Shulk assists his friend Melia in retaking Alcamoth, the capitol city of the birdlike High Entia race.[17]

Shulk, along with Fiora, appears inXenoblade Chronicles 2's"Challenge Mode"downloadable content(DLC) (2017), where they are playable as "Blades" — side characters directed during battle.[18]An older version of Shulk appears as one of the playable party members inXenoblade Chronicles 3'sFuture Redeemed(2022) story expansion. Set between the events ofFuture ConnectedandXenoblade Chronicles 3,Shulk joinsXenoblade Chronicles 2protagonist Rex in founding the Liberators, a rebel group that opposes the Moebius, who threaten the newly-merged world of Aionios.[19][20]Nikol, the son of Shulk and Fiora, also appears as a playable party member.[21]

Outside of theXenoblade Chroniclesseries, Shulk has been featured in Nintendo'scrossoverfighting gameSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U(2014).[22]Shulk reappears in the series' 2018 entrySuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.[7]In November 2014, it was announced that Shulk would receive his ownamiibofigure, which can be used in conjunction withSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS,Wii UandUltimate,Super Mario Maker(2015),Yoshi's Woolly World(2015), andXenoblade Chronicles 3Dand3.[23][24][25]

Reception[edit]

Shulk received a mixed reception from critics. According to Katharine Byrne ofNintendojo,Monolith Soft's handling of Shulk's previously revealed ability to glimpse into the future is one aspect that deserves special recognition. She also noted that the players are given a careful and nuanced analysis of Shulk's challenges in coping with these visions, and the themes behind this capability are deeply embedded into the overall story, making it more than just a clever fighting technique.[26]Phil Kollar ofGame Informersaid that the voice acting gives this game a significant advantage over the typical stereotype-heavy JRPG, even though the characters may not deviate from well-worn tropes. He said that throughout the narrative, Shulk has the potential to come across as cloyingly hopeful or whining at different moments, andXenobladeskillfully avoids that usual issue because of the writing and voice acting.[27]Hope Pisoni ofPastestated that one of the main features ofXenoblade Chroniclesis the narrative centered around Shulk's visions. She went on to say that he has a power that lets him see the future and uses it to stop the deaths of his friends and allies.[19]

Tom Regan ofVG247said that many may recognize the game's protagonist as "that weird naked guy from Smash," but stated that there are more JRPG cliches than you can shake a potion at thanks to Shulk's almost overly positive outlook, faith in his allies, and will to overcome obstacles.[28]Engadget's Kat Bailey stated that she is a fan of Shulk and said that "It's not that his voice actor is better than average, or the fact that he's on a roaring rampage of revenge. It's that he has real friends."[29]According to the bookEDGE Special Edition: The 100 Greatest Videogames (2015),Shulk is an orphan who yields a legendary sword and carries an otherworldly power, but "he's not a cocksure, reckless, or headstrong teenager." They stated that "he's an unusually thoughtful and compassionate youngster, brave but not foolhardy, with a poise beyond his years."[30]Conversely, some reviewers complained of him being too plain.DestructoidreviewerJim Sterlingcomplained that Shulk lacked personality, stating that he was little more than a "vanilla reactionar[y] with only vague snatches of individuality," and otherwise blended into the rest of the cast too much.[12]Similarly,Jason SchreierofKotakureferred to Shulk as a "personality-less, unequivocally bland warrior" who "makes otherJRPGheroes look likeMarlon friggin' Brando."[31]

In comparison, Shulk also received a mixed reception inSuper Smash Bros.series.Heavy,TechnoBuffaloandGamesRadar+felt that his Monado, particularly the carryover of its "Arts" customization mechanics fromXenoblade Chronicles,made him a strong choice to play as.[32][33][34]However,USGamerfelt that Shulk "can be a tricky fighter" due to the Monado's Arts being accompanied bykanji,and suggested thatnon-native speakersshould first practice utilizing the Arts in order to become familiar with each one.[35]Jeremy Parish ofPolygoncriticized by stating as "sorry, Shulk. It’s nice that Nintendo is letting you repXenoblade,but I’m afraid I’m not really feelin’ it. ",[36]while Gavin Jasper ofDen of Geekalso criticized him by calling Shulk "as not too shabby, but being overshadowed by the rest of theSmash4 roster ".[37]

InStudent Independent Projects Historical Studies 2017: Human Freedom: Existential Philosophy in Video Games,Anthony J. Eisner fromUniversity of Newfoundlandcompared Shulk withTidusfromFinal Fantasy X,seeing both as messiah figures who find their purpose to fight in their video games and protect a society despite both coming from nearly blank states. Like Tidus, Shulk wants humanity to be free from people who force their ideals on others, resulting into the creation of a new status quo.[38]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Japanese:シュルク,Hepburn:Shuruku

References[edit]

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  9. ^"『ゼノブレイド ディフィニティブ・エディション』は bổn ngày phát bán! Quan liền グッズ tình báo と, “つながる tương lai” biểu diễn thanh ưu さんから の メッセージをご giới thiệu! ".Nintendo(in Japanese). May 29, 2020.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
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  14. ^Monolith Soft(1 September 2011).Xenoblade Chronicles(Wii).Nintendo.Alvis:This world has little time remaining if left in this state. Have you made your decision? The choice is yours, Creator. Tell me your decision for the future of this world. /Shulk:I won't decide. The future should be decided by each and every person in the world. And so, what I... No, what we wish for is... A world with no gods!
  15. ^Monolith Soft(1 September 2011).Xenoblade Chronicles(Wii).Nintendo.Shulk:Do you remember what the Monado, I mean Alvis, said to us the last time we saw him? /Alvis (flashback):Shulk. This new world is boundless. It is home to not only you, but many forms of life. I can see it. In this world, all life will walk towards the future hand in hand. /Shulk:One day I hope I can meet them all. The people of this endless world. /Fiora:Me too. We will. I know it.
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External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shulk&oldid=1224355861"