This game's English voice acting in a nutshell

[thoma5nator]

[CAM CLARKE INTENSIFIES]

[Grad]

It's pretty solid all things considered :)

[Goldenkitten]

I think you've gotta compare it to the standard of the time.

Nowadays it sounds, "Eh...acceptable" because English dubs have DRASTICALLY improved since the 90's and early 2000's. It was around the end of that time that people realized there was a real market for anime/games and the associated voice acting, and we saw a real boost in quality. So yeah, compared to the modern standard it's about average, maybe even a little underwhelming.

BUT for the time it was released it's pretty top tier. People actually voicing actual emotion in a 2000 game? What is this witchcraft!?

[terry309]

This is Grandia 2's voice acting in a nutshell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeYbHWQrM9A

[terry309]

Originally posted by Goldenkitten:

I think you've gotta compare it to the standard of the time.

Nowadays it sounds, "Eh...acceptable" because English dubs have DRASTICALLY improved since the 90's and early 2000's. It was around the end of that time that people realized there was a real market for anime/games and the associated voice acting, and we saw a real boost in quality. So yeah, compared to the modern standard it's about average, maybe even a little underwhelming.

BUT for the time it was released it's pretty top tier. People actually voicing actual emotion in a 2000 game? What is this witchcraft!?

Actually I still consider this to be one of the greatest english dubs.

[Goldenkitten]

I think it depends.

Cam Clarke is his usual self, which is to say just fine. As one of the first major voice actors it's no surprise he was already doing quality VA at this time. But the others have varying levels of quality, several of them were just getting started or were never that big to begin with and it shows.

For instance I think even if you enjoy it you can admit that Roan and Tio are on a different level from Ryudo (in a bad way). Where Clarke clearly puts emotion into his lines both Roan and Tio are clearly reading off of cards (I guess you could argue Tio's a robot and this was on purpose, but even later on when she's supposed to have found her soul she still talks in a stilted manner).

That's why I say that. There's some quality voice acting here, particularly from the three leads, but it's not on the same par the whole way through in the same way something newer like say compare it to the Persona acting that's solid throughout.

[terry309]

Originally posted by Goldenkitten:

I think it depends.

Cam Clarke is his usual self, which is to say just fine. As one of the first major voice actors it's no surprise he was already doing quality VA at this time. But the others have varying levels of quality, several of them were just getting started or were never that big to begin with and it shows.

For instance I think even if you enjoy it you can admit that Roan and Tio are on a different level from Ryudo (in a bad way). Where Clarke clearly puts emotion into his lines both Roan and Tio are clearly reading off of cards (I guess you could argue Tio's a robot and this was on purpose, but even later on when she's supposed to have found her soul she still talks in a stilted manner).

That's why I say that. There's some quality voice acting here, particularly from the three leads, but it's not on the same par the whole way through in the same way something newer like say compare it to the Persona acting that's solid throughout.

Don't forget John Cygan as Melfice...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7qbM_Te9vI

[Zelphair]

By today's standards, the voice acting is a bit lackluster, but it could be much worse. Grandia I (one of the few PS1 games with extensive voice acting) was cringe-worthy in almost every scene.

[Thundercracker]

Originally posted by thoma5natorGBR:

[CAM CLARKE INTENSIFIES]

and it is glorious

[Detestable Geohound]

I think the voice acting holds up exceptionally well. I'd have to say the weakest voices in terms of the main cast came from Selene, Roan, and maybe Mareg. Tio you could forgive because her character was a robot so it worked well. Fortunately the writing was pretty decent; otherwise the quality of the VA's wouldn't have mattered.

But Melfice (John Cygan), and Zera (Richard Doyle) were ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Godlike. Especially their battle lines; seriously insanely good for it's time.

[GungHo America]

Who doesn't love Ms. Jennifer Hale? We were pretty surprised when we realized she was in the game. I jumped at the opportunity to say "66% of GungHo-published games on steam feature Jennifer Hale!"

[terry309]

Originally posted by GungHo America:

Who doesn't love Ms. Jennifer Hale? We were pretty surprised when we realized she was in the game. I jumped at the opportunity to say "66% of GungHo-published games on steam feature Jennifer Hale!"

I was too distracted by John Cygan's ham session to notice... oh and here's another fun little game to play, "how many games/series have Cam Clarke and John Cygan both played a role in?"

[terry309]

Originally posted by Detestable Geohound:

I think the voice acting holds up exceptionally well. I'd have to say the weakest voices in terms of the main cast came from Selene, Roan, and maybe Mareg. Tio you could forgive because her character was a robot so it worked well. Fortunately the writing was pretty decent; otherwise the quality of the VA's wouldn't have mattered.

But Melfice (John Cygan), and Zera (Richard Doyle) were ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Godlike. Especially their battle lines; seriously insanely good for it's time.

"Ryudo, you're such an embarrassment"
"Do you really think you can beat your big brother?"
"hehehehe"

[Grazer]

It's VERY camp, but it's why I like it. It's certainly not bad.

[Mobian Arnadi]

Wait... Elena's FemShep???

[Detestable Geohound]

Originally posted by Mobian Arnadi:

Wait... Elena's FemShep???

Yes, Elena is Fem Shep.

And if you played Brutal Legend, she is also Ophelia. Literally. Jennifer Hale used an identical voice for her. It makes the whole game slightly more creepy since I can't unhear Elena.

https://youtu.be/rQcSynBziOk