Topic: Language in games, which do you prefer?

[VixyNyan]

Many games now have voice acting, something that was rarely used in the beginning of the 90's but then started to grow into the gaming populace with each year. Companies hire different actors for different languages and some of them sound alright, while others sound just irresistibly sexy. x3

I was gonna make this thread a long time ago, but now was the time I guess.

Since the text in games do get translated eventually, we won't discuss that.
We'll talk about the actual voicing or talking inside games.
Which language feels the most dynamic, the most consistent to the settings of the game?
Which language do you prefer for that special game? And describe why.

We'll have a list up for those games we are discussing.

Game (System) - SPOKEN Language
* Brave Fencer Musashi (PS1) - English
* Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1) - English
* Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) - Japanese
* Kingdom Hearts II (PS2) - English
* Metal Gear Solid (PS1) - English
* (RM/MM) X: Command Mission (GCN/PS2) - Japanese
* (RM/MM) ZX Advent (NDS) - Japanese
* Siren/Forbidden Siren (PS2) - Japanese
* Sonic Adventure (DC/GCN) - English
* Starfox 64 (N64) - English (DUH!)
* Tales of Symphonia (GCN) - Japanese

Feel free to help this list grow. We can change it later on. ^^

... I'm not sure this thread will go places. I could be wrong.

[CephiYumi]

Well for me I jus don't like editing and usually prefer whatever language the game had in the first place.  Not all the time though, I think all the MGSs have pretty nice english voices, the KHs too  ^^

I think it should also fit where the game takes place, like resident evils are in middle america so they have english voices in all versions.  Unlike the US release of Siren where everyone lived in a rural japanese area and had thick british accents nya x3

And even if they aren't good english voices, sometimes you really love them anyway, like MM8 

[Acid]

Usually prefer English. I like to understand what I hear. Unless a game such GOD AWFUL voice acting. I mean so awful that even I, whose mother language is not english, notice how bad it is. But even then I just tone the volume down everytime a long conversation occurs.

[Da Dood]

I usually go with English voices unless they really ruin the experience, like Siren. I wish there was an option for JP there...

Still, bad voice acting can make some games better, like the original RE! After all, it's not just a poisonous snake...

[VixyNyan]

IT'S A MONSTER!

[Da Dood]

Then again, I'm not nearly as touchy about it as most people. They sound like every single game out there has bad voice acting.

I think Star Fox 64 has easily the best VG voice acting ever.

[Dr. Wily II]

Well...
I can only comment on 2 games that I play that has VAs...

(Rockman/Megaman) ZX (DS) - Japanese
This one is rather easy to guess. Firstly, the English version completely removed all VA dialogue, except those during cinematics.

(Rockman/Megaman) ZX Advent - Japanese
Ok, the English version had VAs, though not all dialogue gets the VA treatment. Also, the feelings conveyed is not as powerful as the japanese version. Plus, Aile sounding like a man iwhen jumpling/slashing/dying in the English version... >_>

[VixyNyan]

Yea that's one good reason for the topic.
But since the first ZX only existed with Japanese voice anyway, I don't count that.

[Jericho]

I think Star Fox 64 has easily the best VG voice acting ever.

Best answer.

In all honesty though, I'd prefer the game I'm playing to have English being spoken by competent VAs. If the game has to have it's spoken conversations and moments untranslated, then English subtitles are mandatory.

[VixyNyan]

If the game has to have it's spoken conversations and moments untranslated, then English subtitles are mandatory.

I never said otherwise~

I think Star Fox 64 has easily the best VG voice acting ever.

Pretty smooth flyin', Dood!

[Gaia]

Sonic Rush (DS) - English (You can't escape me! - Blaze)

Sonic Rush Adventure (DS) - English (*eggman laugh* - Both Eggmans)

As you can see, the US VA has seemingly have better VA in the DS territory. 

[Jericho]

Whoops, posting without comprehending everything got the better of me.

[Dr. Wily II]

But since the first ZX only existed with Japanese voice anyway, I don't count that.

Hehe, ok.
Although I DO have to say that the VA for Master Albert in the English version is top-notch...
The only one to properly convey the power...

[Ephidiel]

i prefer japanese voices in JRPGs like the Tales of Series over the english voices

[Psycho Yuffie]

A lot of times I prefer the Japanese voices over the English ones in the Dragon Ball games I have. >>; I usually watch the anime with the Japanese voices and I'm just used to them more.

[The Blind Archer]

English in everything.  I can't understand moonspeak.

[Nekomata]

English.

Especially when it's a so bad it's good variety.


Wait a moment~ You seem human but.. what do you here?

[Acid]

English.

Especially when it's a so bad it's good variety.


Wait a moment~ You seem human but.. what do you here?

THEN, IN THE NAME OF THE MASTER, I SHALL FEAST UPON YOUR SOUL THIS NIGHT.

[Align]

I thought this was going to be about swearing.
DISAPPOINTMENT


anyway i never really hear any japanese so when it does show up its too much of an unknown to be an option
Probably doesn't help that I associate the language more with the worst sort of weeaboos that use it in videos than the actual people.

[Protoman Blues]

It really depends.  Normally, I prefer not only English, but [acid burst] POOR voice acting.  Just like with my 80's style Anime Cartoons.  I mean, I think Voice Acting that bad is a sheer work of art, because you'll NEVER forget it, no matter how much you try.  X4 and MM8 are flawless examples of this. 

However, I do love it in Japanese as well.  Take Power Stone 2, for example.  When my beloved and sexy Rouge gathers 3 Power Stones, she says something that sounds like "CUM ON YOUR CEREAL!"  I don't know what she's really saying, and quite frankly, I don't care.  All I know is that she's going to cum on your cereal, which I'm perfectly content with!

[Jericho]

Sweet mother of god, PB won this round. [/thread]

[Hypershell]

English, because I can actually understand it.  But a Japanese VA option is by no means a bad thing.  ESPECIALLY if they didn't bother to replace it with anything (looking at YOU, MMZX).

I'll tell you, so many people don't know what they're missing against Lurerre...

[Satoryu]

if the English acting is good, English.
if the English acting is hilariously bad, English.
if the English acting is like in Chaos Wars, nihongo desu.

though if there's an option, i do check both languages out out of curiosity. generally, though, as long as there's subtitles, i don't mind not understanding the Japanese speech.

[borockman]

Usually if there's both choice of language available (I love you Gust and Nippon Ichi!) I'll try to hear the English one first. If it's nice to hear, english, if not Japanese. Usually, it's Japanese though.

[VixyNyan]

I like to add that, in some games, the jokes are funnier when translated. It all depends on how each country accepts those jokes or if they are on par with their own culture. There are games where the humor is funnier in one language than the other (even if you have a fan-translated or official-translated script on hand side-by-side with each other). Disgaea happens to be a series that has the script changed on some very small parts.

Semi-off topic, but the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney series has text translated that differs from the original Japanese language. It's more of a cultural thing, where the jokes of the original Japanese script is most understood by the Japanese player, and the other way around for the English players. Maya eating Hamburgers in the English versions proves that change. ^^