Posted by: thepinetree on 04/23/2007 11:32 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 08/01/2007 07:17 AM
Expires: 01/01/2012 12:00 AM
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An In Media Res special, part 2: The Top Ten Best Voice-Acted Roles in a Video Game! By Raven and Coyote
Sir Isaac Newton tells us that “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Therefore, we at IMR now turn last month's column on its head and bring you the best instances of voice acting in a video game....
#10 – Cast of Psychonauts
It must be suspected that voices were chosen before character design was complete for this game, because it seems impossible that voices could be fitted to characters so perfectly otherwise. No one voice truly stood out above the others in this game, but that only reinforces the impression of overall excellence.
#9 – Captain Qwark (The Ratchet and Clank series)
What's big, green, and full of hot air? You got it, Captain Qwark. Although Qwark wasn't a very likable or admirable character, the quality of the voice acting made a character that could easily have been tiresome and cliché sympathetic. When you listen to Qwark, it's obvious that his hunger for celebrity is interacting with his congenital cowardice and forcing him into less than admirable actions. Qwark wants to be a hero, and with the right prompting he can do it.
#8 – Lara Croft, Zip, and Alister Fletcher (Tomb Raider: Legend)
Lara Croft, nearly as famous for her quick wit as for her considerable bust size, spends a considerable amount of time in the early games running around on her own. But with advances in communication technology, and a new company producing the game, Lara's picked up a couple of side-kicks, and a lion's share of the humor in the game. The dialogue that passes between Lara, Zip, and Alister throughout the game throws an often humorous light on what would otherwise be another dark, heavy game. Zip and Alister aren't just comic relief, however. They're also a valuable asset to Lara, giving her information on her surroundings, and on any useful little bits of history that we, as players, need. The voice acting here was superb, conveying a sense of familiarity and warmth between the three that only added to an already amazing game.
#7 – DiZ (Kingdom Hearts 2)
It's incredibly difficult to portray both inner torment and a sense of humor at the same time. For pulling off this feat of vocal agility, we grant DiZ the number seven slot. Plus, this particular character was voiced by Christopher Lee, who manages to bring not only inner torment and humor to this character, but a sense of grandeur he is known for.
#6 – Riku (Kingdom Hearts & Kingdom Hearts 2)
“I'm not afraid of the darkness,” Riku said, shortly after the beginning of Kingdom Hearts, and with that phrase his character was defined. The voice actor behind Riku forces you to feel empathy for his character, an oddity considering that Riku is not precisely a good guy throughout most of these two titles. The feeling of mixed emotions and motivations make Riku feel real in a way that most characters never manage.
#5 – Billy Coen and Rebecca Chambers (Resident Evil Zero)
Resident Evil has never been known for notable voice acting, except perhaps in terms of it being bad. But Resident Evil Zero was different from much of the franchise, and the voice acting was no different. While the dialogue was still somewhat over-dramatic in places, the voice actors were well-chosen and well-suited to their characters. From Billy's husky growl to Rebecca's sweet but strong tone, these two were easy on the ears as they went from reluctant partners to fast friends.
#4 – Balthier Bunansa and Fran (Final Fantasy XII)
Let's face it, pirates are cool, and if pirates are cool, then sky-pirates have got to be even cooler. This vocal talent behind this duo is enough to give the IMR team chills, each of them in a different way. Balthier is the epitome of cultured sarcasm, hurling finely-crafted bits of barbed wit at every deserving target. Fran is mystery made flesh, speaking rarely above a lightly-accented whisper and never using two words where one will do the job, but nonetheless creating a strong characterization.
#3 – The Prince (The Prince of Persia series)
It's the opinion of Coyote that the voice of the Prince was what makes the Prince of Persia games an enduring success. The initial draw of the series was the incredible eye-candy, but no matter how impressive a game is when it hits the market, a few months later something will surpass it. It's the Prince's humor and the depth of emotion that is communicated by the shifting of his tone as he speaks that makes it worthwhile to hack and slash one's way through hordes of enemies. He is unique in this list in that most of his best dialog occurs when he's talking to himself.
#2 – Dante Sparda (Devil May Cry)
Anyone who can hurl insults at demons twice their size and make them stick has already moved well into the realm of being cool. To be able to hurl insults well that sound horrendously childish when seen only in print, that takes real talent. But the voice actor who graced Dante's DMC incarnation did it masterfully. He made Dante obnoxious without being annoying, which is no small feat, as has been discussed in the last article. Overall, this was the most entertaining version of Dante, as quick with his barbs as he was with his guns.
#1 – The Cast of The Legacy of Kain series
Sufficient praise cannot be given for the quality of the voice acting in this series of games. The voices of many in this cast have been honed to such a degree that they would sound deep and moving while reading from a phone book. Coupling that degree of talent, suited to the Shakespearean stage, with exquisitely crafted dialog sets The Legacy of Kain in a completely different class than other games. This holds true even of the original release of Blood Omen for the PC, back in a time when voice actors in video games were almost unheard of, and only improves throughout the series (saving possibly Blood Omen II) to an incredible conclusion in Defiance.
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Although more often than not we at IMR have to be critical of the gaming industry, it's titles like these that give us hope. We applaud the casts and crews behind the development of these games. Keep up the good work. We're looking forward to more and better in the years to come.
Questions? Comments? Drop us a line at In Media Res.
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