Who can't stand having no Voice-Over?

[Animus_19]

I mean, there are no voices in the game (if you know what I mean) :lol:

There's not even English speakers in the game. Anyway, the game is cool, except having no voices and the gameplay can become repetitive sometimes.

[LadyDuoMaxwell]

I think it's best if it don't have voice overs IMHO.

[Animus_19]

I think it's best if it don't have voice overs IMHO.

I respect your point of view. But what's IMHO? I'm not very good with the Internet talk. I just try to type fast (just like typewriters) :lol:

[Divals]

I respect your point of view. But what's IMHO? I'm not very good with the Internet talk. I just try to type fast (just like typewriters) :lol:

In My Humble Opinion.

Personally, I think it really depends on the quality of the voices, and how accurate they are to the character. Localizations of games that I've played over the years have been all over the map in this regard, sometimes even within the same game. For instance, in Lunar 2 (which I'm replaying, hence the reference), some characters - Ronfar, Hiro, and so on - sound pretty good, where others - Lucia and Zophar come to mind - sound quite 'eh.' A bad voiceover can ruin a game more quickly than even shoddy controls.

[Raidou11]

I mean, there are no voices in the game (if you know what I mean) :lol:

There's not even English speakers in the game. Anyway, the game is cool, except having no voices and the gameplay can become repetitive sometimes.

A great game turned into disappointment. Unlike the Persona series where it follows a traditional silent protagonist, this entire game is silent. The battle themes are repetitive too. If the game have voiceovers, it would had been a much better one!

[Futomimi]

I prefer no voices.

[RayFoxSith]

Nocturne, Final Fantasy 1-9, Suikoden 1-3, Chrono Trigger, Vagrant Story, and a lot of other games didn't have any voice overs, so I should judge my entire gaming experience on the addition of voices even if they were good and/or bad?

[Gen Eric Gui]

I prefer no voices.

[Raidou11]

Nocturne, Final Fantasy 1-9, Suikoden 1-3, Chrono Trigger, Vagrant Story, and a lot of other games didn't have any voice overs, so I should judge my entire gaming experience on the addition of voices even if they were good and/or bad?

Now that I have played a variety of different games, I believe you are right. Originally, most rpg games don't have voice-overs until very recently. RPG games usually focus on the story and gameplay..

[Hossaria]

If the game have voiceovers, it would had been a much better one!
I disagree.

[unknown]

It would be nice, but I'm good with no voices too.

[ryne11]

Sometimes I think VO can ruin experiences, no matter how good it is. I like to add in my own voices though sometimes.

I am happy without for this series.

[Asellus]

Regardless of whether or not there are VO's, I will play this game. I'll give any game a chance, for that matter. To me - it's all about the genre, graphics, storyline and characters. VO's are merely additions to the game. They bug me sometimes but they don't destroy the overall impression that I ultimately end up having.

Actually, I've played some games, in the past, with lousy VO's and still had a blast. Buuuuuutttt, I guess it does depend on the individual. :D

[Soushi_Grapple]

I actually prefer voices, but I also prefer the chance to select "Turn voices off".. which I've really yet to see cutscene wise... I think some games, like FFVIII should have had voices, while others, like LA, shouldn't have voiced "cutscene". I dont mind battle voices, although in FF it would seem a bit odd to me. I guess its hit/miss... ><;

Nonetheless, I'd like to play this game! I just gotta get around to playing the first one.. p.p I usually picture SMT games with no voices, but in DDS it worked out really well, mostly because they had top notch people doing it. In Persona 3 I could've gone either way, with maybe just voiced cutscenes or something like Xenogears.

[Futomimi]

Voices would have been pretty terrible in FF8. There were almost no games with good voiceovers in the US back then.

[Sei]

I can't stand having no Dual Audio personally. Fortunately the Ps3 and 360 seem to be working on that.

[Azriel Crusnik]

Voice overs are actually a gamble when it come's to game's, to me the voice's of a character can really make a game for me, even if the game is good if the voice's are terrible it can ruin the experience.

[syl]

Depends on the game's content.

[THEWINE]

It's rare that voice acting doesn't drag a game downwards.

[Kakizaki]

^I agree for the most part. I can only think of a very small handful of games where I genuinely enjoyed it.

[Olethros]

^ I concur with the both of you.

[Shyrangersmrpg]

I don't agree that voice acting (North American dubbing) often drags a game down; in fact, I think video game dubs have become surprisingly more enjoyable in the past few years - although I could be lucking out and purchasing all the good examples.

I grew up on the NES and Sega Master System, though, and don't mind a *lack of* voice acting, such as in this game.

[dragonlife29]

I love reading so it's not a big deal to me whether a game is voiced or not.

[cj iwakura]

The story was conveyed just fine without voice acting, like Nocturne was. It lets you use your imagination about how the characters might sound.

It'd be awesome if DS4 included it, all the same.

[Elizabeth]

Well, since Atlus is made of God and Win I know they would've picked superb voice actors if the original Japanese version had them, it would've been nice, but the lack of them didn't hurt this game it all. It isn't like Persona 4 where voice acting helps to keep your interest during sometimes seemingly endless streams of dialog.

[DevilRy]

I find that when I'm playing a game with voice-acting, especially RPGs, I skip through 99% of it, I guess because I read so fast. To me, voice acting seems unnecessary for RPGs at least, since I don't ever listen to them, whether in Japanese or in English (although I can't read Japanese nearly as fast as English so I guess I listen to the Japanese VAs whether I want to or not). With RPGs it just seems extraneous to me unless in cut-scenes. It probably raises the price of the game too, so I think voice acting probably does more harm than good. I guess it gives the illiterate a chance to play too though. :yawn:

[Teclo]

I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of voice-overs either. Most voice acting in games is so horribly amateur (especially for JRPGs) that all I can think of when they're speaking is some failed actor sitting in a booth and reeling off lines off a sheet of paper. It totally detracts from me viewing the characters in the games as actual people rather than polygon models being animated while some audio file plays.

I like some voice-overs, like most of the voices in Dragon Quest VIII, but generally it's not something I miss. Though I do admit that it seems strange to me now to play a game with dialogue and no voice acting.

[Animus_19]

I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of voice-overs either. Most voice acting in games is so horribly amateur (especially for JRPGs) that all I can think of when they're speaking is some failed actor sitting in a booth and reeling off lines off a sheet of paper. It totally detracts from me viewing the characters in the games as actual people rather than polygon models being animated while some audio file plays.

I like some voice-overs, like most of the voices in Dragon Quest VIII, but generally it's not something I miss. Though I do admit that it seems strange to me now to play a game with dialogue and no voice acting.
It does sound strange to play a game with dialouge and no voice acting.

[Moé]

I mean, there are no voices in the game (if you know what I mean) :lol:

There's not even English speakers in the game. Anyway, the game is cool, except having no voices and the gameplay can become repetitive sometimes.

A great game turned into disappointment. Unlike the Persona series where it follows a traditional silent protagonist, this entire game is silent. The battle themes are repetitive too. If the game have voiceovers, it would had been a much better one!
>Raidou11

Am I the only one who thinks that this post makes absolutely no sense considering this guy's name?

[Quig]

OMG!!! No voice acting?!?!?! Obviously this guy didn't have a Nintendo or Sega as a kid.

[Foobar]

Last I checked, voiceovers had no real barring on action or even turn-based RPG gameplay. And yet ever as some dare to draw comparisons to Persona 3 and 4, the protagonist doesn't say a peep there, either. Neither does Serph in DDS. SMT: Nocturne was entirely silent and voice over would have added nothing to the experience.

There are plenty of silent protagonists out there and there are RPGs that still get released with no voice-over. Given that I grew up on games that required me to use my imagination when reading, I have no problems following "quiet" stories.

And when voiceovers are in RPGs, I'm not really as critical as those bred on anime are. See, that's the thing about voiceovers that really grinds my gears - no matter how good the whole of the production might be - someone is going to complain about the voiceovers. They have to rear their ugly little heads. How I envy you if the acting in FFX was your biggest problem in life. Story is the icing in a video game these days, but I prefer more cake than icing personally.

[Ark]

And when voiceovers are in RPGs, I'm not really as critical as those bred on anime are. See, that's the thing about voiceovers that really grinds my gears - no matter how good the whole of the production might be - someone is going to complain about the voiceovers. They have to rear their ugly little heads. How I envy you if the acting in FFX was your biggest problem in life. Story is the icing in a video game these days, but I prefer more cake than icing personally.

If you prefer gameplay, they you picked the wrong genre to like, unless you like RPG battles. And I think people have been spoiled with voiceovers, since its rare to see a last gen (PS2) game, or even a current gen game, to not have voice work of some sort.

[Foobar]

[QUOTE=Foobar;104169]
If you prefer gameplay, they you picked the wrong genre to like, unless you like RPG battles.

When I grew up with RPGs they were about creating a character, stat-building, making up your own story and either consisted of pen-and-paper or wireframe dungeons a la The Dark Spire.

Japanese RPGs are usually about story and seldom if ever are about true choice. Atlus is one of the few special exceptions in the Japanese market and I'm a fan because they appreciate the value of choosing a path and a more flexible experience. Everything SE does is generally forced down a linear path and there's nothing wrong with that. I enjoy those games, too, but they are only RPGs in the sense of stat-building, not roleplaying.

So pardon me if I roll my eyes when I'm told RPGs are all about story. No, that's what the Playstation Generation thinks RPGs are about. Japanese RPGs usually have very specific stories, but western RPGs are much more about choice than they are about being driven completely by a storybook narrative. There may very well be a linear plot, even in a western RPG, but most often than not the player will define who that character is and what they're about.

I love Atlus for bringing a good mix of all RPGs to the table. When I get my DSi, I will very much be throwing down on some Etrian Odyssey, Dark Spire and more :)

[Kakizaki]

^Well said man.

[dungeon_man]

To Topic:
Voice acting isn't needed in Devil Summoner any more than it's needed on this forum.


To recent side conversation:
I agree with Foobar. Story is not necessary in an RPG. RPG stands for "role playing game" which means that "role playing" and "gameplay" are what the genre is about. A setting and an objective are all the writing that's needed. The "story" of an RPG is supposed to be your experience as you play through the game.

Dragon Warrior 1 Objective:
"I want you to kill the dragonlord. Oh, and if you happen to see my daughter, please rescue her."

Dragon Warrior 1 Story:
"After buying some equipment, I went north to explore a cave people were talking about. Didn't find anything useful. Walked around in the hills for an hour fighting scorpions. Learned some magic spells. Almost got killed by a drakee. Hitting the inn for the night..."

"... joined with the dragonlord and we ruled the world together."

"...pressed reset. Killed the dragonlord. Nailed the princess."

I only begrudgingly call those story-driven things with shallow gameplay RPGs because it's the accepted term and I occasionally want people to know what I'm talking about.


Back on topic, I like the main character in devil summoner, but that would likely change if I had to hear him talk.

[Foobar]

I remember when GTA Vice City came out and suddenly there was this talking protagonist, then the Jak games went from silent hero to talking hero. Hated those games pretty much for that since I was ejected from experiencing things as the main character myself.

I give San Andreas leeway since I could affect aspects of who CJ was, he was voiced, but the experience varied in how you dressed him and maintained his health. Plus there were all those skills to upgrade, GTA IV pissed me off when they took all that away.

Some heroes just don't need to talk, though. I put Raidou and most of Atlus' silent protagonists in that category. It just wouldn't add much. Raidou has a very stoic look to him, he's a man of action and not so much on words. Words are what Gouto is for.

[Vincent Alexander]

I'm so proud at myself having said nothing in here yet. Anyways, what do people think about games like Mass Effect where you control a main character's actions and decisions, yet the character isn't silent?

[Foobar]

I don't particularly mind if the character has a voice so long as I still have the ability to influence who that character is to a reasonable degree. There are games where it has worked that way.

I just hate when I'm ejected from the character entirely. I'd much rather have a linear narritive with a silent character than one with a voiced one because at least I can decide what the character is thinking in that situation.

Remember how dramatic Super Metroid felt back in the day. Three games and there really wasn't much diologue to carry the story, but as you played and linked your experience from each game together, there was a story to be had and you experienced it rather than had it told to you. Same thing with Ico on PS2. The characters speak different languages, so communication is out, yet there's something communicated in how they interact anyway and toward the end of the game you come to a realization about the "enemies" you've been facing off.

Devil Summoner isn't exactly the same kind of experience, but what would a SMT game be without the silent hero. He's representing the player and we see the world through him. So long as we're allowed to see the world through the character rather than just watch the character react to the world, I don't mind if its voiced or not.

[Vincent Alexander]

Sooo...I hope that wasn't in response to me, because you really answered nothing. I'm not talking about being voiced or not in regards to having a voice actor. Again, I was wondering people opinion's on systems like that of Mass Effect.

[Foobar]

tl:dr version: I don't mind the character talking so long as I can control his personal decisions. All Bioware games let you control the main character's decisions, so I like and respect the system implemented in Mass Effect.

Mass Effect Guy - Yes
Tidus - NO!

[Venus]

"..."

I don't think voice acting is that important to games as long as the story is conveyed well. <--

While voice acting adds another dimension to the game it can either help or hinder the game so it really depends.

I prefer to use my imagination!

Whatever...

[iLLMaTiC619]

"..."

I don't think voice acting is that important to games as long as the story is conveyed well. <--

While voice acting adds another dimension to the game it can either help or hinder the game so it really depends.

I prefer to use my imagination!

Whatever...

:agree: must be younger gamers complaining about this! If you are a older gamer OG (I've been playing since Colecovision, Nintendo, Sega etc) old school gamers didn't have voice actor. You be satisfied with sound effects lol.

Use your imgination and read! Most JRPGS don't have voice acting and if they do it's used sometimes in big scenes.. If you like ATLUS games or SMT you are used to reading for the most part, and I have no problems with it

[Evilkinggumby]

:agree: must be younger gamers complaining about this! If you are a older gamer OG (I've been playing since Colecovision, Nintendo, Sega etc) old school gamers didn't have voice actor.

says you. I am what you call an OLD gamer and I had a voice actor right there for every game. Usually it was some homeless guy I gave a day old sandwich and half a ramen brick to, but he savored every word and gave more emotion then most movies could muster.

Then they got into the whole digital recording schtick and voices began popping up in games... I finally retired those homeless guys and I think they moved to a shack by the river and tried to get beer money doing voices at the local arcades. But even then, how many kids wanted to pay extra for them to voice over "Mad Planets" or "Venture" ?

and to think.. this all got rebooted by a spambot.. damn necro-posts hehehe

[Venus]

"..."

I don't think voice acting is that important to games as long as the story is conveyed well. <--

While voice acting adds another dimension to the game it can either help or hinder the game so it really depends.

I prefer to use my imagination!

Whatever...

:agree: must be younger gamers complaining about this! If you are a older gamer OG (I've been playing since Colecovision, Nintendo, Sega etc) old school gamers didn't have voice actor. You be satisfied with sound effects lol. Use your imagination and read!
Honestly when I played Nocturne the first time I never really gave much thought to that fact that there wasn't any voice acting. I was too busy enjoying the game and story. Voice acting to me is just a superfluous bonus. I mean sometimes it can actually take away from the game. I'm looking at you Shining Force Neo.


Most JRPGS don't have voice acting and if they do it's used sometimes in big scenes.. If you like ATLUS games or SMT you are used to reading for the most part, and I have no problems with it
Exactly, voice acting is usually, and usually being about 95% of the time, only used to convey story related content during cut scenes. This isn't something that's unique to Atlus its a common practice. Sorry folks you are going to have to read the printed word.

[iLLMaTiC619]

^@Venus.. I agree with you..Nocturne and all the other JRPGS, Atlus, NIS games I play if the story is good I'm fine with it. If it has voice acting it's a bonus. I'm playing Persona 2 Eternal Punishment and is happy with the story, graphics and some voice acting lines lol..

In PS3 and action games I can see where you need voice acting, but RPG you can do with or without. SMT, Atlus JRPG/RPG's without I'm fine, but you won't see big blockbuster games without it like FF13. It's all about opinons and preferance.. If you're not sure about if there's voice acting (for those crying about these games) do research online or game sites...google is your friend

[Garcian]

I can live with no voice-over. It's a better choice to keep the characters silent, than having to pay for a bunch of unfitting voice-actors (and upsetting the masses)... I also think that it fits the time, the game's story is placed within. "Silent film" is the keyword.