Give us Japanese Languages!

[Xelloss]

@kelvin yes, you are pretty much correct. The biggest factor is pretty much what you describe, whether or not the actual game engine natively supports dual audio.

@ TheDoctor - if games had enough english in the menus + subtitles, I personally would day1 import everything myself. I think more JPN devs should pursue this avenue personally, and with the pre-launch buzz Demons Souls got from the import crowd... there is now some evidence that having an import-friendly game is helpfull not detrimental in regards to sales performance of the fully localized version.

@ many , about nuances : Whatever nuances you claim are lost to the non-speaker - do you really think your typical dub captures those? You are raising an issue that, even if you are correct.. is something that will not typically make the conversion to dub anyhow.

@ Clephas - Squeenix is indeed one of the biggest offenders of bad dubs. Though in fairness to the voice actors, 50% or more of SE's problem is actually really incompetant sound engineering. They would not be nearly as bad if they didnt EQ out all the lows and highs from peoples voices , resulting in "breathy" voice that makes people sound like they acting like they are acting. Has no depth, has bad timbre (because SE butchered it). Not to mention presence, and environmental considerations in post-production. Its sad because in terms of tone and pacing, some of their actors do a good job.

Ofc casting is still a huge issue, and most localizations still suffer from this issue to one degree of another.

Domestic producers like Bioware have come a long way in taming the VO monster though, with their works rivaling JPN game producers for their original VO quality. Unfortunately this level of quality still remains outside the budget of many localization firms.

But for larger budget games like FF (and FFX13 trailers dubs are terrible ) there is just no excuse, Konami showed us with MGS4 that it is possible to localize with both good casting and engineering. Never felt the lack of DA on that game, personally.

@people who said lack of DA is a stupid reason not to buy FF13 - SE has some of the worst, most annoying dubs in the whole industry. They are totally incompetant, especially since the have the budget to get it right. When FF has a quality standard of MGS4, I will happily plunk down the $$ for it , DA or not.

[Kakizaki]

Why, why, why.....?

[chee7nou]

I think all of you had a point there for not wanting a Japanese voice because you can´t understand the thing anyway...
But I don´t think there is a problem with having a dual language.. You can just choose whether you want to play with english or japanese voice...

Well I personally would like to play with the japanese voice.. Even though I am not that good with japanese, well i do know a little but I know ZERO about the Kanji. Even then I know this, not better than anyone, that the japanese voice has poured more souls into doing the character voice-over comparing with the english-dubs... Even though i like persona 4 dubs, Yosuke´s voice is really damn cool.. He acted as though he was really there, experiencing all kinds of things that happens to yosuke.

Well, that´s that. I sure hope persona 5 will turn out to be a dual language game...

NO...Persona 4 is the "BEST" voice dub Atlus has done, evar. On par(or prolly even better) than sqaure's Kingdom hearts.(and they were using Hollywood actors/celebrities.) maybe its just me but, Am I the only guy here who plays persona 4 just for the awesome english dub voice acting that made this title so interactive and breathes life onto the characters? LOL :D

[Sagadego]

Why, why, why.....?

nvr mind

[pariah164]

Oh lordy. How has this gone on for 17 pages? I could care less about the language it's in, as long as we get the game. I am American. I speak English. And even if the game is deeply rooted in Japan (Persona), I want to play a video game and get immersed in a story without having to read subtitles to understand what's going on.

Why do people like the OP of this thread always have to point out something they feel is wrong or incorrect? Appreciate what you're getting, fool!

[reason1313]

I can't believe this topic continues.

Why can't people just realize that it always comes down to personal choice? It never ceases to amaze me how someone can type "X language is better because" without adding the fact that it's pretty much a personal opinion.

Simply put, I speak English. I don't speak Japanese. Guess which language i'm going to say i want in my game?

Secondly, i don't think a lot of people realize not everyone in real life has a "perfect" voice. You are expecting perfection out of humanity? Yet we see all these "gotta have perfect inflection" and "this language is more vibrant" and bla-bla-bla.

I don't want my games to have a bunch of perfect voices, because then i can't mesh with the characters as i play. It's called realism. Do you really expect that thief from the slums to speak like Errol Flynn?

As far as dual voice goes, i have no problem with it in a NA localized game as long as the English dub gets put in first. If there's room, add it on in.
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On a side note, i would love to bet that we don't see "Give us English Language!" topics on Japanese forums......if this is true, which i'm willing to bet for the better part it is, it doesn't say much for the Jp gamers who are doing this to us.

[Kakizaki]

I can't believe this topic continues.

Then why bump it / feed into it? Last post was 2 weeks old....

On a side note, i would love to bet that we don't see "Give us English Language!" topics on Japanese forums....

Maybe, maybe not. It is a bit odd when a title is rereleased with a English voice track in Japan is it not?

[Ryo_Suzuki]

I can't believe this topic continues.

Then why bump it / feed into it? Last post was 2 weeks old....

On a side note, i would love to bet that we don't see "Give us English Language!" topics on Japanese forums....

Maybe, maybe not. It is a bit odd when a title is rereleased with a English voice track in Japan is it not?
Not really. Don't quote me on this, but they prefer hearing the English voice overs in KH than the Japanese voice overs. Why do you think every single KH comes out with a Final Mix version with English dubs and Japanese subs?

...omg, I just posted on this thread...

[Kakizaki]

Not really. Don't quote me on this, but they prefer hearing the English voice overs in KH than the Japanese voice overs. Why do you think every single KH comes out with a Final Mix version with English dubs and Japanese subs?Why are you quoting me? Your comment here was kind of my point. My "it is a bit odd" statement was in regards to the previous poster's comment that there probably aren't Japanese gamers requesting English dubs. There may not be, but there must be some interest when titles are rereleased with the English voice track included.

[Ryo_Suzuki]

Why are you quoting me?
If I didn't quote you, it would be a random message. :P
Your comment here was kind of my point.
So I don't have the right to add more wood to your fire? :P

But really, I should had quoted the other person. I have no idea why I responded to your message instead.

[Kakizaki]

So I don't have the right to add more wood to your fire?

No, no, I just wondered if there was some confusion due to my poor wording. ;)

[reason1313]

I can't believe this topic continues.

Then why bump it / feed into it? Last post was 2 weeks old....

On a side note, i would love to bet that we don't see "Give us English Language!" topics on Japanese forums....

Maybe, maybe not. It is a bit odd when a title is rereleased with a English voice track in Japan is it not?
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Why bump/feed into it? Because those who use logic and look at the numbers consider this a no brainer. That is why i can't believe it continues. Besides, posters who back the TC don't want the opposing viewpoint here. Chase us away, and you are one step closer to your goal.

The number of english speaking individuals in US compared to Japanese logically dictates that English VA should be considered before any other VA is placed in a game. Now, we all know that the opposing view comes up with terms to make you look away from that fact.

Niche and JRPG are just a couple of the terms floated around to deflect people from the above facts. It's a guarantee there are people somewhere at this moment in time thinking up ways to make games look less pleasing to Americans as well as make it look like Americans aren't so "pleased" with these type games.

Yes, as i look at my shelf with all the games developed in Japan(believe me, there's well over 350-400 of them) i understand how important it is to see games in a language i can understand, and more importantly that it takes precedence over any other language.

Don't get me wrong, i believe if there's enough room on a game disk, the dev/localizer should feel free to toss on any other language. But as for US released games, it has to be English first. No extra space? Too bad, so sad.

I'm also reminded of an Atlus localized game that has this statement under the options section of the handbook(that would be Steambot Chronicles)......If you're one of those snobs who hates English voice acting, just turn it off.
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I hate to say this, but i really do believe that some of this has nothing to do with wanting Jp voices in games, it has to do with people who just flat out don't like the English language. There is just no excuse for that mentality at all. Just because i don't like a thing doesn't mean i can and should be allowed to force it on others. The problem is not everyone else views things in that light, and that where the danger is.

[reason1313]

To be honest, i didn't know that the Japanese prefer English voicing in some of their games.

It leads me to believe that "like in the US" most Japanese gamers are happy with the games the way they are.

It's the not so silent minority in both countries that are egging on this battle over voicing. I have played hundreds of games(at my age i wouldn't be surprised it's in the thousands, now, but then again i remember playing my first PC game on a data recorder), and i can tell you right now that every game i've played but one the English VA were just fine, and that was Chaos Wars.
I'm not sure robots could have done better considering that's what the VA sounded like, but even then, it wasn't unplayable.

It has a lot to do with expectations, and not logic. Listen to a game track, then go to your local mall. You are more then likely to hear the exact if not alike voices, which is the point of VA in the first place.

We are supposed to identify with voicing, not sit there listening to voice perfection. This leads to the demand of the language of choice, because that person gravitates to his/her language.

This is the biggest mistake of all in my eyes. No one gamer is bigger then gaming itself, and that's what these VA topics boil down to. What language "I" think needs to be in a game.

Well, you could always apply for godhood. That would guarantee you absolute control.

[Superkenon]

I don't know what kind of malls you go to, but I've never heard anyone talk like a video game character. :)

Anyway, aside from your assumptions about how people think (it's quite much to say that desiring Japanese audio = hatred of English, or god-complex), I agree with you that English should always be given the priority. I mean, that's only natural in an English translation. I have always preferred Japanese audio, and I love it when there's an option for it, but I'm not one to complain when it's not there. Sometimes it's just too difficult to have it as a feature, be it space concerns or just something to do with the programming. Just not worth the effort to please what is, at best, a niche demographic. Especially since most of them are like me - fine with English audio anyway, even if it's not our preference.

But when it's feasible... do it!!

[OokieSpookie]

Games that give the choice are the best in my opinion.
Atlus does fantastic voice work, I have no complaints.
Just sometimes I like experience being as created.

[Killrig]

I'm with OokieSpookie. I appreciate being able to choose between one or the other. If the game takes place in Japan, it makes sense to include a Japanese audio track (especially if there's room on the media: DVD, CD, UMD, etc). Generally, Atlus has a really good track record of English dubs, so even with Persona 3 & 4, I like to listen to the English dub.

But for something like Yakuza or Way of the Samaurai, I'd keep it on Japanese even if there was an English dub (and choice, that is).

[Olethros]

:seesaw:


Why does this thread always tempt me so???

Nope, not gonna do it this time. Bad Olethros, Bad!!

[shimo]

^Please do.For your fans(if any).

[poiuiu]

Games that give the choice are the best in my opinion.
Atlus does fantastic voice work, I have no complaints.
Just sometimes I like experience being as created.

Buy japanese language games (and a japanese system to run them on if necessary). There you go.

Not only do you get the complete japanese track, but also full japanese language for the "experience being as created". Play the game how it was meant to be played and not some altered other language butchery!

Also, move and live in japan for the absolute japanese gaming experience. :devil:

[Retsu]

A plea
Please for all that is holy stop doing English language dubbing with English language subtitles. Give us that glorious japanese language with English subtitles, the inflections the sounds are much more authentic and realistic, I'm tired of hearing the horrible butchery that comes from these translations.


I agree with the other posters that say to have dual audio.. Because it is Atlus' decision whether to include those extra options. & I'm not saying "this language > this language" but I will admit that i don't mind the Jap+EngSub. & that it is my PREFERRED. (Telling it as my opinion, so no flaming. D=). Because in my opinion, it's just more enthusiastic with the original voices. (Most of the time). Though, there are some games where the eng dubbing can really smash the J-Vocals. For example, anyone remember Dragon Ball Z?. I thought the dubbing on that was the best ever o_o. DBZ IMO; Eng>Jap. But yes, there are times (alot of times) where J-vocals are simply more enthusiastic, and allow it's players to really get hooked into the story of the game. & not get turned off by the misplaced vocals that don't suit the character. Once, again; OPINION. No flaming please. :]

[Olethros]

^Please do.For your fans(if any).

:o

I have fans? Excellent. Yes, yes, most excellent indeed. I will begin mixing up the magical Kool Aid at once! HaHaHaHeHeHaHaHoHo!!!!!!!!!

:-D

[shimo]

And he's sinister too.Nice.:devil:

[reason1313]

Ugh.......repeat after me.....

Localized games should have the language of the majority of those whom speak the native tongue.

Localized to US....English.

It's not a hard concept, well, that is except for those who lack common sense and logic, which tend to be those who think Japanese is everybody's language of choice.

[don't touch me there]

Not entirely for humor, but if there is a dual language localization for the US/North America, why would Japanese be the other language? Spanish or French would make more sense!

(except from a resource perspective...)

[Superkenon]

Resources indeed. It might make sense to have a Spanish option there, but most localization companies spend more money than they want to on the English voice talent alone. The thing that makes Japanese audio feasible at all is the fact that it's already there. The rest of it is all about disc space and whether the programming allows for it easily...

[Ningyo]

Dual audio would be nice. While I often like having japanese audio, there are definitely also times where I actually prefer to have the game in english - as an example I liked the english dub of games like Persona 3 and FFXII very much, and wouldn't want to change those.

And as mentioned, the japanese audio is already there, so an option to choose would be perfect.

[Yagami]

I hate english voices -.-
I never played games without a option for switch to japanese voices u_u

[jeffx]

^ then you must not play a lot of Atlus USA games.

[Yagami]

^ then you must not play a lot of Atlus USA games.

I talks about other companies like Capcom(who had versions of Mega Man without voice option -.-),SNK Playmore(KOF Maximum Impact series without voice option in US versions ¬¬)...

[jeffx]

oh I see

[DamageCity]

I hate english voices -.-
I never played games without a option for switch to japanese voices u_u


Grade A bullplop.

[poiuiu]

I talks about other companies like Capcom(who had versions of Mega Man without voice option -.-),SNK Playmore(KOF Maximum Impact series without voice option in US versions ¬¬)...

So you're like [Megaman] X, lives solely on a false, shakey foundation that can collapse at any time and playdoh principles that you reshape and form as your current situation sees fit that didn't really have much rhyme or reason to begin with.

You must also own a PS3 then.
:devil:

[napstar]

Hmm I dontknow about that...

[Maverynthia]

I know it's not from lack of space, torrent files of the games show these games aren't pushing the 9GB barrier here, how hard would it be to cram an additional 100+mb of sound into the game and give us that OPTION of Japanese with English Subtitles like so many other games have.

This would cause me to buy more games, flat out, instead of waiting till they hit the bargin bin. I can't stand watching JRPG style games with english dubbing it's painful to watch, and worse to experience.

Lots of games I see on a torrent are only 4Gs, if they use Dual Layer they can have a WHOLE OTHER game over there. Even then I'm sure some of the space is empty 1s and 0s.

I too am for options, I REFUSE to buy or play ANY game that ONLY has English voices. I was a bit happy when a few people online Subbed and Undubbed Persona 3 and 4. I almost wait for them to do such a thing when a new Atlus game comes out that I want to buy... but then can't ;-;

NIS does it (for the most part), so why can't Atlus.

I was just lucky that when I bought CoH thinking that there were no voices, the voices that were there were the JP ones left intact (battle noises).

I hear Strange Journey has some demon voices or something, I fret to think these will be dubbed if they are vocal.
Japanese voices really DO make a gameplay difference to some of us. It makes it more enjoyable.

[Hamel]

I too am for options, I REFUSE to buy or play ANY game that ONLY has English voices.

As much as I like Japanese voice in my games I will still buy games that don't have Japanese if they are good
refusing to play games just because of the voice acting is your loss

[Olethros]

I too am for options, I REFUSE to buy or play ANY game that ONLY has English voices.

As much as I like Japanese voice in my games I will still buy games that don't have Japanese if they are good
refusing to play games just because of the voice acting is your loss

No only his/her loss, but one of THE most stupid and retarded things I've ever seen typed here. And boy have there been some real doozies before.

This thread needs to be retired before more people expose their idiocy.

[Rednusander]

The part I'm finding amazing is that Maverynthia wants us to cater to him/her and put in Japanese languages, but then goes and admits that he/she doesn't buy our games in the first place.

You are exactly the kind of person we should be catering to!

[poiuiu]

You should cater to me and me only! And you can do this by giving me a japanese track for Duke Nukem Forever! You know you want to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s).
:devil:

[Clephas]

One day... this thread will reach a thousand pages and just loading it will cause your browser to crash.

[Iris]

The part I'm finding amazing is that Maverynthia wants us to cater to him/her and put in Japanese languages, but then goes and admits that he/she doesn't buy our games in the first place.

You are exactly the kind of person we should be catering to!

I for one am very happy that Atlus takes my monies and uses them to produce sexy sexy English dubs that I can enjoy listening to.

Haters to the left.

[DamageCity]

A lot of people have been spewing bullplop all over the forums lately. I blame the P3P announcement.

[vishalb]

The only time ONLY having Japanese Audio is ok is Yakuza because it's not a fantasy game in a fantasy world but a game BASED in modern day Japan. Makes it feel like a Foreign Film.

Hi, I would have to totally agree with you there, The Japanese Dub in Yakuza 3 (and 2) is amazing, clearly they have talent, especially when you go karaoke (I couldn't imagine this sounding never as good as this in english). Kazuma's voice talent is amazing.

Also, the Yakuza series is about Japan and it's culture, you know the authenticity, this IMO would probably be totally lost if this game was released dub only (Like Yakuza 1, which totally sucked, not just in my opinion but loads of others as well).

I would hate to say this but if Atlus did localize the Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza) series, I would be extremely grateful because I know Atlus really do care (Unlike SEGA who cropped up Yakuza 3 soo bad) BUT if they released it Dub only, that wouldn't be a sale (I'm such a massive fan of the game/series), however good Atlus dub, it doesn't compare to the Original.

I'm not a fan boy, but yeah, if you did release more games with Dual Language I reckon that would be great.

This is just my opinion, but I don't think Atlus is moving forward with it's localisation, it's the usual, "replace everything with english, voice and text" (something that was ok, like 10 years ago), it's 2010 now and for them to move forward if they did release more Dual Audio games, they'll get more fans, more sales, more money, better everything IMO. After all, usually Fan Boys/Otakus prefer the Japanese Track, and you know at anime conventions how much they spend on that kinda stuff, it really blew my mind the first time I went to the Auction, something you could get for went for like 10 times the price, literally.

Thank you for reading this and considering my thoughts.

[Hamel]

Like Yakuza 1, which totally sucked, not just in my opinion but loads of others as well.


I liked Yakuza 1 and most of it's VAs fit IMO (and I don't like English VAs 99% of the time)

[Iris]

This is just my opinion, but I don't think Atlus is moving forward with it's localisation, it's the usual, "replace everything with english, voice and text" (something that was ok, like 10 years ago)

Actually, comparing their localization now with the localization Atlus did ten years ago, they've come a long way forward. Eternal Punishment is one of my favorite games ever and I don't think its localization is bad by any means, but it doesn't stand up to their recent work, which has smoother scripts, vastly improved voice acting, and some excellent attention to making sure the humor fits the target audience.

Given that the entire point of localization is to render something well in another language, adjusted as needed to be smooth and understandable in a different cultural context, I would say they're doing admirably.

[Olethros]

^ I agree with Iris. I was considering tackling this yesterday but then I got busy and forgot. However, Iris just wrote almost the exact same thing I was going to anyway so now I don't have to. :D

[Dim Locator]

^ then you must not play a lot of Atlus USA games.

I talks about other companies like Capcom(who had versions of Mega Man without voice option -.-),SNK Playmore(KOF Maximum Impact series without voice option in US versions ¬¬)...

Why are you listening to the VA on those games to begin with?

[Kakizaki]

This is just my opinion, but I don't think Atlus is moving forward with it's localisation, it's the usual, "replace everything with english, voice and text" (something that was ok, like 10 years ago)

Actually, comparing their localization now with the localization Atlus did ten years ago, they've come a long way forward. Eternal Punishment is one of my favorite games ever and I don't think its localization is bad by any means, but it doesn't stand up to their recent work, which has smoother scripts, vastly improved voice acting, and some excellent attention to making sure the humor fits the target audience.

Given that the entire point of localization is to render something well in another language, adjusted as needed to be smooth and understandable in a different cultural context, I would say they're doing admirably.

Ditto on this. I really noticed last year when I started another play through of Persona EP after completing IS. The IS fan translation was quite a bit better. Atlus USA has come a long way since then.

[Clephas]

With a few exceptions - pretty much just Atlus, actually - fan translations tend to be better than localized ones... though there are some seriously second-rate fan translations out there. Some companies - Working Designs comes to mind - made up the difference by making the localizations 'interesting', but localization and translation are always an imprecise art at best. Especially between Japanese and English, two of the most ridiculously complex languages on the planet (not only that, two languages that have completely different roots and syntax). English with its idiotically complex rules and Japanese with its deceptive simplicity at first glance and the whammy later when you start to realize just how much meaning can be hidden behind the simplest of sentences... (also, the Japanese overuse of implied meaning is unbelievably annoying for text translators).

[reason1313]

Well, i'd love to give the people here an update on my gaming purchases, or more to the point, the lack thereof.....

Resonance of Fate was released in the US with the Japanese gamers in mind, and as such it went from a day one purchase to a no buy. Tsk Tsk to the localization team, for whom i won't mention in case it gets me in trouble. The company that localized it will no longer be getting my business as well.

I also hear the Record of Agarest War, another day one buy contender, might do the same as well....and has also fallen off my "to buy" list.

Thank god Atlus sees past these flaws in logic....

They don't only set the bar, they maintain it with a logic that astounds.....
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@Clephas...while that was an interesting look at your opinion of both languages, however...i didn't fail to notice that there was a more negative aspect given to the English language. The only people who who find English "idiotically complex" are those who don't like it or those who use it as a necessity.

I find it rather simple and easy to use.

[Superkenon]

Since you were rather vague on your reasoning, all I can do is sit here befuddled. It's bad that they've localized a niche game with a niche audience in mind? And quality aside, isn't that exactly what Atlus does? No one pleases the "Japanese gamers" quite like Atlus does, you know.

I admit I'm out of the loop, so, what'd Sega (tee hee) do that was so bad in this case? I mean, to warrant the apparent dramatic change from "SO GONNA GET THIS GAME DAY ONE" to "NOT GONNA GIVE THEM MY BUSINESS EVER AGAIN!"... it must be pretty serious, so I'm curious.

[Chronoshale]

Most people that argue that Japanese voice acting is so much better don't even know Japanese or know if the voice acting is being done well. If you understand the language enough to really appreciate the acting, then shouldn't you just import? Video games in an English-speaking area of the world are going to get video games in English. It's just common sense if you ask me.

[Raptorg]

Most people that argue that Japanese voice acting is so much better don't even know Japanese or know if the voice acting is being done well. If you understand the language enough to really appreciate the acting, then shouldn't you just import? Video games in an English-speaking area of the world are going to get video games in English. It's just common sense if you ask me.

It's mostly because of the emotion the voice actors express.
Japanese voice overs are generally much more dramatic in sound.. This is also why I personally really like Japanese power metal, though most of them sing in Engrish(Example, Yama-B from Galneryus), they tend to keep that drama.. Though a Japanese vocalist singing in Japanese still brings it better(For example Fuki from Light Bringer), which is normal..

I personally prefer English, if done right, because that way I can follow the text at the bottom.
In Cross Edge for example, I used the Japanese voice actors because I felt the voices matched the characters much more closely and the English voice acting just didn't feel right.
But in Persona, English all the way, because these people really know what they're doing.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

In Cross Edge for example, I used the Japanese voice actors because I felt the voices matched the characters much more closely and the English voice acting just didn't feel right.
But in Persona, English all the way, because these people really know what they're doing.

Excellent set of examples. Cross Edge had particularly bad English voice acting. Some characters were cheesy and overacted, others were just plain creepy. Morrigan's English VA in particular gives me nightmares. And the Persona games have had particularly good voice acting. They all sound like they have a really good feel for the characters.

You know what games had surprisingly good English voice acting? Dragon Quest VIII and Rogue Galaxy.

[Clephas]

@Clephas...while that was an interesting look at your opinion of both languages, however...i didn't fail to notice that there was a more negative aspect given to the English language. The only people who who find English "idiotically complex" are those who don't like it or those who use it as a necessity.

I find it rather simple and easy to use.

Incidentally, I'm a native English speaker... I simply acknowledge that English is one of the single hardest languages on the planet to master. I mean, even native speakers rarely master it, lol.

And opinion or not, I'm a translator... and I'm fluent in spoken Japanese. As someone who knows both languages, I think I'm pretty qualified to judge in this case.

If I had to say there is something that Japanese VA's do better on every level than English ones... it is melodrama. If you'll notice, if you compare dubs and subs, there is a tendency to tone down the melodrama... which doesn't kill the experience, but it does make it less interesting sometimes *Clephas grimaces, recalling the Code Geass dubs*.

Other than that, jp VA's are more consistent, mostly due to it being a more 'professional' profession over there. However, at the same time, there are English VA's who honestly equal those over there. I'm not the type to say I've never heard a good dub. I prefer subs, but if it's a good dub I can deal with it. Of course, if you looked at it ten years or more ago, there was no contest, there really weren't any english VA's that were better than decent. However, that was then, this is now.

With this kind of subjective thing, in any case... absolute statements are fairly meaningless. There are awesome dubs out there... and there are rancid jp VA performances out there. Not as many, true, but they do exist.

[Saburo Hikari]

You know what games had surprisingly good English voice acting? Dragon Quest VIII and Rogue Galaxy.You know what games have surprisingly English good voice acting? Phantasy Star Portable, Valkyria Chronicles, and Resonance of Fate. ;) Phantasy Star Portable is most surprising considering how extremely bad the voice acting was for the Phantasy Star Universe games. Sega's actually been pretty damn good at their English voice overs lately. And no, I'm not a Sega fanboy.

I facepalm at the purist Sega forum members at the Resonance of Fate sub-forum. Most avoid getting the game just because Sega changed Reanbell's name to the much more natural "Leanne". Another reason people are avoiding the game is because the English dub's subtitles are still used when the Japanese voice acting is turned on. Honestly people, the Japanese voice acting is just a bonus in localized games. It would take too much extra work to make a seperate subtitle script for the Japanese voices. Unfortunately they didn't care, because they sicked an lolcat "Your arguement is invalid" on me. :/

You know, Atlus would even more amazing than they already are if they re-dubbed Fuuka's character, among other characters for Persona 3 Portable. ;)

There are awesome dubs out there... and there are rancid jp VA performances out there. Not as many, true, but they do exist.Hentai.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

Sega's actually been pretty damn good at their English voice overs lately. And no, I'm not a Sega fanboy.

As a Sega fanboy, I've noticed that Sega generally does pretty awesome dubs when they aren't censoring or leaving things out. Valkyria Chronicles, as you noted, has a great dub. Jet Grind Radio had Professor K. Even the Sonic games had awesome VAs until Deem Bristow died and they replaced the cast with their Sonic X dubpelgangers. (Which aren't outright bad, just slightly worse.)

I facepalm at the purist Sega forum members at the Resonance of Fate sub-forum. Most avoid getting the game just because Sega changed Reanbell's name to the much more natural "Leanne". Another reason people are avoiding the game is because the English dub's subtitles are still used when the Japanese voice acting is turned on.

There's this tendency in Japanese media to give things nonsense names that are English-sounding. They usually end up sounding weird at best, or stupid. Like Reanbell. I thought changing that particular atrocity to Leanne was an excellent call. (Example number two, "Trusty Bell" for Eternal Sonata. What is it with the Japanese and "bell" anyway?)

The bit about having the dub script act as the subtitles does bother me, though. Typically, English dubs are reworked a bit to make the dialogue match better with the movements of characters' mouths. Subtitles don't have that kind of restriction and are translated more directly. It just shows that the dub came first, and adding the Japanese audio was an afterthought. A nice afterthought for which I'm grateful (when I get paid and can buy the game), but an afterthought nonetheless.

[Clephas]

Take a look at Japanese spirituality... Shinto shrines have the one above the offering box and Buddhist temples have those huge ones. There are even certain purification rituals that require bells and incense together. They are very strongly associated with purity and cleansing. Though... if you want me to be perfectly honest, I think the guys who think them up just smoke too much pot and throw darts at random name pieces on a board on the wall.

[Saburo Hikari]

There's this tendency in Japanese media to give things nonsense names that are English-sounding. They usually end up sounding weird at best, or stupid. Like Reanbell. I thought changing that particular atrocity to Leanne was an excellent call. (Example number two, "Trusty Bell" for Eternal Sonata. What is it with the Japanese and "bell" anyway?)Props to the Japanese Valkyria Chronicles developers for having good to perfect English even in the Japanese versions of the games. They made up some pretty convinceing people and location names too. It makes the localization work that much easier too. Even cooler is how they managed to avoid most Japanese culture stereotypes. The only slipup that comes to mind is when Alicia bows, Japanese style, to the customer at the end of the game.

The anime is full of slipsup though it's not even funny. I don't remember there ever being any portable Japanese style baths in 1930s Europe. Their vocal music did fit 1930s Europe/America better than the game though.

But I'm going off topic now. And I'm promoting the second game enough as it is in my avatar and signature. :P