Ignition not happy with Arc Rise Fantasia voice acting

It stands as testament to how far videogames have come when voice acting -- once a totally ancillary feature -- can make or break a title. Arc Rise Fantasia, released for Wii last year, was a solid roleplaying game with a potentially great story, but the localized actors completely wrecked it.

Luckily, the game's publisher agrees and won't be making that mistake again.

"I agree with a lot of the concerns you have with the voices in Arc Rise," Ignition's Shane Bettenhausen said. "I’m not happy with how it turned out and we will definitely not use that localization company for any voices in the future."

[Kamikaze135]

Seemed like a good game, but the voice acting was so bad that I didn't want to buy the game because of it...

[Yi-Long]

... I'll never buy it.

I just want the original voices plus subs. Always.

Won't be getting Catherine for this reason either.

[Alos88]

Given it being an Atlus game, I wouldn't be surprised if it has a japanese voice option.

[Baka-akaB]

actually atlus got the habits of not doing dual audio .

This is probably the only case where console modding is useful .

Access to the game in undubs , aka the us/eu version with original voices .

I wish for a way they'd at least let regular users patch their games with japanese voices . it then becomes their "problem" and they'd happily download the extra files

[ThatGuyInTheBack]

"Won't be getting Catherine for this reason either."

You're a fool for passing up an Atlus game. >_> You have that much seething hate for the English voice that you'll pass on something interesting?

[Yi-Long]

... I don't have a hatred for the english language AT ALL. It's my favourite language in the world and I got straight A's in school for English...

... I just want my games in the original language, just as I want my movies in the original language, as well as my cartoons, anime, etc etc.

The reason I won't be buying Catherine is because I already know it will annoy me to be subjected to the dub, and not having the option to choose the original voices.

Hopefully, Hong Kong will get a Japanese language release with English subs, which I will buy.

[radphil]

@Yi-Long

The funny thing though is that people did the same with Demon's Souls, but that was in English with other sub-titles, but it was a Japanese made game.

What I usually do with the point coming across, is that if you want things in their original format, then learn them. Don't force that will onto others when you can make it better for yourself.

[Yi-Long]

.... so basically you're suggesting that instead of wanting my entertainment to include the option for the original language....

.... I should just learn that language? So if I want to see a French movie without a horrible dub, instead of hoping the publisher is kind enough to include the original language and some subs, I should spend a couple of years learning French...!?

... and when I want to see a swedish movie? Or an arabic movie? Or a Japanese anime?

Exactly how many languages do you think I should learn, while it's of almost no effort for a publisher to just keep the original language in there as an option, and provide some subs!

It's 2011. There's no excuse anymore to not have the original language with subs as an option!

They want my money? Simple! Release the product with the original language as an option. That's it. If not, there are plenty of other games for me to buy and enjoy instead.

[Redempteur]

i played the undub version ( and almost finished it ) .
the game is more than alright with a few good ideas here and there .

BUt having also tried the regular us version , i understand the complains , the script is ok ( nothing ground breaking but alright ) but you can't like any character when everytime they talk you feel like you want them to shut up ..

[Kamikaze135]

@Yi-Long

I always thought it was stupid for people to actually want to play video games in their native language. Till recently when I started watching live Korean and Japanese movies....some of the American dub is horrible. Even when the dub is good, it takes away from the experience.

[radphil]

@Yi-Long

This is exactly what I mean, you say why should you learn the new languages, and then force others to do it for you.

It's 2011 like you said. Just as companies from your standard to include the original language, it's JUST as easy for people to learn multiple languages in their off time. If one is determined to listen to things in their native language, the learn a few things. Don't just sit there and say that you should hear their voices with subtitles. You're still reading. It's a lot different when you actually HEAR people AND understand at the same time than just hearing and then reading what they said.

[ZoidsRaven]

I wasn't really thinking about the god awful voice acting when I was playing, but yes, it is the most cheesiest I have ever heard. XD

[RedPawn]

Now the Dating Game, I have this game and this one reason I haven't gone back to finish it yet.

[CLOUD1983]

When I say again and again that JRPG & English dubs = "sacrilege" some idiots mostly from US/UK that didn't learn to read subs as almost everything is in English say "no I cant read subs while playing I want my game to be in English" and that's the result there isn't even one better English dub than the original Japanese, Japanese Seiyu that give their voices for Anime&games give their heart to what they do, u understand from their voices that the scene is sad or some1 is angry or happy. I hope someday they will stop to ruin JRPG's with horrible English dubs and just translate the text & menus that way we will get games much faster and the studios will keep the money they spent now.

[kesvalk]

i really don't understand why companies keep localizing the audio in their games, it take awful lot of time, is aways worse than the original voices and almost no one wants it...

[radphil]

One problem with your argument Cloud is licensing. Just because they can do it in one region does NOT automatically they can just issue it within another.

The other problem is that you're preaching as if everything English does is bad. In this situation, if you feel it's that bad, then just import it. People make menu guides, and it's NOT hard to play. People love to play not only visually, but audio wise as well. People would like to actually see what's happening than having to read subtitles and then for a split second miss an action that happens.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Am I the only one who always finds bad voice acting hilarious?

[pcz]

fragile dreams was a good game. but the voice acting was pathetic. i had to turn to japanese with english subtitles.

how do these voice actors get their jobs? i could do a better job!