Gaijin Games has announced that its upcoming title, BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, will be narrated by none other than Mario voice actor Charles Martinet.
“There are definitely more interesting 2D platformers on the market but that doesn't mean Runner2 is a bad choice for fans of the genre to check out either; particularly, if you like having your reaction speed challenged.” - Martijn van Gent from Video Chums.
It’s him, Nintendo has just been using the same voice lines and samples for the past ten years or so, and now a new direction for the series has opened up, Martinet has made a return to give the character new life. Maturity is all we’re hearing as the voice of an actor who likely hasn’t stepped into Mario’s shoes since 2013 is asked to do so again.
Anyone would sound different under these circumstances, and it doesn’t make the character any less. Just listen to Tom Kenny as Spongebob Squarepants in more recent iterations. The laugh just doesn’t sound quite the same anymore as his vocal range has fallen victim to the reality of growing older. Besides, Martinet recently played two roles in the Super Mario Bros. movie and was given deserved billing for his impact on popular culture, so to suddenly give him the boot for the next mainline game just wouldn’t make sense.
Would think him being a blink and miss cameo in the movie was celebs over all Illumination's idea, not Nintendo's.
From Games Radar: "Super Mario voice actor Charles Martinet has voiced the iconic plumber in over 150 Super Mario Bros. games. But before he stepped into the Italian's overalls, he was already a successful voiceover actor.
Retro Gamer sat down with for a Charles Martinet interview that takes us through his entire career, from his beginnings as a voiceover actor, his start with Nintendo, and the most difficult voices he has to pull off. Martinet went from trying out a career in acting to swapping over to voiceover work, which led him right to Nintendo. As the voice of Mario, he's been in over 150 games, from the first Super Mario Bros. game to Super Mario Bros. 64 to this year's Super Mario Superstars. "
He's a great guy and he's the Mel Blanc of video games.
Wonder if he will lend his talent to the next Wreck-It Ralph movie which is going to have Mario. :D