Talented actress Ali Hillis has done work on many video games over the years.
From Lightning in Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII/XIII-2 ,Dr. Liara T’Soni in Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy to Karin in Namco’s Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes titles, you’ve likely heard Hillis’voice at some point in gaming.
As a fan of the only video game award show airing this month on Spike TV, Hillis has shared he dissatisfaction over how the awards show fails to accurately represent the industry.
FFU: This marks the fourth time we have interviewed Ali, which is insane in itself (she's so nice!), but this one was a little bit different from our previous interviews. To start off, it wasn't conducted via the internet, but it also wasn't tied into the release of a Final Fantasy XIII game. It meant we were able to be a bit more open with the questions and we feel it's a fun, albeit short, interview.
Just threw up a little bit....
You mean the worst FF character to ever exist? No thank you.. Those are dark times I don't wish to recall ever again in life.
Funny how you state YOUR opinion as fact when the truth is yes a lot of people didn't care for her but a lot did and even won in a favorite character vote in Japan. But I know it's cool to hate despite never having played the game in your life.
It's been a long time since I last saw one of these "stop stating YOUR opinion as fact" in N4G. Every time someone talks about likes and dislikes, it's obvious that it's that person's opinions. Hoping for everybody to say "in my opinion" every time is just silly.
Heck, even if somebody said "Superman 64 is one of the worst games ever made", another person would probably show up saying "it's YOUR opinion, not a fact, because I liked that game".
The funny thing is that people only say "stop stating YOUR opinion as fact" when someone dislikes something that the former one likes. I never saw someone saying "I also like this thing, but stop stating your opinion as fact".
I think Lightning is cool.
XIII was too linear game but XIII-2 has been quite pleasant game. Though there hasn't been much of Lightning.
*raced with chocobos just an hour ago*
Agreed!..though XIII-2 had more to do but the fact of just 2 playable characters,no summons nor Lightning imo the game was just boring.
Well, I started to like it after 30 hours or so. =)
When you could pick your own party and at that point I had accepted paradigm shift battle system.
Now I only need Lightning returns on PC.
But after I finish XIII-2, I'll continue witcher 3 with that new patch and all. =)
Must be a shame to play one of the most bland, boring, depressing FF main characters to date. Hardly no backstory, development or anything.
Wow ok buddy it's clear you didn't play the games at all. She has more developement than probably any character in the franchise.
Ha...yeah.....she doesn't
When a character in a game featuring voice acting lacks most development compared to the old games with speech boxes it's a little sad.
Hell Gordon Freeman has more development then her and the guy doesn't even speak.
@-Foxtrot: Ha wow. The fact that you say Gordon Freeman has more character development than Lightning shows you have no idea what you are talking about. I am not going to continue this with someone who hasn't even played the XIII trilogy and shows this much ignorance. Good day.
I totally agree,she started off cold,no emotion & sort of heartless.Towards the end she started to care,showing emotion & having a heart.
Lol
I love it when someone makes out like they know someone and states it as fact. Mate I have and they were terrible.
Hey while you're at it, for fun, why don't you guess my favourite colour since you know everything about me /s
Stating things as fact, like stating there's no backstory or development for a character that obviously has a lot of both?
It's safe to say you haven't played the games if you say she has no character development. Despite the flaws of the game, as a character she's very likable.
Off topic, you can't compare modern voiced games to older ones. Voice acting is a limitation of the modern games. Take FFVII and imagine how long the cutscenes alone would be if everything was voiced. Of course it was easier to develop characters with text only. You're comparing apples and bananas.
i thought lightning was very deep character and a fitting protagonist. i know FFXIII trilogy gets a lot of hate for being too linear and having a terrible combat, but IMO i think it was more than ok throughout all games. Lightning returns had an amazing combat system, and the linearity was virtually non existent from FFXIII chapter 10 and beyond.
I know people are entitled to their own opinion and i respect everyones. i just wanted to say mine :)
That story and character development was pure garbage. Its why XIII-2 and 3 sold garbage too, for gods sake FFX-2 sold MORE then XIII-2 and 3 LOL!
....FFX-2 people. That story was as fun as contracting aids, her character as so bland, boring and trying oh so hard to be "kool" and "edgy".
Its a classic case of show me, don't tell me, they spend a lot of time trying to convey her "hardness" and being a "badass" that they actually don't have much gameplay of her actually doing this.....
Example, MGS3, Naked Snake, he becomes bigboss because of what you actually go through, not what they say he goes through, not just text or videos, you have to survive in the jungle, eat to live, heal wounds, deal with a missing eye as it effects gameplay, deal with the final ending as this person that thought you how to survive is now asking you to battle her to the death.
Show me, don't tell me. Often games get wrapped up with lore and speaking well of a character to the point where you've heard more about how "kool" this character is then they've actually showed you there damn selves.
ie Mass Effects codex system...
Soooooo we just reading the game as suppose to actually having NPC's tell you this? Same with Destiny.
XIII's bland characters fall right in there with boringness. Her character is just way, way too robotic to even slightly care about her.
In that, they've managed to create one of the worst FF characters to date.
Dude, you're entitled to your opinion, I just don't see why you would even click on this article if you feel so strongly against the series.
Ali Hillis, the voice of Liara in Mass Effect 3 and Lightning in Fina Fantasy XIII, has announced on her official twitter that she will voice a role in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Final Fantasy Union: "Following on from our interview with Rachel Robinson, we are now pleased to release our interview with the voice of Lightning in the Final Fantasy XIII saga, Ali Hillis!"
I think the best way to combat the idiocy that is the Spike TV VGA is to create a new awards show for video games for the real contributors. It doesn't have to be all glitz and glamor like Spike's monstrosity, just a show of appreciation for the people who work hard to bring us great games.