New James Sunderland Voice Actor Troy Baker Discusses The Silent Hill 2 HD Voice Controversy

TheGamingLiberty.com:

"TGL caught up with Troy Baker for an interview about the forthcoming HD re-release of Silent Hill 2, a game that sees Troy re-voice protagonist James Sunderland. Troy tells TGL about how he first got involved in the project and what he makes of the controversy that surrounds the voice changes."

[WhiteLightning]

LOL

"why the new voices remain loyal to the Silent Hill 2 experience"

The guy actually thinks this....wow, has he heard the video comparison between the original and the HD remake, the voices are terriable. Not because they are new voice actors and we "can't get used to them" but they are actually horriable to listen to. It sounds like theres no emotion or hardwork been put into it.

[chidori666]

i really had to laugh at this new VA lmao.

this horrible voice acting is totally ruining the experience (for me that is). BUT honestly i couldnt care less.

i have the original -> win!

[BubbleSniper]

I have both SH2 and SH2 greatest hits. I have SH3, SH4, SH Origins(PSP and PS2), Play Novel, Lost memories, Homecoming PC and PS3, making of 2 and 3 and of course SH1 black labelx2, one still sealed right next to my still sealed FFVII black label /brag

If I want SH HD all I gotta do is put my disc in or run an ISO ripped from my disc and put my GPU to work after setting it all up. which it is. BIG SMILE

[SephirothX21]

I know but you'd still be an a$$hole...

[BrightFalls76]

I second the LOL.

For the most part I assume that the majority of people who would be interested in a Silent Hill HD collection are those who have played the originals. As a long time fan of 1,2,3 and yes, even part 4 this was the collection above all collections I was waiting for.

I was dissapointed as many others to find out there would be new voice work but got over it quickly, waiting to see how it turned out. But I have to agree with chidori666, the new actors are awful and since Silent Hill is truly an experience that's a deal breaker.

Looking at my shelf of the first four parts of the series I am happy to play those again in the future and skip the HD "collection" all together. Konami really messed this up big time.

[Rashonality]

i think the guy did a decent job, but overall the voice acting is crappy just like the original.

[Pozzle]

I think the problem with the new voice acting is that it just doesn't suit the characters. The old voice acting wasn't the best (iirc James's voice actor was a random guy who decided to audition for the lolz), but at least they suited the characters' personalities. Eddie sounded childish and immature, Maria switched from 'sweet and loving' to 'crazy and psychotic' within a heartbeat, James was clueless and dopey, etc.

The new VAs seem to be trying too hard to make the game more serious, but forgetting that these characters aren't all that serious to begin with. They're all batshit insane and it shows through their voices.

[Mr Tretton]

"So it’s not that Konami wasn’t willing to pay them, he (Guy) wanted residuals, he wanted non-existent money that he felt that he was owed. So Konami has no fault in this whatsoever. And they wanted to use him again. Guy was the one who was outspoken about it and said that unless this happens he wouldn’t do it, so he forced Konami’s hands. So if anybody wants to blame anybody for why they chose new voices, they can go back to the original James and he’s the one to blame."

[Mr Tretton]

"The thing that I have learned, especially with the Japanese companies, is that you never ever speak out. You never bash your employers. You never bash the people who gave you a huge leg up no matter what they’ve done or what you feel that they’ve done. But the fact that he’s talking about residuals being in videogames shows you just how out of the loop he is because residuals don’t happen. They don’t exist."

[BubbleSniper]

lol he is a forward thinker. Games are making more money than Hollywood now. a whole new can of worms is going to be opened and is currently being opened right now. the more KNOWN TALENT from movies that do voice acting or model themselves for games the more money will become involved.

the ESA is one burden of proof.. all we need now is a union for game devs and BOOM

[tack129]

I never played Silent Hill 2 or 3 but played 1, 4 and Homecoming so I have some interest in the collection.

Honestly in my opinion, in terms of voice acting it's like comparing one piece of turd to another. From what I hear, the voice acting in 2 was actually bad to begin with and seeing a comparison vid between the two I don't see the new VAs being any good either.

Either way if I play the originals or the new collection I would still be bothered by voice acting.

[Rocket Sauce]

I can't bring myself to listen to the new voice over - not because the original was amazing or anything, but Silent Hill 2 is in the can. It's been in the can for 10 years and I'd rather just stick to the version I remember from way back when.

This interview is great, though. Acting in games has come a LONG way from all that awkward, goofy stuff you saw in Final Fantasy 10, House of the Dead 2 or even Silent Hill 2.

It's cool that most people out there today seem to really dig their jobs...and it's nice to see Bioshock Infinite is in good hands.

But seriously, don't ever recast House of the Dead 2...

[bigevilworldwide]

Like Konami games EVER have good voice acting Konami has the worst voice acting of anyone, just thinking about the metroidvania lines....

You steal mens souls.....
what is a man but a miserable pile of secrets have at you...
just makes me shudder

[NarooN]

Konami has never had good voice acting?

I wasn't around when it was unanimously decided that MGS's voice acting was considered bad.

Oh, and SH3's voices were actually good, yet no one ever mentions those.

[Inception]

Troy Baker is a great VA. And i don't want to judge his performance before i play the game completely :)

[Ramas]

Hes voice is the only one that sounds good, all other new voices are very bad

[Ramas]

i like new james voice even better, however other voices sucks