The Rise Of Fantasy

So, I was recently watching an interview with Charles Dance, who played Twin Lannister on Game of Thrones. He is also voice acting for one of the main characters for Witcher III. He was talking about how fantasy has come full circle recently. Now myself I have always been interested in fantasy. To me if you are going to play something that isn't "real" you might as well go all out. Give me magic, give me dragons, give me whatever else you can think of.

Now I know others have always stay away from this sort of thing as it seemed too far fetched and unrealistic in games. So why now are fantasy games becoming much more popular? Well I actually think this can be attributed to graphics. Yes these things are just as much supernatural as they ever were, but I think the visuals are so beautifully designed those doubters just don't think about it.

Really though I think it has become the norm that any fantasy game to get into the mainstream has to be beyond amazing to look at. People won't accept a poor looking fantasy game unless they are a fantasy fan in general. Those that need convincing need the visuals to bring them in. This isn't a bad thing really. As I have always stated graphics aren't the most important thing to me, but if the gameplay is great and it looks amazing then that is what makes a top level game. One that will be played and enjoyed by everyone.

I urge you the next time you are messing around in a fantasy game pay attention to the details involved and keep that in mind when you switch to a game with another thing. You will realize the detail just isn't the same. Look what this has done for us though. With the current popularity of fantasy games they have been given more funding and have made countless fantastic games for all of us to enjoy. That in itself is something to be thankful for!

You Are Not Prepared

Voice acting. Something which has become second nature in games. Something which we have come to take advantage of. The amount of talent some of these people have is tremendous. The way they can model themselves and their voice to be what we as gamers expect it to be. There are bad voice acting experiences with anything. The Tidus laughing sequence in Final Fantasy X comes to mind, but with the bad also comes the good and the great. So this brings me to this week's list my 5 favourite voice actors.

5. Dave Mallow

Quite often refereed to as the narrator since so many times in games he is just that or HQ or the voice on the other end of the mic. He is the one when you are playing a game you recognize the voice but you just don't know where from. Some of his more popular roles are Lor'themar from WoW, Soul Calibur's Narator, CoD:Black Ops Richard Nixon and Tekken's Paul Phoenix

4. Roger Craig Smith

Probably one of the most well known voice actors since he always is the one to strike a particular one of his voices whenever he is out and about. He has the ability to be the roles he is doing, and you actually wonder how that voice came out of that person. His most popular roles being Ezio Auditore from Assassin's Creed, Chris Redfield from Resident Evil, and of course he is Sonic the Hedgehog

3.  Troy Baker

What is there really to say about this guy. He is truly one of the elite. He becomes part of the character just as much as anyone. There is never a bad sequence for him and for a voice actor that truly is a difficult thing. Some of his roles have been Joel from The Last of Us, Joker from Arkam Orgins, Snow from Final Fantasy XIII series, and the Scoundrel from Diablo III.

2. Nolan North

He is everywhere. Or maybe that is just what it seems. You would actually be surprised knowing he played some of the characters you have known and loved over the years. His ability to make something special for a character is just that special. I could list forever with some of his more popular roles but here are just a few Hell in Saint's ROw IV he even has a voice option called Nolan North. Some others include Nathan Drake from Uncharted, Desmond Miles from Assassin's Creed, Deadpool from X-Men games, and The Prince from Prince of Persia.

1. Liam O'Brien

Now Liam may not have the resume of Troy or Nolan North but I have never heard any voice that he has ever done and not appreciated everything it had. He is the type of voice actor that everything he says can turn into an epic speech at any moment. You know and recognize him because of those epic lines which stick with you. THey are the lines you say to your friends, and this is the very reason he is my favourite. Here are some of his big ones Illidan Stormrage from WoW, Caius Ballad from Final Fantasy XIII series, League of Legends Yasuo, and the Ghost from Starcraft II.

There you have it this week's list. What do you think? Is there a voice you cannot get out of your head? Which sticks with you no matter what you play?

How Important Is A Voice Actor?

Gamers like many other people hate change. We get used to something and when something changes even the smallest things we get up in arms about it. We care about the games we play and when something happens which we think may change the experience and love we have for that game we go crazy. This is why deaths of characters especially well liked and loved ones never go over with the community well. Even if the story fits and helps the game progress it will never make people forget about it.

With all of that in mind I say Voice acting is important. Just looked at what has happened when it was announced David Hayter is no longer going to be the voice of Snake, and that game isn't even out yet. Remember the uproar when Tricia Helfer became the new voice of Sarah Kerrigan the community went mad. No one can say she has done a bad job she has done a marvelous job with it but I don't think anyone could forget the threats to boycott the game over it.

Change has to happen and I am one who realizes this sometimes people aren't available or maybe someone will just do a better job. Now of course if tomorrow I found out Nolan North was no longer going to be the voice of Drake I would be confused and probably angry but I would respect Naughty Dogs choice because I think they know what is best for their game and what works. Just don't ever expect me to not remember the way things used to be.

So if you learn anything from this post my fellow gamers change can be good after all don't our own voices change as we get older? Respect when changes are made but just don't forget the way things used to be.