Why did they change all the voice actors?

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Originally Posted by Elleia

Not really confirmed, just that the new voice in the trailer is most likely Alphinaud, as in the Japanese trailer it's Alphinaud speaking that line.

The twitter part is just that someone asked if SE changed Alphinaud's voice actor, to which he responded he had no idea. If he was recast, it makes me sad that even Sam didn't know about it.

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I checked his twitter, I can not find it. Could you please link it for me?

I'll keep JP voices. I like how Japanese sounds and their voices fits better to the characters. Nanamo is like a little girl, sounds like one too, when Lolorito is like a grumpy old man. But anyway, the main thing for me is that the English voices speak too slow and it makes me feel like I'm a person who doesn't understand it if I they talk faster... o_o

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Originally Posted by Indaros

Merlwyb's voice actor change made me sad. I mean "Seven hells!" :(

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lol ,the actress was swallowed by the sea! D:

I can relate, I hate random voice changes too. :| That said, I'll be sticking to JP voices, so no such unpleasantness for me (for now anyway).

On a sidenote, am I the only one wishing SE would add a language marker (like [JP] or some such) to their YT video titles? @_@ Boggles my mind every time I try to watch something and...nope...not this...it ain't the one....not this either...oh that's it! @_@

Ugh, I really hate voice acting in games cuz it's always the same non-sense... JP voicing is just as bad as EN. Just pick a voice type (or no voices aka mute) and just leave it be. Tired of the JP voices are better and EN are crap because it's the same thing from a different perspective.

The EN voice acting was pretty awful until about 2.4. Then it got pretty good (IMO about as good as the JP voices). The 2.55 cutscenes in particular are where you can really notice how good the EN voices are.

I don't mind the change because some voices (like Papalymo and Alphinaud) were a little awkward. Minfilia was bland pre-2.55 but in the feast cutscenes her voice is actually pretty good.

What annoys me more than the voices ever did is the weird olde-English dialogue. It usually sounds forced and unnatural, and a lot of times is obscures some details because I'm trying too hard to figure out why they don't use contractions or start using contrived language to say something simple.

A little off topic I know but . . .

Maybe they got better voice actors :/ I mean I do use JP VA, but that's cause some of those are my faves from anime. IF they hired the same EN VA's that do DCAU and Marvel Animated movies, or maybe the EN VA that do video games, this would be a great game, but they got the same bad english anime voice actors I haven't been able to stand for years :[. Here's hoping they got better ones.
That being said the English (british? I'm american so. . . I think british is UK and english is just england right?) VA's like from England (or scotland or whereever) were pretty good, some of the others are just so Inuyasha English dub :/

I'm more of a Voice actor fan in general, of all languages if I happen to watch something in that language or play etc. So for me, this wasn't about English vs Japanese (I also speak french, french Va's were pretty good imo), it was more about the JP VA's were definitely A listers in their VA world, and the english ones were not :/ (some were, and I like those, but some are just awful).

TLDR: Not a full on weaboo, just wish the EN VAs were higher quality, we have good VAs in the US and UK and yet SE uses some bad english dub anime VAs :/ heres hoping the new VAs are better. They did have to deal with lots of feedback on forums over lack of quality in EN VAs. They probably thought, if we change some, maybe people will use it.

Side note: As of now JPs actually use the English VAs a lot which is funny, maybe the changes came from that? Who knows.

For those saying its the same, its not the same. Japan has more of a history of "dubbing" than we do, so they have better voice actors, just like Germany and France have better VAs then we do. Its not about quantity, its about quality, in Germany, France and Japan they often dub US movies over, thus creating work for that. Some anime VAs are also the official VA for an American actor when they dub his movie in JP (i know DE and FR does it too). We have GREAT voice actors in America, they are in Bioware games, they are in Marvel animated and DC animated movies, SE DOES NOT USE THEM, they use the same bland emotionless VAs from 90s anime we all didn't like. "BY GOSH GOKU!"

The English voice acting was terrible. I hate to say something nasty but it really was awful. I switched to Japanese and later French and the difference is incredible. I prefer English as well but French is close enough for me.

I think its a good thing.
Maybe he was a boy maturing into a man and his voice has got deeper.

Only explanation I have and sounds like a pretty good one.

As far as I know, they sound the same to me. A bit hard to tell with only one line and with the music blaring like that.

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Originally Posted by Keyln

As far as I know, they sound the same to me. A bit hard to tell with only one line and with the music blaring like that.

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Alphinaud was the only one noticeably different. Merlwyb sounds different but not different enough to conclude it's a different VA. Rather it sounds like different director gave her lines/she's not yelling.

That's not a bad thing. The majority of the voice acting in ARR is atrocious.

Voice acting isn't considered a major occupation in the US like it is in Japan. Voice acting in the US is considered a side project of "real actors". What probably happened is, when they were recording the HW dialog, they tried to get back as many of the original actors as they could, and some of them were just not available due to working on other things. Voice acting jobs are generally the bottom of the totem pole for actors, and if they are working on something else they won't be available for one. So it's a cultural thing, albeit not one I agree with. I would not complain one bit if voice acting in the US started getting the respect it does in Japan.

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Originally Posted by FallenArisen0990

Ugh, I really hate voice acting in games cuz it's always the same non-sense... JP voicing is just as bad as EN. Just pick a voice type (or no voices aka mute) and just leave it be. Tired of the JP voices are better and EN are crap because it's the same thing from a different perspective.

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This, a million times this. People are complaining about English VAs, but the same complaints are in Japan as well. Like we might say to a frequently used English VA "oh god, he/she's in everything" where as with a Japanese VA, we might say, "I love him/her, they're in everything". People in Japan have the same feelings about their own VAs, that every other language has. And all voice actors are trained professionals. Though the industries are regulated differently, sadly, they don't just pick people off the street; this isn't Hollywood, lol. And to someone who mentioned crappy anime VAs; voice acting is voice acting, there is not anime, american, video games, etc, voice acting falls under only two categories, union and non-union, and both are regulated about the same; the base just determines the pool of actors the studio can choose from. There are plenty of VAs who have worked in all forms of voice acting, but might be considered "anime" because that is where they may of gotten their start.

Personally, I think it's just a stigma, that most people who grew up in the 90's have, that anything dubbed from Japan, or Asia in general, will suck; despite the industry being regulated more thoroughly, and Japan getting the final say in EVERYTHING. There are plenty of "bad" American VAs too, we just may not notice them as much because of how we handle our animation and industy. Because unlike anime, American animation is made after the voices, not before or during, so we can edit to fit the actor not the otherway around.

I think the voice acting and cutscenes are pretty awful, anyways.

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Originally Posted by Welsper59

Likewise, most non-Japanese speaking folks will usually not realize what's bad VA in that language. If you've ever seen a Japanese movie that tries to use English speaking actors, you'd have a better understanding of that (e.g. the beginning of a movie called Returner).


They also get proper direction because the director natively speaks the language.

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Im my experience english speaking VAs try to speak as tho in a theater, when Japanese try to live the character, thats the main difference.
It's mostly due to the voice direction and experience with (portraying) the character they voice I suppose.

Altho someone made an amusing post of what ffxiv would be like if it was a movie with hollywood actors, theres something there I think. In western countries voice acting isnt really a thing, movie acting is bigger. As such the quality (experience both actors and directors) is a lot better in comparison.

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Originally Posted by Kikoten

This is loosely related, but wouldn't it be cool if, for one glorifying moment, in a cutscene somewhere in the game, your character spoke ONE line? I think I saw that done in one of the Grand Theft Auto games, where your character is silent all game, and then, out of nowhere, says something.

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Heh, during my wow carrier I thought about doing that during a raid sometimes (I literally never spoke), sadly I quit the game before that happened, it would have been epic.

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Originally Posted by Eloah

This, a million times this. People are complaining about English VAs, but the same complaints are in Japan as well. Like we might say to a frequently used English VA "oh god, he/she's in everything" where as with a Japanese VA, we might say, "I love him/her, they're in everything". People in Japan have the same feelings about their own VAs, that every other language has. And all voice actors are trained professionals

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Theres just a lot more experience in Japan compared to elsewhere. Also as someone earlier pointed out its mostly the english speaking countries that lack the most experience.

The reason for that is that they simply dont dub, or voice stuff enough. Whereas Japan has many many games or anime that they voice, thus creating a large industry to gain experience in. For both VAs and VA directors.
It's that simple reason why overall Japanese VAs are a lot better. Because theres more of them, and they have more experience.


PS: I'm sad, they killed my favorite VA. Oh well atleast I can still enjoy her as Noelia. :(

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Originally Posted by Laerune

I checked his twitter, I can not find it. Could you please link it for me?

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Here it is. Like I said, it's not very telling. It's the JP trailer that convinces me that that line is spoken by Alphinaud, and the voice during that line in the english trailer is definitely not Sam.

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Originally Posted by Elleia

Here it is. Like I said, it's not very telling. It's the JP trailer that convinces me that that line is spoken by Alphinaud, and the voice during that line in the english trailer is definitely not Sam.

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Im curious how he has no idea.

Did he voice act any lines for them recently or didn't he.

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Originally Posted by Aeyis

Theres just a lot more experience in Japan compared to elsewhere. Also as someone earlier pointed out its mostly the english speaking countries that lack the most experience.

The reason for that is that they simply dont dub, or voice stuff enough. Whereas Japan has many many games or anime that they voice, thus creating a large industry to gain experience in. For both VAs and VA directors.
It's that simple reason why overall Japanese VAs are a lot better. Because theres more of them, and they have more experience.

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I would say you are half right. I wouldn't say its for a lack of experience, experience-wise I would say all if not most countries are on par with one another. I'd say the big issue is the industry as a whole. Voice Acting isn't viewed as highly as other forms of entertainment. Cartoons in general aren't viewed that highly. And that is the problem, in my opinion. In Japan, and many other countries cartoons aren't just viewed as something for children, and voice acting is regulated more thoroughly. With regular movies and TV shows royalties are given to all parties involved including the actors. But, with American cartoons the actors don't get anything, because, the industry as a whole, thinks they didn't do much, just lend a voice. Whereas, in Japan, the voice actor is treated in higher regard, just like our Hollywood actors. These are my thoughts on the subject, based on what I've heard. But I could be wrong, hopefully, but I doubt it.

Idk. I see a lot of people criticize Alphinauds VA but imo his VA fitted his lines like a glove.

A slightly cocky person who felt he could overcome any task with enough effort. That swavy intellect he always displayed. It even drove the whole plot point home to watch this same person so defeated at the end of 2.55.

This new VA detracts so much from what we've come to know of the character Alphinaud up till now from a personality and plot standpoint. Like the old VA or not, the new one certainly doesn't fit his character up till now.

I don't mind a new one, although the previous Alphinaud for me had probably one of the best castings, but at least it should match more with the character. Now his voice is like what I would imagine the average teen in ishgard sounds like.

The rest of the VA changes i've seen, still fit their characters pretty well if they aren't the same.

Tatarus also sounds much more....women in 20s like..

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

Tatarus also sounds much more....women in 20s like..

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I KNOW RIGHT!? I thought I was the only one who was going nuts wondering if her voice changed! A certain dragon and lady also had their voices changed. It's...jarring.

Yea... Some of these are not fitting to the images the 2.0 VA's gave to the characters. Alphinaud's is sorta ok but it was growing on me with the finishing of FCoB. Tataru feels off and almost too modern if that's a thing. Then Merlwyb's is just all wrong! Everything that made her is now gone... From the voiced perspective that is. An that's far as I have gotten so far.

I hope that they didn't change someone like Y'shtola. :/

Oh gods Ilbred's is so bad.

The Admiral lost her vocal bite....... Gah! This sucks.

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Originally Posted by lorel

So I just saw the new launch trailer for Heavensward and noticed they changed the voice actors for all the main characters.

Why could they not keep the same voice actors I hate when they change voice actors like they do a lot in Anime..

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The voice acting for this game sucked, hopefully they improved it.

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Originally Posted by lorel

I like to play in English so no the problem isn't solved.

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But those voices sucked. It's like that entire cast of FFXIV ARR got the script an hour before 'go time', and they were just winging it. The Ishgard general in the blue, and Merlwyb were the only ones who made an actual effort to be in character.

What have they done?! Did they relocate to Yorkshire??

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Originally Posted by Eloah

With American cartoons the actors don't get anything, because, the industry as a whole, thinks they didn't do much, just lend a voice.

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Each voice actor on "The Simpsons" gets $300,000 per episode. Movies such as the Pixar's "Inside Out" feature the voices of Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, and Lewis Black, all who are able to demand a $7+ figure salary for a single film.

The English voice acting is actually pretty good, IMO. Each character's voice adequately fits there persona, and they show a range of emotions. What I think people don't like is the some of the old english style dialog, long cinematic cutscenes where there's a lot of speech but not all that much is said to advance the plot, and just the tediousness of the cutscenes themselves.

Overall which is better? Japanese or English? That's a matter of opinion. But I'm going to guess that plenty of people ranting that the Japanese voice acting is so much better do so because they've seen a few dubbed anime with cheesy voice acting, and then assumed that's that the rule, not the exception, and made up their mind before giving the english voice overs a chance.

The Voice actors they had sucked, and per professional Voice actors.

People want/demand more voice acting.
Change voice actors who cost less and more available for voice acting.

More voice acting.

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Originally Posted by Tawm

That's not a bad thing. The majority of the voice acting in ARR is atrocious.

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I prefer the English voice actors over every single character sounding female or like a child, which is the case of many Japanese actors to me.

If the men don't sound like women, they sound entirely too angry and don't fit the image of the character(Seriously, I tried watching DBZ once and couldn't stop laughing at Goku's voice) and all the women sound like they're 12.

Personal preferences vary.

I like the new voices except.. I think they may have changed my character's.. Her voice itself is for the most part the same but she makes different sounds when firing her bow now; gonna take some getting used to.

The voices in the game I've heard so far sound the same as they did before. Alphinaud sounds just like he did before. Until someone can show me WHO the current voice actors are now and that they have definitely changed, there's no reason to believe that any of the talk about different voice actors is factual.

Only good voice actor was Raubahn anyway.

I haven't noticed any difference in the voices, though I haven't heard all of the characters speak yet.

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Originally Posted by Laraul

The voices in the game I've heard so far sound the same as they did before. Alphinaud sounds just like he did before. Until someone can show me WHO the current voice actors are now and that they have definitely changed, there's no reason to believe that any of the talk about different voice actors is factual.

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You don't have a good ear for these type of things, do you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAjRPvuMFXM

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Originally Posted by Jonnycbad

Only good voice actor was Raubahn anyway.

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You mean Urianger.

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Originally Posted by Magis

You mean Urianger.

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And now his has been changed to something horribly different :(

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Originally Posted by Akuryu

You don't have a good ear for these type of things, do you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAjRPvuMFXM

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To be honest, it's not different enough to gripe over. The voice that surprised me was Tataru, because I honestly couldn't remember her speaking in any cutscenes in 2.x

I haven't gotten terribly far, so I've only noticed Alphinaud's voice so far. It sounds different, but only a little. It could be a different actor, or it could be different recording equipment was used, or the voice actor simply changed how he performed Alphinaud's voice a little. It sounds a little less soft either way. I don't have a "favorite" voice actor in any of this. Personally the only voice I detested was Papalymo's from the original 1.0 game. Not sure if they replaced him for 2.0, but if they didn't, he definitely improved on his performance since ARR launched. :p

I'll miss Alphi's old voice, Sam played with an air of refinement and class that worked. New voice makes him sound younger and honestly a bit generic, but it ain't terrible, just gotta get used to it.

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Originally Posted by lorel

So I just saw the new launch trailer for Heavensward and noticed they changed the voice actors for all the main characters.

Why could they not keep the same voice actors I hate when they change voice actors like they do a lot in Anime..

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Why did they change so many of the key players to british sounding actors? I was kinda used to what they sounded like already and thought the accent is quite ok it's still odd to hear it now after so much time has passed on.