Susano and Lakshmi's English Voice Actor

I enjoyed the fights but one thing I had some mixed feelings are the choice of voice for Susano and Lakshmi.

First of all, Susano's voice is amazing! Whoever did the voice for Susano deserves big props. The jovial tone, the loud voice, and the laugh brought Susano for life for me.

His voice actor embodied what Susano in this game represented. I could ask for nothing more.

Now for Lakshmi... I will be frank. It did not suit her. Lakshmi is suppose to be a gentle but a misguided primal. She really wants the best for you, and the best is that she wants you to dream a happy life with her. The Lakshmi in English Version sounds forceful, coercive, and did not match the gentle but misguided demeanor of Lakshmi. Her voice, instead of sounding soft and gentle, sounds more akin to a man, which was strange seeing a beautiful girl having such a rough, forceful, and manly voice.

What is your opinion?

If Susano english voice doesn't have my "KA KA KA". I don't care about it.

Lakshmi's voice suited her fine, I feel. The background music embodies her true nature whilst her stern tone is born of her established frustration aimed at the Warrior of Light for trying to break her followers out of their dream like state and put an end to her existence. Furthermore she was summoned forth out of grief which no doubt affects her tone and personality. Many summonings have not gone as intended.

Haven't done Lakshmi yet because my client keeps crashing at Lv.64 MSQs, but Susano's voice acting was absolutely legit. If only redoing trials like that was worth any meaningful amount of experience, I would just repeat that one for the feels.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zuzu-bq

If Susano english voice doesn't have my "KA KA KA". I don't care about it.

---

First video I found with his English VA and no commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0J_Je-3Cn8

Whoever his VA is, he nails it.

Susano's voice actor certainly feels very fitting for Susano lore wise, and I like that kind of voice in general. He's truly someone who I can have fun with! The first time I heard of this kind of voice was from Dota 2's Storm Spirit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUH9Ewwp42Y

As for Lakshmi's voice, I see no problems with it. As she is the symbol of ignorance and bliss, she has no restraint for emotions and desire. She obviously looks angry and upset over the WoL's actions and she is aware that her values are being threathened and her life is in danger. She angrily fights back, while the song lyrics show her true nature. Sophia on the other hand is the symbol of order and balance, and such she is more fitting to be stoic and emotionless as she delivers judgement.

Susano's voice actor deserves an award, I cannot argue that he did an amazing job breathing life into the concept, and you can tell SE was careful about this choice. As for Lakshmi, I didn't have a problem with her at all, I thought she was very good as well. I think there was only so much the Voice Actor could do with her as, to be blunt, Lakshmi herself felt like a very rushed in primal, as if the developers had finished the expansion, checked it again, and went, "Oh crud, we forgot the second primal! Quick, think up a story!"

I imagine if Lakshmi was properly developed it would've worked better. Susano was certainly a surprise story-wise, but it worked out cause we don't know what we're dealing with on that side of the world. Lakshmi, however, is an Eorzean Primal. It felt like we should've known more and expected her LONG before now given the Garlean occupation of Gyr Albania.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meng_Qing

Now for Lakshmi... I will be frank. It did not suit her. Lakshmi is suppose to be a gentle but a misguided primal. She really wants the best for you, and the best is that she wants you to dream a happy life with her. The Lakshmi in English Version sounds forceful, coercive, and did not match the gentle but misguided demeanor of Lakshmi. Her voice, instead of sounding soft and gentle, sounds more akin to a man, which was strange seeing a beautiful girl having such a rough, forceful, and manly voice.

What is your opinion?

---

Lakshmi had a rough manly voice? What? Manly?! Not every girl sounds like a pre-teen. Just as an fyi.

Susano's voice is Onion bro from Dark Souls, Miles Richardson.

Or at least sounds very similar

I didn't think Lakshmi's voice fit the character either. Especially during the fight, her voice sounds like an older woman, and one who smokes considerably--so horse! I'm not saying that the voice acting was bad, just an odd casting choice.

Also, what's with that pose she does just before the fight? It doesn't go at all with the stern voice.

http://i.imgur.com/grOlxNW.png
http://i.imgur.com/Uzd8Drp.png

Lakshmi's English voice is "fine" if you base her tone off of personal perceptions and impressions of the situation surrounding her. However, if you feel her voice doesn't suit her, I'm guessing its because you're comparing her tone and delivery to the other languages, in which yes, there is a stark contrast; especially between English and Japanese. I've listened to her cutscene in the available languages, and she definitely has a subtle sinister feel in English while her Japanese voice comes off as calmer and almost, I dunno, "motherly." I'm not all that familiar with German and French voice deliveries but even they sound a tad subdued compared to the English delivery. I haven't done her fight with German or French voices on, but between just Japanese and English voices the delivery and tone of her voice is nearly as different as night and day. She sounds serene, almost nihilistic in all of her Japanese lines, but in English you can clearly hear anger/annoyance with a hint of wickedness. In a sense, I suppose it really does come down to personal preference, but since Lakshmi is supposed to be a kind and benevolent deity (her TT card says as much) then I personally feel that the other languages capture that more closely than her English representation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Warr_of_Lint

I didn't think Lakshmi's voice fit the character either. Especially during the fight, her voice sounds like an older woman, and one who smokes considerably--so horse! I'm not saying that the voice acting was bad, just an odd casting choice.

---

I sort of see where you're coming from, and I agree, there is something of a dissonant feel between her soft features and expressions and then her "stern, coercive" tone in English. I dunno, I just don't exactly see how a character appearing so tranquil and composed could make those utterances during her fight that sound genuinely upset and threatening.

For me, I think Lakshmi's English voice sounds booming and authoritative and would be better suited for the Vara's interpretation of her (the tribe we ally with) who, to them, is a symbol and warrior for freedom, versus how the Qalyana tribe view her as a symbol of grace and beauty.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cidel

However, if you feel her voice doesn't suit her, I'm guessing its because you're comparing her tone and delivery to the other languages, in which yes, there is a stark contrast; especially between English and Japanese. I've listened to her cutscene in the available languages, and she definitely has a subtle sinister feel in English while her Japanese voice comes off as calmer and almost, I dunno, "motherly." Since Lakshmi is supposed to be a kind and benevolent deity (her TT card says as much) then I personally feel that the other languages capture that more closely than her English representation.

---

This is exactly how I feel. Lakshmi's image appears more calmer, gentler, like a traditional asian beauty. Her japanese voice fits her character extremely well. It just didn't match with the character's image (especially the "Open your hearts to me" sound more coercive).

I think Lakshmi's voice was perfect, and also the VA who did the lyrics to her theme.

She's..... not.... what she appears. She appears to be beautiful, she draws you in with promises of dreams, rest, and everything nice, but she is NOT to be trusted.

I mean, just look at her theme. It's called "Beauty's Wicked Wiles" for a REASON. She's sinister and evil just as much as any other primal, despite what she looks like or appears to want. She's kinda like a succubus before they show their true nature.

Even the most gentle of individuals can sound very different when they're upset or angry...and especially so when somebody is trying to kill them. Which is precisely what the Warrior of Light is doing.

In addition to that, the Warrior of Light is seeking to 'save' her followers who by their own words state that they do not want to be saved.

Whenever I check what the English dubs sound like, I cringe my damn teeth out. Most male character sound alright, but prettymuch every single female character sounds really bad. Frankly, I feel that the issue is with them just not trying enough.

As frustrating trying to clear Susano EX is right now, it's an amazing fight and he makes it fun. We don't always get a jolly primal, and it makes things fun. His voice echos in my head now.

Lakshimi is fine. Not every female voice has to sound "anime". I see it as a more motherly voice, or goddess actually. Maybe I watch alot of cheesy Xena/Hurcules 90s type shows but this is how I pictured how she'd sound.

If Susano isn't Patrick Stewart his voice actor does a pretty good impression of him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nhuen

If Susano isn't Patrick Stewart his voice actor does a pretty good impression of him.

---

Sounds more like Brian Blessed really.

As for Lakshmi, I feel most of the "harshness" of her voice comes from the snake lady aspect of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tracewood

Lakshimi is fine. Not every female voice has to sound "anime". I see it as a more motherly voice, or goddess actually. Maybe I watch alot of cheesy Xena/Hurcules 90s type shows but this is how I pictured how she'd sound.

---

This.

I also imagined her to sound like a stern mother. She doesn't sound too different to many of the women in their early to late thirties that I knew when I lived in a particular part of the UK.

...minus the whole 'snake' bit, of course. :p

I feel like it does the game a massive disservice for people to criticise the English voice acting, too. There's been a a massive improvement in it as of 3.0 and 4.0 and the people who claim that the Japanese voice acting is 'better' often don't even understand Japanese to begin with which makes their attempts to compare the two rather moot.

After listening to both the Japanese and English voices for Lakshmi... I'm going to go with preferring the English voice. It works when you know how emotionally influenced Primals are when summoned. Her Japanese voice just sounds a little... "bored/monotonous," despite being summoned under emotionally extreme circumstances.

She also warned the WoL to stay away. Wouldn't make sense for someone to have a polite and gentle voice towards someone who blatantly ignores their warning and is a threat to their life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Theodric

This.

I also imagined her to sound like a stern mother. She doesn't sound too different to many of the women in their early to late thirties that I knew when I lived in a particular part of the UK.

...minus the whole 'snake' bit, of course. :p

I feel like it does the game a massive disservice for people to criticise the English voice acting, too. There's been a a massive improvement in it as of 3.0 and 4.0 and the people who claim that the Japanese voice acting is 'better' often don't even understand Japanese to begin with which makes their attempts to compare the two rather moot.

---

I still miss Gideon Emery as Urianger and whoever Merlwyb's ARR voice actress was.

I guess I'm in the minority here: I like Lakshmi's English voice.

It's very sultry and rather seductive, almost... dreamy. Like she is trying to lure you into the dream. It is also stern, which suits for the fact that she is trying to prevent you from destroying the dream world she created for her devotees.

So yeah. I quite liked her English voice.

Susano though... A+++. Everything about that primal was fantastic.

A bit the same in JP and FR version. She doesn't sound soft nor bubbly. She just sound like a mad matriarch.

Susano tho has an amazing voice over in every version I heard

The English VA for Susano sounds a great deal like Patrick Stewart, especially that laugh. I could be wrong though on my guess for who the English VA is.

It might be my own interpretation, but I always found giving female characters deeper voices is supposed to allude to maturity.

Lakshmi might come off to us as almost sexual in her allure to us, but both tribes of Ananta share the belief that she's their -mother.- Powerful, beautiful, loving, a pillar of reliance and source of unending comfort. Basically, a good mom.

So I think the giant disparity between the actor's cadence is more from a cultural disparity of what Western and Eastern audiences view as their cliche mother figure.

I prefer the English actor, myself.

As much as her fights annoy me, I actually think Lakshmi's English voice was perfectly fine. Her voice has the soothing maternal quality while trying to tempt the WoL into surrendering themselves to dreams while having that harsh, venomous quality when they continue to defy her and her offers of serenity, fitting her subtle snake-like traits.

Still, Susano's voice really takes the cake for me. It's just so joyful and enjoyably hammy. I can't help but to join in whenever he shouts "Wild and pure, and forever free!" every time I fight him. I suspect his VA had a blast voicing his lines. It made learning his EX fight fun for me, actually. Definitely a favorite Primal of mine!

I'll admit at first I felt Lakshimi's voice didn't suit the whole "beautiful enchantress/seductress/etc." aesthetic I perceived her to have but after reading everyone's points and understanding the circumstances under which she was summoned, I think it's actually rather fitting.

Susano's was really fun, and I wasn't expecting him to have that kind of voice when they first announced him. But I was pleasantly surprised. It kind of reminds me of a more jolly Ramuh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daralii

I still miss Gideon Emery as Urianger and whoever Merlwyb's ARR voice actress was.

---

Oh god Merlwyb's ARR voice was perfect, and I was really upset to see that they changed it. Same with Raubahn's. I feel their new voices sounded so mellow and bland compared to how they were before.

I'm in the camp that feels that Lakshmi's voice was too harsh and imperious in a role that should have been comforting and nurturing. She should be trying to lure the WoL with her promises of peaceful slumber, not commanding hir to submit. She should be a mother trying to soothe her willful child to sleep.

Folks have postulated that her commanding nature is due to the fact that she's frustrated with the WoL's persistent resistance and attempts to free her followers from bliss, or that the circumstances of her summoning have changed her personality. Neither of these arguments takes into account that the things she's actually saying during the fight are clearly meant to be soothing and nurturing - she's just saying them with a commanding tone that really doesn't make sense. If she was really frustrated or angry, she'd have different dialog.

I haven't heard the Japanese version, but the way people describe it implies to me that Lakshmi was, indeed, intended to have a calming and soothing voice, and I don't feel that the English version meets those criteria.

I will, however, join the nigh unanimous agreement that Susano's voice was pretty much perfect. XD

I'd just switch lakshmi's voice with Sophia's

I feel Lakshmi's voice fits her because it alludes to her true nature. The whole loving motherly quality is actually an allusion. Lakshmi's true personality is actually quite sinister, and in a way she is worse than Sophia in promising false "bliss". Think of it like a Genie who twists the words of your wish into their own desire, so that you reap the folly. She knows she is manipulating you and when you don't fall for her tricks her true colors show.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Destati

Oh god Merlwyb's ARR voice was perfect, and I was really upset to see that they changed it. Same with Raubahn's. I feel their new voices sounded so mellow and bland compared to how they were before.

---

Interestingly enough, I don't think Merlwyb has had a voiced cutscene since... well, I guess 3.0?

Ow..Lakshmi's english voice is so bad
Just checked it for the first time and compared to the japanese one..it's bad

It's not even the language, it's the personality, the english voice sounds nothing like a graceful and beautiful primal

Okay so I just listened to the Japanese voice, and honestly they aren't so different. Both are of a mature deeper tone. But I will say the Japanese voice has a sorta sadness to it. But intonationwise she seems to match the English. I listened to the other laguages too and they were okay, but I have no frame of reference to go on; aside from tbe stereotypical angry french lover and stern german woman. T.T

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ghastly

Ow..Lakshmi's english voice is so bad
Just checked it for the first time and compared to the japanese one..it's bad

It's not even the language, it's the personality, the english voice sounds nothing like a graceful and beautiful primal

---

But once you take into consideration that she was summoned under certain conditions (like Titan in that one cutscene with the child kobold) and that we completely disregard her warning, it makes sense.
She even has a line or two where she doesn't sound harsh at all and instead, rather sad. "Why? I offer you peace and serenity," and "darkness holds no solace..."

If she were summoned under "normal" circumstances, then she would probably have a voice similar to that of the Japanese version. Soothing, alluring, etc.

Lakshmi sounds like she was summoned by a distressed, mature, and authoritative mother. Not surprised she came out sounding mature and creepy instead of a beautiful graceful immaculate deity birthing the world's savior.