The Voice Acting. . .

[Odstarva]

B-but I like the english voice-acting..
In fact, I prefer it over the other alternatives.

I would, however, agree that some animations don't match up at all with the english dialogue. They should consider modifying the animations appropriately so that it matches the dialogue and acting differences.

[Nestama]

You don't need to understand Japanese to recognise when the acting is at least tonally fitting.

Spoilers for 4.3:

JP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdh1_DNIFNU&t=215m5s

EN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW0JCOaMkpU&t=36m7s

Watch the two versions of that scene and tell me one of them isn't much better directed and acted to fit the action than the other, regardless of if you understand what is being said.

I still prefer it in English :T

[Berethos]

You don't need to understand Japanese to recognise when the acting is at least tonally fitting.

The English voice there better fits the English text than the Japanese voice does.

The Japanese version just sounds like an individual getting more and more heated as he's talking, while in the English you can hear the obsession in his whiny little voice.

Perhaps there's additional nuance to the Japanese performance...but one would probably have to know the language to pick up on it.

[Ameela]

snip.

Maybe if it had been an audio book or something, but I feel like someone gesturing wildly while grinning madly with crazy eyes, capping it off with a crazy maniacal laugh, would probably not be whispering in a scheming tone.

[Theodric]

I played DQ8 on Android and it wasn't voice acted--which was nice. Then I saw some DQ8 (PS2) videos on youtube and was mortified at how everyone has an obnoxious cockney accent. Horrible.

It's hardly 'everyone'. Heck, one of the main characters is voiced by the same guy who voices Aymeric in FFXIV...and he most definitely does not put on a cockney accent in either game. I'm very thankful that there's a number of RPG's that are localised with European accents rather than the American accents that a very high number of games end up getting.

[Cidel]

Maybe if it had been an audio book or something, but I feel like someone gesturing wildly while grinning madly with crazy eyes, capping it off with a crazy maniacal laugh, would probably not be whispering in a scheming tone.

This. His gestures and facial expression imply a degree of insane glee. Even the way he throws his head back wildly and laughs looks far more fitting in the Japanese delivery than the English one. His whole mannerisms in this scene could draw parallels to Light Yagami's breakdown in Death Note when he's finally cornered (which both languages do nicely). It's fine if you prefer English over Japanese, but personally I find the delivery to unfortunately be lacking in context of the scene.

The Japanese version just sounds like an individual getting more and more heated as he's talking.

Because... He is? Look at his face and expressions which ultimately lead up to his psychotic laugh. And I think that's the route they wanted to take his character: psychotic.

[Keridwyn]

It's fine if you prefer English over Japanese, but personally I find the delivery to unfortunately be lacking in context of the scene.

Here is a question I keep coming back to...do the voice actors even get to see the animations? It happens a few times in a few places and I've always wondered if it's a problem with the non-Japanese actors not actually getting to see the scenes or if there's a lack of direction happening.

[alimdia]

JP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdh1_DNIFNU&t=215m5s

Seeing that scene in JP I have to agree JP Asahi was a much better fit than EN Asahi when you take into account his facial expressions, EN was really bad imo.

On the other hand, people kept praising Yotsuyu's JP VA over the EN one but after watching that video I'm not seeing it, the JP voice lacks emotion, she sounds forced.

[Ameela]

Here is a question I keep coming back to...do the voice actors even get to see the animations? It happens a few times in a few places and I've always wondered if it's a problem with the non-Japanese actors not actually getting to see the scenes or if there's a lack of direction happening.

There was an interview with Alisaie's VA a few months back where she reveals that they just give you a short description of the character and some lines, and while recording you will at most get the previous voiced line of dialog to play off of.
I know it's an MMO and ultimately this kind of stuff isn't that important but I still think it's something that should be looked into if possible, especially when this game is so story-driven.

[Andevom]

I guess I'm interested in hearing if native Japanese speakers think the voice acting is well done for their version. Again, I find it hard to judge even on a tonal level since I don't speak the language. For all I know, they could be completely hamming it up.