Yakuza: Like a Dragon - Review @ RPG Site
- Thread starter HiddenX
- Start date
vanedor
Keeper of the Watch
Forgive me if I ask a stupid question but…
I have never been a fan or jrpg, but I'm not sure to understand the interest of playing a game with voices you don't understand? The English-speaking voice actor tend to not be as good as the Japanese's?
Irian
Atheistic Pirate
I would assume it's a similar reason to why I like to watch anime in Japanese with subtitles (because my Japanese isn't good enough for something like that - yet): Somehow the sound of the language is part of the feeling. In English (or German, for that matter) it feels different.
Please note: I do not believe that this way of watching movies is "better" or "more true" or some other bullshit like that. It's a personal preference, nothing more. Could also just be a habit.
- Joined
- April 12, 2009
- Messages
- 23,459
It's not about being good but about emotion that is language specific in this case.
Exactly. Subtitles.
Additionally, PC got lucky unlike consoles and our subtitles aren't microscopic.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 23,459
Gwendo
Sentinel
- Joined
- July 30, 2007
- Messages
- 320
Usually a translation isn't as faithful and thorough as the original. I don't mean only about the text, I mean the type of voices, the way it's spoken, the emotion it conveys.
Also, usually voice overs aren't as diverse as for the original language. So we get more voices per voice actor and it shows.
The fact that we don't know japanese, helps to hide a little bit the performance of the voice actor. In english or another language we understand fairly well, we notice everything (wooden acting, talking as if reading, a wrong tone, etc…).
OTOH, sometimes japanese girl voices can get on my nerves, as they usually go for the high pitch squicky type, as if most women were little girls…
But that's japanese culture, were men value how girly a woman is.- Joined
- Jul 30, 2007
- Messages
- 320
shamroxor
Watchdog
I played through the Witcher in Polish, with English subtitles. I hate recognising the same English voice actors who seem to voice a lot of different games. That irritation doesn't happen when its in a foreign language.
Zloth
I smell a... wumpus!?
PC Gamer was mixed on it, too. There was a lot the reviewer liked but he said there were a LOT of random battles. Unlike the other Yakuza games, though, you can't just fly through the easy ones so they got to be a real chore.
As for playing in the native language + subtitles vs. English, it kinda depends for me. I'll try it in English and, if I like it, I'll leave it. If not, I'll switch. (Assuming it gives me a choice. Yakuza 0 didn't.)
As for playing in the native language + subtitles vs. English, it kinda depends for me. I'll try it in English and, if I like it, I'll leave it. If not, I'll switch. (Assuming it gives me a choice. Yakuza 0 didn't.)
All that volcanic landscape in Japan makes for more helium content in the atmosphere and... uhhh... ok, you're right.OTOH, sometimes japanese girl voices can get on my nerves, as they usually go for the high pitch squicky type, as if most women were little girls…
I kinda like that, actually - especially if I don't notice until near the end of the game. For instance, the main character voice I used in Divinity 2 also played Malady in Divinity: Original Sin 2.