Comparing the voice acting in this game versus Titan Quest, I feel as though there’s a little bit lacking here.
Maybe a big part of why it seems lacking here is because of the tremendous variety of actors/actresses in Titan Quest - specifically the various accents.
Some of the voices are very, very good (Mornay, Barnabas) - but overall, many of the actors/actresses seem kind of…not very good.
Specific examples: Ulgrim, Duncan the Blacksmith, the female banker in Homestead (oh god), the female Black Legion faction vendor in Homestead.
Honestly, I agree with you, but I haven’t heard all of the newly voiced characters and parts yet. The best, in my opinion, is Barnabas. The pacing, voice and gruffness fit the character and the lines very well.
Other recordings suffer (that I have listened to) suffer from strong “p” sounds (puffing into the microphone) and other small noticeable things. Mostly the voices just don’t see enthusiastic enough? I’m not sure.
Kasparov the Inventor sounds good to me as well. Kind of the crazy scientist type of voice over and lines that works well for me at least.
I sort of want to retract my complaints on Ulgrim. Like, it’s not the greatest - BUT it has that sort of B-Movie charm that makes so “so bad it’s good” for me.
You absolutely hit the nail on the head though when you said they don’t sound enthusiastic enough. A lot of them just sound phoned in.
Now, this leads me to assume they used staff volunteers from other parts of the project - which is pretty cool in my opinion - but it’s also quite cringey at times.
I guess that’s the part that bugs me - every single banker/vendor says the same stuff and almost always has the same voice.
In Titan Quest it seemed like every single NPC was a different person. I realize this is not Titan Quest, and the staff probably isn’t as large here. But man, my friends and I STILL quote merchants from TQ to this day. They were so memorable. It made the entire experience much more immersive.
“Remember, me and those daemons…nothing happened!”
Sadly i agree with you. Ulgrim in particular was bad, really bad!
In general Grim Dawn is nowhere near Titan quest yet. I mean in Titan quest you have citizens chatting with each other with their little animations and everything. I saw a food merchant picking a fish up from his stock and showing it to the potential buyer for god shake! In Grim dawn we have lifeless standing figures doing just that, standing.
The only thing that Grim dawn did better than Titan quest is combat, the improved movement and the extra character information sheets.
Hahahaha, that is the other guy my friend and I quote constantly. Ever since then, any time we find a necklace in a game we have to say that. The other one we quote is the banker from Egypt “That’s it, we’re out of space!” and of course the guy who exclaims: “MY HOERS!” after you save his horse.
I really like the voice of the merchant in GD: “I’ll give you a good price on what I’ve got left…” but I just wish he weren’t EVERY merchant in the game.
This is a thing that you solve by throwing money at it. Not sure if that’s the plan, since VO juuuust made it, and for the main quests only.
Regarding the recordings themselves, they’re a little too close-miked and boomy. This works well in a narrative-style, where the narrator is in a imaginary room, but in action it doesn’t fit too well. Listen to Creed wisper on top of Fort Ikon or Bourbon in the middle of Devil’s Crossing. It’s as if we’re sitting in a closed room with him chatting.
Blending the recordings with some extra ambience could help. A little wind or battle clashes for Fort Ikon, some idle windmill creaking or water flowing/splashing for DC, etc etc to create the illusion of open space.
My post wasn’t exactly meant to criticize, just discuss. But I appreciate your reminder about the luck we had in even receiving this game at all with or without voice acting.
Hmm, personally I don’t really think that the new voice acting adds much to the game above and beyond what was already there. It feels a little too disjointed having been only applied to the main quests, which I assume was a cost consideration. I think some of the voice acting is acceptable, but some is just bad (John Bourbon comes to mind). That said, it doesn’t overly bother me that it is there as I can ignore it. Similarly, I do not like the opening animation, but can understand the need to implement such a device to set the scene for the game and polish the overall appearance.
lol that is awesome - myself and mates always quote “The Necklace”, umongst many others…
…Quick!, the monsters are coming- What do you want??!! Hurry, before I pack up!" ~ Mage Goods Merchant, Rhakotis.
or
“BLAAADES, SHIELDS, BOWS! Helmets of all kinds…” hahah that guy from Delphi, so damn classic.
As for Grim Dawn’s VO, I’m greatful they managed to add this in for the main quests, but then considering its’ calibur; greatful that it was only added to main quest line npc’s
In Grim dawn we have lifeless standing figures doing just that, standing.
