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Do you ever set a game's voice audio to a language you don't speak? When and why?
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I can't count the number of games with child/teen-esque protagonists that I've enjoyed immensely more after swapping to another language / subs. Bayonetta 2 is the most egregious example that comes to mind immediately - if I had to hear that squirrel kid say "luv" in English through the entire game I would have skipped the cutscenes entirely.
Altered Juice
Member
Nope. Fell off modern anime so I don't care about toggling JP. Was getting tired of the same 3 types of female voice anyway
Always used to play PS2-era PES with the commentary set to Italian or Spanish, or really any language other than English.
'twas the best.
/edit:
High five. You know what's up.
'twas the best.
/edit:
High five. You know what's up.
Scrooge McDuck
Member
Well, if we could give you an answer, obviously English isn't exactly a language we barely understand.
In any case, if a game is set on a specific real country, I feel compelled to choose the voice acting in that country's language if available as a matter of accuracy.
When it's a fantastical setting, I usually begin by continuously changing the voices for curiousity's sake, then settle on the one that sounds more pleasing to me. If there's a stand out voice-acting scene, I tend to replay it with different languages to hear how different actors deliver it.
I speak/read English and Japanese at a native level, so I always make it a point to play in whatever a game's "target language" is. In the case of many modern "AAA" Japanese-developed titles, the target language is actually English, so I go with that.
As for languages I don't speak, the only major example I can think of is The Witcher series, which I've always made an effort to try and play with Polish voice. But the sheer amount of ambient voice in Wild Hunt made that impossible... as well as the fact that with that game, English is probably considered the target language.
As for languages I don't speak, the only major example I can think of is The Witcher series, which I've always made an effort to try and play with Polish voice. But the sheer amount of ambient voice in Wild Hunt made that impossible... as well as the fact that with that game, English is probably considered the target language.
DukeTogo1300
Member
Just say you are fine with dubs.
Kataploom
Gold Member
YES. Because there are not many latin-american spanish dubbed games and even then, I like everything on their original language. It's not a matter of understanding, but of feeling, interpretation... Of course, I'd play a Dragon Ball game in latin-american spanish given the option since I grew listening to those voice, but that's just an outlier, also Zelda if I can't play it in japanese when I get it...
I wanted to play Metro in Russian back in the days but the shitty-super-tiny-gamey subtitles that no one can read didn't let me enjoy it since english felt out of context... I'll always have subtitles for voices in other languages than mine, I'm very used to them since I'm from South-america anyway...
I wanted to play Metro in Russian back in the days but the shitty-super-tiny-gamey subtitles that no one can read didn't let me enjoy it since english felt out of context... I'll always have subtitles for voices in other languages than mine, I'm very used to them since I'm from South-america anyway...
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
Yep, and it's specifically for terrible English dubs.
The ones that popped in my head immediately were Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders and KUF: Heroes. Those were next level bad English dubs.
The ones that popped in my head immediately were Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders and KUF: Heroes. Those were next level bad English dubs.
royox
Member
As a Spanish person I usually play full spanish if possible...but The Wither dub was SO BAD i had to put the voices in english.
For japaneae games withouth spanish voices but spanish texts i put the japanese voices if there's the option.
For japaneae games with 0% spanish I let the English voices. It helpa my brain to understand the texts better and faster.
Special note to Assassins2. Spanish and Italian are so similar they left some lines in italian, they fitted perfectly.
For japaneae games withouth spanish voices but spanish texts i put the japanese voices if there's the option.
For japaneae games with 0% spanish I let the English voices. It helpa my brain to understand the texts better and faster.
Special note to Assassins2. Spanish and Italian are so similar they left some lines in italian, they fitted perfectly.
Holundrian
Unconfirmed Member
Generally prefer the original dubs for most things.
I've switched languages around for learning purposes(like I checked the Japanese translation for Witcher 3 out a few months ago).
Also once you listen to another language for a while it's fun to discover patterns and figure the language out a bit on your own.
I've switched languages around for learning purposes(like I checked the Japanese translation for Witcher 3 out a few months ago).
Also once you listen to another language for a while it's fun to discover patterns and figure the language out a bit on your own.
Out of curiousity, how is it that you come to a conclusion which language is best? Like, what makes Horizon better in German than in French? (Assuming you don't know either language).
old manatee
Banned
I started Ghost Recon Wildlands with English language and it was super annoying. There is a decent amount of repetitive dialog, mostly on the radio. I restarted with Spanish dialog and very hard difficulty and it's honestly an entirely different, much better game. I don't understand a word that anyone is saying, so I just enjoy the sound of their accents and follow the quest marker.
Yep! Came to say this.
Kamina
Golden Boy
Usually games of Japanese origin to Japanese, if it fits the game and i have not pleayed it in english or german before.
Metal Gear is English for me, even if i had the option of JP.
Stuff like BlazBlue, JRPGs,... are all in japanese though. It just makes things more fitting, and sometimes i honestly cant stand how some Japanese names are pronounced in English *shudders*.
German, which is my main language, i totally avoid. Usually the dubs suck. And in the few instaces they dont totally suck, they're still cringeworthy at times.
Tried playing Breath of the Wild in German again to give it a chance, but stuff like "Bratäpfelchen" instead of 'Bratapfel' for Baked Appel, as well as the general way they were spekaing, which was far from natural sounding, made me quit instantly.
Metal Gear is English for me, even if i had the option of JP.
Stuff like BlazBlue, JRPGs,... are all in japanese though. It just makes things more fitting, and sometimes i honestly cant stand how some Japanese names are pronounced in English *shudders*.
German, which is my main language, i totally avoid. Usually the dubs suck. And in the few instaces they dont totally suck, they're still cringeworthy at times.
Tried playing Breath of the Wild in German again to give it a chance, but stuff like "Bratäpfelchen" instead of 'Bratapfel' for Baked Appel, as well as the general way they were spekaing, which was far from natural sounding, made me quit instantly.
The Metro games should require players to play with Russian VO.
A comrade after my own heart
Around the PS2 era I used to set the voice language in many JRPG's to Japanese were the option available, but dubbing has improved a lot over the past decade and I generally prefer it nowadays. Heck, I now find questionable dubs to be endearing.
The most recent example of me changing the language was with the Metro series—I had recommendations to play them with Russian voice-overs. It is much better and builds the atmosphere well.
The most recent example of me changing the language was with the Metro series—I had recommendations to play them with Russian voice-overs. It is much better and builds the atmosphere well.
Scrooge McDuck
Member
But Western names pronounced in Japanese are just as bad!
always crazy bacon
Banned
I prefer the Japanese audio in games, the dubs always sound awful and they seem to add one character with a high pitched squeaky voice for no reason. Listening to those games for long enough and you start to understand some words naturally.
Kamina
Golden Boy
That is very true. However, the -u sound at the end of some names, like Franku, just makes it sound funnily good.
Hearing Tom Cruise in Last Samurai pronounce Katsumoto however made me cringe. And sadly thats the issue i have with a lot of Japanese games played in english.
Luckily, in Japanese Games you dont have so many instances of western names, so thats why i originally said the JP VA is more fitting.
I think I only did once - with first Witcher game. I set it to Polish. I know a little bit Polish language but not that good to understand everything was said so i left English subs on.
I primarily play with English VO but sometimes I also set games on Russian (I know Russian as good as English but it is not my native language). I think Stalker games and Metro 2033 are way better on Russian. Fits better with mood and games setting.
I primarily play with English VO but sometimes I also set games on Russian (I know Russian as good as English but it is not my native language). I think Stalker games and Metro 2033 are way better on Russian. Fits better with mood and games setting.
Magicgamer101
Member
Only Japanese games if English subtitles are available because anime. Just sounds better to me, but there are some good englishs dubs out there.
Matt Attack
Member
On rare occasions, I opt to use a Japanese dub over its English counterpart. This is usually when I'm used to the Japanese voices already (One Piece games) or where the English dub is actually offensive (FF Type-0).
timmyp53
Member
Metro VO is actually awesome in English. Putting in Russian actually is the worst experience if you don't speak it because almost none of the non essential npcs are subtitled.
Script is pretty bad for loading screens though. I guess not understanding the narration would help that.
I played The Witcher III in Polish with Spanish subtitles (I really like how Polish Geralt sounds), which was unusual for me as I typically do English subs. But Spanish is my first language, and I figured an English translation wouldn't be any more "authentic" to the original writing than a Spanish one, so I went with the latter.
I can't imagine ever playing that game with English voices at this point. The Polish ones are too embedded in my mind even if I don't actually speak the language.
I can't imagine ever playing that game with English voices at this point. The Polish ones are too embedded in my mind even if I don't actually speak the language.
Fighting games like the Soul Caliber and DOA usually get subtitles turned off and Japanese voice tracks selected in my house. The writing in those games are awful and switching the language to one that I don't ​understand helps me imagine that they are saying things that are not nearly as dumb as they actually are.
I have an older sibling who's pretty competant at both languages and i can speak some broken basic french. Because of this, i have developed a solid ear for both languages despite being unable to speak them.
Despite being native english speakers we would occasionally watch English produced comedies in other languages and try and work out what sounded the best. IE Friends is just as funny in french, How I Met Your Mother in German is fantastic ect.
However this stuff is highly subjective. I personally look for 2 things. Appearance (and how closely it relates to my own largely stereotypical view of each culture) The second is the vocal cadence (rythm) of the person speaking. All languages seem to have their own natural rythm. Good acting seems to stay within that rythm and have a natural flow.
This is partly why i chose to play Horizon in German. English bothered me a lot. (Reasons that no one will care about)
It bothered me that Aloy's VA was American but the writing felt like it was for someone who spoke British English. Things like Aloy saying I will go when it felt she should be saying I'll go within the context of a scene.
Black Mantis
Member
I switch to Spanish if available, as I'm moving to Madrid next week, so every little bit helps. Also Japanese if a game has a terrible English dub.
Yup. Even then it has to be REALLY bad or annoying.
Quintin DM
Member
I mean basically every Japanese game that gives me the option ya.
miller.skippins
Banned
for japanese games...japanese audio dub all the way..
Shenmue 3 better give me that Japanese audio track....
Shenmue 3 better give me that Japanese audio track....
STALKER - not the russian vo, but i went an even more complicated route and got the original ukranian voices (that were patched into the russian version after release) working with the english version
i mean, there's no way for me to discern any difference between the dialects or the apparent richness that the ukranian dub supposedly has over the others, but it was fun hearing the actors and delivery that gsc originally intended for the game - and anything is an improvement over STALKER's english dub
i mean, there's no way for me to discern any difference between the dialects or the apparent richness that the ukranian dub supposedly has over the others, but it was fun hearing the actors and delivery that gsc originally intended for the game - and anything is an improvement over STALKER's english dub
I did it only a few times with a language I dont speak (russian language in Metro because I thought it would fit better and some japanese VOs).
As Long as the VO is not superbad I go with german.
...because it is the only available language (or? Thought only the first yakuza had english VO)
As Long as the VO is not superbad I go with german.
...because it is the only available language (or? Thought only the first yakuza had english VO)
When I was younger and really into anime, yeah, I'd always play stuff in japanese given the chance.
Now I play everything in english unless it's a particularly awful dub or a game from a series I'm used to playing in japanese. It's not like I don't like japanese dubs, though, if I knew the language I'd probably play all japanese games like that, but I've come to appreciate good english dubs and don't like missing sfuff like battle lines.
Now I play everything in english unless it's a particularly awful dub or a game from a series I'm used to playing in japanese. It's not like I don't like japanese dubs, though, if I knew the language I'd probably play all japanese games like that, but I've come to appreciate good english dubs and don't like missing sfuff like battle lines.
EatinOlives
Member
I set Assassin's Creed Unity to French with English Subtitles. I do understand a small amount of French, but most importantly I though it unbelievably stupid that a game set in France inexplicably had literally everyone speak in British accents.
Yeah, lol. At first I was kind of upset about that, but then got into and loving it so far.