31-Day Mage Challenge: Day Twelve – “Favorite Video Game Voice Actor?”
3 min read
Voice acting isn’t a totally new convention in gaming but it’s become essential nowadays. How jarring is it to buy a new release and discover that you still have to read it for yourself? I mean, who reads any more? Yet despite the prevalence of modern day voice acting, it can still be a hit or miss. Voice actors can make or break a scene, a moment, a storyline, heck, even a whole game. And it’s been a plague that’s come around now and then for a while…
So thank your lucky Cheerios that video game developers have taken to attracting voice actors who are actually actors first and foremost. These are people with characteristic and unique voices that act their parts rather than merely read lines. They save games. Therefore…
“Who is your Favorite Video Game Voice Actor?“
The Timely Mage
There are so many talented voice-actors out there which makes it extremely difficult to pick just one but if I had to pick one I’d say Nolan North. Not only does he have such a great range but his portrayals are always very authentic. He’s also probably the best one known for bringing video game voice-acting into the limelight by giving a face and (incoming pun) “voice” to this important role. However I just wanted to note if I were going to include anime and cartoons I would probably have picked Laura Bailey who also does great voice-acting in video games but I liked most of Nolan’s game characters a bit more.
The Black Humor Mage
David Hayter is my favorite voice actor for the sole reason that he performs as my favorite voice in video games: Solid Snake. It’s a really distinct voice with the over-the-top gruff you want all your action heroes to have.
The Rage Mage
Did you know Lance Bass of Spice Girls voiced Sephiroth on Kingdom Hearts? I know. Don’t worry. I laughed till I peed myself too. That makes the silver-haired Sephora not at all scary. Sorry, Lance. Make better career decisions.
The Green Screen Mage
Keith David, just overall in video games and the like. He plays the Arbiter in Halo, my favorite character in my favorite series. I could listen to his voice all day long.
The White Out Mage
Haha whoever it was who voiced Donkey Kong on Mario Kart 64! “Iurr Iurr Iurr!”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By3b4RFTL98&w=560&h=315]
The Well-Red Mage
Charles Martinet came so close to top spot for being the voice of childhood glee. But I gave my pick to the voice of the greatest comic book villain in history: Mark Hamill as the Joker, appearing in the Arkham series and based on Batman: the Animated Series.
Who knew that the innocent Skywalker could play the Clown Prince of Crime so well? That man’s vocal range is ridiculous and he mastered the character, able to go from playful whimsy to menacing, irredeemable evil in a mere moment. Plus, how many voice actors do you know of that can spell the name of the game they appear in with their own name?
Did you enjoy this post? Consider becoming a Warrior of Light and join us in restoring integrity and quality to entertainment journalism. We specialize in long-form, analytical reviews and we aim to expand into a podcast and webzine with paid contributors! See our Patreon page for more info!
Huge massive shouts to veryverygaming as I agree totally! If Guybrush needed a voice, I’m glad Dom made it cos he ‘Made’ it! Also kudos for shout out to ‘Shadow of Memories’ (didn’t get all endings as it wore both me & Mum out tryin ta follow it, still saddens me to this very day *Sighs*)
Also mad props to Nolan north, he’s OK, Mark Hamill ‘Is’ the Joker! & David Hayter ‘Is’ Solid Snake! Nowt against sutherland, s’jus, he’s a movie guy, hayter’d been doin it for literally yrs…. Robbed, I tells ya, Robbed!!! *Grins*
I personally also like whoever does Yoshi!!!
I nominate who originally played Lara Croft. The voice is mostly husky and arrogant, but can be friendly when communicating with the player. Keeley Hawes, from some of the later games is also good, but her voice is a little high and girly. I agree David Hayter was good as Soild Snake, but I also liked Cam Clarke as Liquid Snake. Amongst the gruff voices was this high-pitched British accent, whose voice had a suggestion of madness.
I was actually nominating Shelley Blond, the first actress to play Lara Croft.
Gotta say, I like Ned Luke as Michael “De Santa” Townley, Shawn Fonteno as Franklin Clinton and Steven Ogg as Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V.
But similarly, there’s Tim Phillips as Dante from DmC: Devil may Cry. It’s his Australian accent that really penetrates my ears.
I can second Dante!
Aw I thought Lance actually did a good job! He had kind of a “voice of the legion” thing effect going on. But…tbh when I first heard about it, I laughed, too, then I was annoyed because Sephiroth is my favorite thing ever. When I heard it though I was like “Hm not bad,” but I think the Japanese voice actor in Advent is MUCH better, because, well, some things just sound better in Japanese. I have a pipe dream voice acting list that I would’ve loved, but it would never happen (I’m also a huge Anglophile, which is a major clue lol). If we were doing most hated voice actor I’d go on a tirade, but I’ll keep this a positive reply 🙂
I’d have to say one of my favorites is the actress who voices Fem Shep in Mass Effect. So sultry ❤️
I think the Rage Mage just needed a target! lol
Two big ones that stand out to me in different areas. On the comic side, I love Dominic Armato as Guybrush Threepwood. Just embodies the character: bumbling and good natured. On the serious side, I’d have to say Charles Martinet – and NOT because of Mario. Besides Mario, Martinet did excellent voice work in an underrated Konami developed game for PS2, Shadow of Memories (aka Shadow of Destiny in the US). He plays an utterly chilling character, Homunculus. It’s a very story heavy game and Martinet, plus the writing, define it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKD0c5WmG2c
Wow, I had no idea that Martinet did significant work outside of Mario. Thanks for sharing!
Sorry to be boring or clichéd but mine is Nolan North… I mean it has to be 😀
That’s not boring at all! The guy is monolithic! Thanks for sharing!
Say it loud and proud! The guy is a fantastic voice-actor and seems like a really decent guy as well.
An excellent list! Hamill is a genius with Joker and pretty much anything he does. Nolan North is great and fleshes out Nathan Drake to the point that you almost identify with him as a real person. Hayter IS Snake, Keifer was REALLY good, but didn’t get enough dialouge, yet I will NEVER accept him as SNAKE. He is a fantastic actor was given a subpar treatment in MGSV.
Paul Eiding, the guy who does Colonel Campbell in Metal Gear is another talented voice actor that does a TON of English dubbings for a lot anime and games.
Yeah, I’ve never seen Hamill suck. Not even on CW’s The Flash, crowded as it is with soap opera acting.
Honestly, I never understood why he didn’t move further into more movie acting. Wasn’t it because he’d gotten into a bad car accident near the end of the filming of Star Wars?
Actually I’m not sure. Maybe he had a face for radio? lol
Easily 100% Charles Martinet! I went out of my way to meet this wonderful man and regret nothing! He IS Mario!
You are the envy of the Well-Red Mage!
I honestly have WAY too many to list, but if I had to pinpoint one in particular, I’d choose Mike Pollock, the current voice actor for Dr. Eggman. He brings a unique sense of personality and fun to the character that we honestly don’t see in many video game villains these days.
A worthy and unique choice. Thanks for sharing! So many great names out there!
TROY BAKER … period
His vocal repertoire is impressive.
What got me interested in his voice was when I beat Bioshock Infinite and that clip of him and Elizabeth voice actor singing “Will the circle be unbroken”
My first encounter with him was in Arkham Origins where he did a spot on job.
Ditto. A bulk of the Metal Gear cast is extremely talented! Troy is awesome! Quinten Flynn is another that great one!