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It's different from game to game. Blue Dragon, jap voices. Lost Odyssey, eng voices.
I think it all falls down on the characters, some characters just sound better as they were intended while others was better thought out with a second shot.
Also, if the game is set in a real-world setting, most often will I side with the nations language. Which is why I'm sad every single Chinese person in Shenmue II knows Japanese/English.
I think it all falls down on the characters, some characters just sound better as they were intended while others was better thought out with a second shot.
Also, if the game is set in a real-world setting, most often will I side with the nations language. Which is why I'm sad every single Chinese person in Shenmue II knows Japanese/English.
Japanese games with Subs. Maybe it's because so much Anime have trained my ears, but we gotta admit that Japanase voice actors put a lot more effort and emotion to what they are doing, you can really feel the work to really try to be the character and coming from Japan, it really fits more. I just feel kind of ankward watching Anime or Japanese shows with Japanese People talking perfect english. It's just...weird. I prefeer the subs.
I tend to prefer subs, but there are a few instances where the dubs can lead to some absolute comedy gold.
For instance: in Arc Rise Fantasia, there's a cutscene where L'arc yells out "Oh no, they've broken through the gate!" or something along those lines with absolutely no inflection or emotion. It was absolutely hilarious the first time I played it, and it still makes me chuckle whenever I think about it.
For instance: in Arc Rise Fantasia, there's a cutscene where L'arc yells out "Oh no, they've broken through the gate!" or something along those lines with absolutely no inflection or emotion. It was absolutely hilarious the first time I played it, and it still makes me chuckle whenever I think about it.
Personally my husband and I both believe that it depends on the game's genre and the quality of voice acting on either side. However, we do tend to lean towards Japanese voices when then option is available and all around prefer a choice.
No Japanese games catch my attention (especially not the awful JRPGs), but if I had to choose, I'd choose subtitled.
After listening to the English trailer for The 3rd Birthday, I can say I think the dubbing is bad, and would rather have it in japanese than listen to ear cancer.
I actually prefer dubs, but if the dub is bad give me subs please. Depends on the game, but for the most part dubs are my preference. I don't see why people want subs so much when dubs can be very well done if they're actually worked on.
If they pick decent voice actors this can really lift the game for English speaking audiences. However in many games the English speaking actors do not capture the character as well as the Japanese voice actors. in these cases i definitely lean towards subtitles as preference
I don't buy Japanese games.. but if I were to, I'd prefer the game to actually be in English.
Depends on what you mean by Japanese.. I mean, if you mean simply published from a company in Japan, I may buy it if it interested me, but if you mean localized, completely every word written in Japanese, and all of that anime bullshit, then hell no.
Depends on what you mean by Japanese.. I mean, if you mean simply published from a company in Japan, I may buy it if it interested me, but if you mean localized, completely every word written in Japanese, and all of that anime bullshit, then hell no.
I prefer both. A good dub is a good dub. A bad dub is a bad dub. There is a lot of overlap, but the original Japanese can't be ruined by dubbed audio. Only by the developers poor choices.
I'd say that I prefer subs because I'm more conservative in the answer, but as media importers, these companies should know the extent of whether they can hire a good VA team.
Also, whatever happened to "both" as an answer.
I'd say that I prefer subs because I'm more conservative in the answer, but as media importers, these companies should know the extent of whether they can hire a good VA team.
Also, whatever happened to "both" as an answer.
I like having the option to turn on Japanese voices. While I do agree with Danzflor about Japanese voice actors being really dedicated, we've seen some great Voice Acting in english in the past couple of years that shouldn't be overlooked.
I prefer subs far more than dubs. Though I don't mind dubs when they're well done, it seems that most JRPG localization teams usually only have enough VO money to hire some people off of the street. I'd rather have the voice-overs spoken decently in a language I don't understand, than have them spoken atrociously in English.
I only prefer dubs when they are very well done. If a game is not going to be released state side because the publisher doesn't have enough money to pay for well done English dubs, then I say release it with subs, something is always better than nothing.
Seconding Sir Tobbii really. It typically depends on the characters, setting and themes of the game. Neither is outright or overall better than the other. There are just as many bad Japanese voice overs as there are bad English voice overs, in some games text is fine and in others it can actually hinder gameplay.
So it all depends. Siding with one over the other is a little silly and seems to only ever come from either blind hatred of or mindless love for anything Japanese.
That said, if a gun was pointed at my head and I absolutely had to choose one method to take over all game releases in the west then I'd go with English dubs. Subtitles take up a portion of the screen, dubbing doesn't. That can be quite important in some games.
So it all depends. Siding with one over the other is a little silly and seems to only ever come from either blind hatred of or mindless love for anything Japanese.
That said, if a gun was pointed at my head and I absolutely had to choose one method to take over all game releases in the west then I'd go with English dubs. Subtitles take up a portion of the screen, dubbing doesn't. That can be quite important in some games.
I prefer subs but a good dub(the Persona series) can be enjoyable. I really like the option for both to be included but if not, subs.
It's a simple either-or. If you are able to do a good job on the English voices, then English voices are preferable. If you aren't able to do a good job on the English voicework, then subtitles are preferable. There are few things that will scare off a gamer quite as quickly as awful voice acting.
SUBS! So desu yo! Even after studying just a wee bit of Japanese, I would prefer the subs. No matter how great the translation, there is always something lost in translation (no allusion to the film).
I am not a hipster, yet I have always enjoyed anything in its original language. I really get into languages though, so I would say I am not a typical gamer in the USA.
KEEP THEM SUBBED PLEASE! It is cheaper and quicker.
I am not a hipster, yet I have always enjoyed anything in its original language. I really get into languages though, so I would say I am not a typical gamer in the USA.
KEEP THEM SUBBED PLEASE! It is cheaper and quicker.
In a perfect world it'd be nice to have an option for both languages, but realistically it's often not possible because of memory constraints and/or budget for the international release. I'd rather have subtitles than a dub though, I prefer any game/movie/show in its original language.
SUBS SUBS SUBS only in rare occasions do I prefer dubs and that is in case's of things like dragon ball z
If had to choose if a game received one or the other, I would choose English voice dubbing. English voice acting isn't nearly as bad as some people seem to think it is. As someone who has heard a lot of Japanese and English voice acting, I even think that current English voice acting is sometimes better at capturing more subtle emotions. Of course, I also really liked Lightning's voice work from FFXIII, and everyone seems to think I'm crazy. :P
Of course, what would be preferable is if they both tracks were available, with the English script just displayed as subs for the Japanese track. However, I understand that this makes a game more expensive to produce. Maybe this company can take a page from Square-Enix's book and release "International Editions" for a premium that have both tracks for those that want the option.
Of course, what would be preferable is if they both tracks were available, with the English script just displayed as subs for the Japanese track. However, I understand that this makes a game more expensive to produce. Maybe this company can take a page from Square-Enix's book and release "International Editions" for a premium that have both tracks for those that want the option.
I have a preference for the original language, especially since I can count on one hand the number of good English dubs I've heard. Save the money and reduce the amount of risk in porting a game.
english actors usually tend to fail at interpreting japanese specific stereotypes, like the tsunderes and so, for characters that fall on this category, i always tend to go with the japanese audio(persona 3 was one of the very few to take the true character of the japanese original, if you happen to ahve the chance to play this game with original vo, youll notice that the voices are similar too), yakuza 4 seems to have some good actors too, i'll go with the japanese though... anyways, for japanese games=subs, for oriental stereotypes=dub
subs definitely.. either way i'm still gonna read the subs.. so i'd at least like to hear the original voices along with it..
I prefer both, but if I could have one, I'd go with subs. Nothing ruins a game more than some voice actor who doesn't sound interested or just sounds obnoxious (looking at you Arc Rise Fantasia).
@nilcam to be fair, I can count on one hand the number of good Japanese voice tracks too.
Breaking news, video game voice actors mostly suck regardless of country of origin, more at 11.
Breaking news, video game voice actors mostly suck regardless of country of origin, more at 11.
I always prefer a game or movie to be in it's original language and subtitled in English. I'd rather the real experience that the creatives that made the entertainment intended.
I only prefer dubs when they are very well done. If a game is not going to be released state side because the publisher doesn't have enough money to pay for well done English dubs, then I say release it with subs, something is always better than nothing.
^THIS^
But I definitely prefer Subs 99%. That 1% bet is on the localization.
^THIS^
But I definitely prefer Subs 99%. That 1% bet is on the localization.
@Sherwood: There's nothing hipster about wanting good quality voice work, dude. I don't want every character to sound like an overenthusiastic teenager who sounds like they are mystified by everything that people say.
Like everyone else says, if a dub is actually decent, then I will gladly use it. But I'll take subs over shitty voicework any day.
Like everyone else says, if a dub is actually decent, then I will gladly use it. But I'll take subs over shitty voicework any day.
I rather subtitles, I think Japanese is an awesome language, and ever since I started watching anime I've been more and more interested in it, I really like listening to the Japanese voice actors, they have a ridiculous amount of talent when it comes to impersonating their respective characters, they just give it all they have, and plus, listening to Japanese and reading the translation helps you learn a word or two.
I prefer dubs, since it's being localised it should be in English.
But why not have the other as an option for those who don't like it?
But why not have the other as an option for those who don't like it?
This is heavily dependant on the quality of the voice acting Vs the quality of the translation.
I can't weigh in on this. This comment is moot.
I can't weigh in on this. This comment is moot.
Perhaps it's just because I grew up with the pokemon anime, among other badly dubbed programs, but Japanese games with no dubbing often disconnects me vastly.
Give me my media with its originally recorded audio intact, thankyouverymuch. If that means it's not in English, by all means, throw on the subtitles.
I perfer subs. It just feels more authentic with the Japanese voice overs rather than the silly English VO.
It differs if the dubs are good, but I can still deal with it. I also like Japanese with sub aswell. Of course most of time that this happens are with RPGs. But I can go either way.
Most of the time I prefer subtitles. Unless a dub is absolutely superb, it just detracts from the game for me. For example, I was never able to finish Xenogears because the dubbing was so terrible, even though the game itself is a classic.
Subtitles, as long as they are accurately translated and can be on screen long enough to read them before they move on to the next line, is fine with me.
But so-bad-it's-good voice acting is awesome, too.
But so-bad-it's-good voice acting is awesome, too.
I usually prefer the English dubs, as it gives me a better personification of a character if they speak in my native language. However, if the dub is of poor quality, I definitely would choose the subs. Games should definitely always have the option though.
I used to be violently against dubs. We all went through that phase, but it's not the 90s anymore. We've grown up, and dubs as a whole are less terrible now. Granted, for every two dozen of Atlus'(s?) flavor of the month, some disasterpiece like Arc Rise Fantasia slips through the cracks, or, y'know, you get something like that whole clusterfuck with Sonic the Hedgehog, but the odds aren't too bad nowadays. I'm all for a dub, as long as it doesn't suck.
While I could easily write a whole C-blog on the matter, I'd ask not Subs or Dubs but why not have both and let the player decide? If you can't afford/be bothered to do that, then you likely can't afford/be bothered to get good English voice actors so you might as well go with subs.
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