Voice-Acting for the next Suikoden?

[Captain Hero]

We've all gotten a taste of voice-acting in the Suikoden series, and it will be awkard, for me especially, if they suddenly remove that feature. But I voted for adding a feature that could turn it off, to statisfy another group of people that are not big fans of Suikoden or Konami's voice-actors. But if they (they being 'Konami') do decide to remove voice-acting from future installments, it wouldn't really btoher me so much as to the point of me not playing the game. I play the game not because of the voice-acting, but because it's a Suikoden game and Suikoden always gets much <3 from me.

[Flamo Bringer]

*For the spoiler* yes it is indeed so quite and awkward and there's no life in that...

and to keep on the topic, i do say that i wanted to keep it just there :wink:

[Zelphiel]

I think it should be left in. I really enjoyed the voice acting in Suikoden V. For the most part I thought it was done very well. I think players should have the option to turn it on and off though. Also a scene skip option for when you're playing through it for the 5th time and you don't want to sit through a particularly long scene or a scene you don't care for. That's the one thing that I wished was in Suikoden V that wasn't. (as far as game options go anyway... there's a few other things that it lacked that I wanted in other areas)
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[SuikoGator]

I agree with what was said earlier. I think in this day and age, it's impossible NOT to have voice acting and cutscenes.

That said, I do prefer "the good old days" of no cutscenes or voice acting. I find voice acting and cutscenes to interrupt the experience of the game, they are frequenly jarring and obnoxious, even when done well.

There were so many powerful and memorable scenes from Suikoden I and II... Remember when *SPOILERS*Ted is attacked at the palace and returns to Hero's house. When Gremio is killed, when Leknaat appears, when Odessa dies, etc. The many scenes between Nanami and Hero. Or Jowy. Shu and the Fire Card with Apple. *END SPOILERS*

The music, text and player's imagination make these scenes memorable for me. Much more so than Voice Acting cutscenes. The most memorable scenes from V for me weren't cutscenes but scenes similar to the style I mentioned in Suikoden I and II. I wish I could go into further detail on those here, but I'm sure most of you know the types of scenes I mean.

These are unfortunately a thing of the past though, and at least non-cutscenes still hold that magic for me.

[KarmaConstable]

[Yvl]

[Sailor Sexy]

[Archy]

Of course I want to keep it. Who doesn't like hearing the voices of our Suikoden characters?

And, I felt that it gave more drama to the scenes, Lulu's death was darned boring without voicing.
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[Rainrir]

[Gremio]

I'd like to have it without voice acting. The problem of voice acting is that dialogues are written taking it in consideration, and as a result, you have shorter lines and corky phrases. This was evident in IV, in the many cutscenes Lino and the others used to chat with brief lines as they were in a resident evil game.

V is a good compromise though - not only the voice acting was more than decent - the writers were clever enough to concentrate speechs in the first hours of game: the rest is, for the most part, voiceless.
However, it must be said that the slightly disappointing ending is due to voice acting: I'm sure that without the hassle of being voiced, Sialeeds and Marscal would have given far more interesting speech about their intentions.

p.s. Metal Gear Solid doesn't make a fitting example: as an evolution of interactive cinema, va has always been huge in that series. And I bet it also costs a lot. To put it bluntly, none of this is strictly necessary for an RPG, and potentially dangerous for an rpg which relies on long-written dialogues as Suikoden is.
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my Suikoden collection

[Delsaber]

Y'know, voice acting is one of the few elements of western-made computer RPGs which I prefer over the stuff we get from Japan. So I say Konami should seriously consider raiding Bioware or Blizzard's stable of actors. Michael McConnohie - as awesome as he his, whether the role be Suikoden IV's Glen or Diablo II's Warriv - is still like the only dude who crosses over on a regular basis.
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[Rune of Corruption]

Sailor Sexy I don't particularly think people was specifically referring to you. I think their just venting their frustrations over japanophiles who would exalt a steaming pile of crap from Japan over a similar pile of crap from the U.S.

I think they should keep them in. If they have room for the Japanese voice acting then great. I personally think it is a treat to be able to here both sets to make accurate judgments on quality and cultural nuances. For those who want to use their imaginations on how the voices of the characters sounds they should also have a option to turn it off.
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arise my great fool and take over this foolish world with your foolish powers!!!!!

[Masa]

After playing Twilight Princess extensively, I've really come to miss the voice acting I experienced in Sukoden V. I think having some voice acting really adds some depth into the game.
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[sybillious]

i'm for having it, but with the option of turning it off, for those who want the music but not va. that should cover all bases with minimal complaints.
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to paraphrase my fellow mod, parallax:
I hate my job with the passionately burning intensity of a thousand fiery suns.

[Masa]

What I liked about Suikoden IV's voice acting was that lines of dialogue would be skipped by just pressing X. That was very handy.
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