Sometime soon, though…

I loved the “Crackdown” bits: the mayhem that ensues with a friend, the chase (figuratively and, now, literally) for Orbs and just the sheer fun of messing around in what is, essentially, a massive playground. The new additions though? Yeah… pass.

The ease with which Orbs can be found now is off-putting, since part of the fun with the original game was hearing a nearby Orb and then trying to either work out precisely where it was, or how to get to it. Spotting one off in the distance was also a nice pleasure and while I’m sure that still exists to some degree in the sequel, it’s not the same with the sonar or as you mention, the helicopter. And the infected freaks or whatever they are called? Such a necessary addition in my opinion. Sure mowing them down in a speeding vehicle could be fun, I suppose, as could sending rockets their way but I don’t see the fun lasting (unless with a friend) and there were just too many of them littering the streets at night. Considering the day/night cycle in the game appears to be really fast, having to constantly deal with them on your travels as you work towards something completely different seems like it would get tedious after a while, and just doesn’t seem interesting enough to justify their inclusion.

But the demo is only a portion of the entire experience and I only played it for an hour — two time-limited sessions — so I really can’t speak about it too much. I still want the game so that’s got to be saying something, but I’m certainly in no rush to get it immediately either. Not that I was to begin with, though — but that’s for different reasons.

But yeah, as I said I wasn’t really responding to you anymore but rather everyone’s problems with it, the general complaints really getting to me because of the insults towards Nolan, the emphasis on blame on him and so on. You make great points though, some of which I hinted towards myself: there is no variation in the three different roles (I’ve played Shadow Complex through and have tried but am yet to properly play Prince of Persia) and as a result it can be immersion breaking. It was hard for me personally to go from Uncharted 2 straight into Assassin’s Creed II last year as he features prominently in both, so I definitely understand the concerns, it’s just the notion of blaming it on him that gets to me. Out of his control when games get released and definitely out of his control as to when players play the various games out there, yet he still cops the criticism because it’s his voice.

Such is the way it is I suppose — hopefully enough people have had a break from hearing him that when he returns in whatever game he does next (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, maybe?) they forget their concerns and just get on with enjoying the game proper.

But anyway, do keep on with the series because, like it on a gameplay level or not, it is his best role and I’d be interested to see if you agree with me when you do see (hear?) more.

For example, I’ve just watched three films in the last week featuring Dustin Hoffman (as part of the current Adelaide Cinémathèque season). Same actor, three very dissimilar roles, each differentiated by different physical projections and vocal mannerisms: accents, inflections. In each case, it was easy to suspend disbelief and accept Hoffman as the character in context.

But, in the three games I mentioned earlier (Prince of Persia, Shadow Complex, and Uncharted), Nolan North is (as you noted) playing each of the characters “straight” – there’s no inflections, no differentiation between the delivery of each of the characters. And even the character models are so similar that I could even imagine Nathan Drake romping through Shadow Complex. But having played (and loved) Prince of Persia first, that’s who I associate the voice with; it’s The Prince scotching a terrorist threat, it’s The Prince running through ruins and slaughtering pirates. Of course, if I’d played Uncharted first (rather than last), I’m sure I’d be looking at it in a completely different way ;)

Now, in no way am I saying that the voice acting is poor as a result – each of the characters is competently done (even if The Prince is a little petulant, and Jason Flemming was surrounded by a whole heap of phoned-in acting). And it’s certainly not North’s problem that he was asked to deliver the lines straight… it’s most definitely my problem for playing those games in close proximity, for making those associations between voice and character. So there is an element of bias there, a coloured perception of what’s being presented; but that’s the thing about opinions, really, and I’d never profess to offer any independent and objective analysis… just reaction. It’s not a criticism of North, just a recognition that these three things remind me of the others.

As for the other names you explicitly mentioned… a quick glance at Jennifer Hale’s work reveals only a handful of games I’ve heard her in; but it’s hard to compare her grunts and gasps in Metroid Prime and P.N.03 to the (contrived, but fun) Jennifer Mui in Mercenaries 2, or the excellent Ophelia in Brütal Legend, or her work in No More Heroes 2… each character felt distinct, had unique delivery (unlike the three North productions previously mentioned). My exposure to Keith David, however, is limited solely to the Halo series (and a whole ruck of anime).

And Martinet’s voice effectively is Mario, so throwing his name into the mix seems a little specious ;)

The first is the fact that he has been providing voices for various videogames for many years now, and people never had a problem with it until he appeared in a few games that were released in relative quick succession — not his own fault — and all required him to use his actual, proper and real voice — again not his fault. While I can understand that hearing him in so many games because they’ve been played one after the other can be immersion-breaking, it’s completely out of his control as to when games get released, and indeed the type of voice he is hired to convey for any particular role. What I don’t think people realise is that he is totally capable of multiple voices — and I don’t think people have ever claimed that he doesn’t have the talent, just that they’re personally sick of hearing it — but the powers that be, so to speak, choose to instead use his common voice because it fits well with that particular archetype that we’ve seen used a lot recently. I guess it just bugs me that he is copping the criticism, and insults, directly for essentially just doing his job, when ultimately it’s not something he can be held accountable for. But that’s the way things are with most topics that involve this medium, so it’s not an exclusive reaction to his ubiquity.

The other thing I don’t understand is how people are able to suspend their disbelief and watch movies or TV shows featuring the same actor or actress and not even give it a second thought — in fact, arguably, they celebrate the idea — yet it’s not allowed to occur in games? Are videogames, each and every single one, supposed to find unique voice actors to voice their characters just to ensure there’s no repetition for any gamer out there, much to the chagrin of the actors themselves who need to find work? Do character actors need to exist for every single game? And what if some of those character actors manage to find success — much like, say, some of The Wire’s actors have — do they then need to decline videogame roles just to appease the incredibly small but massively vocal community of enthusiast gamers who would otherwise whinge?

Yeah okay I’m stopping there before I rant any further and go into unnecessary territory. This isn’t a direct response to you but rather speaking out a loud thinking about a topic that has bugged me in the past. Perhaps it’s part of the blog post I was going to write about the issue last year finally coming out, perhaps not.

What I will say though is that Drake is his best role, this I’m sure you’re already well aware of, and after watching some “making of” styled videos that came out around the same time as Uncharted 2 did, I now think I know why. The actors for all of the characters in that franchise, not just Nolan himself, all seem to really love the roles that they play and, as a direct result, I think the overall performances are better off for it. If only all games gave this kind of thing the same kind of attention Naughty Dog seem to. The industry would be better off overall, and, dare I say it, there wouldn’t be such a noticeable ubiquity when it comes to Nolan’s voice work, since, hopefully, developers would enlist him to use other voices that aren’t his own, or indirectly, Nathan Drake’s. And besides, how come no one has issues with people like Jennifer Hale or Keith David?

Or, better yet, Charles Martinet?

The two elements you’ve highlighted above – the characters and the voice-acting – have previously been used in defense of the game by other people who’ve been subjected to my whinging. And whilst I’ll concede that I’ve not given the game long enough to gel with the characters (as I previously noted, I’m only about halfway through), I’ve found the voice acting to be occasionally exceptional, but better-than-average across the board.

The main problem with the voice acting, though, is Nolan North’s ubiquity. Now, I fully accept that I’ve arrived at Uncharted in an atypical fashion, but every time Nathan Drake speaks, I’m hearing The Prince from Prince of Persia, or that Jason chap from Shadow Complex. Those aural triggers drag me away from the unique character being portrayed, tainting them with other characters’ traits.

Still, I’m keen to see how the story – and the characters – unfolds. There’s just the small matter of Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Crackdown 2 to deal with first ;)

The main reason for that? The characters. Say what you will about the gameplay, graphics, music — whatever; for me that franchise is all about the characters. But if you were to ask me why, I’m not sure I could tell you. They seem like some of the most fully-realised characters this medium has seen, but they’re also arch-typical; they aren’t stereotypical though, thankfully, and each have their place within the story and as their own identity as well (something further advanced in the sequel), leaving me quite confused and certainly conflicted when it comes to understanding exactly what I think.

And then I think of the voice-acting, which is absolutely some of the best I’ve ever heard in this medium. Perhaps that makes them appear stronger than they actually are, or perhaps that just puts the icing on the cake when it comes to full immersion (in the story) and believability (when it comes to them specifically). Or perhaps it’s none of that and I’m just babbling in my confused state of mind? I’ll let you decide that one. ;)

Welcome back, though.

If I’m to be honest, I’m not really surprised that you feel this way about NMH2 as it appears to be quite the common opinion. I can’t speak to either game as I’m yet to play them (that will change, though, as I expand my Wii collection), but from what I’ve read across the various blogs out there, No More Heroes 2 is an utter disappointment after the unique charm of the original. In fact, if you would like me to point you in the direction of some of this discussion (particularly one involving the omission of Santa Destroy as an over world) then I’d be happy to do so.

What’s next now that you’ve played (but not completed) NMH2?

Check the tag for Majora’s Mask for other little whinges about the game. And yes, the adulation afforded that game really does seem out of line (says I, who remains a lone voice waxing lyrical about No More Heroes ;) I wonder how much of that praise is for Something Different, as opposed to a Good Game…

Glad I’m not the only one who fails to see Majora’s Mask as the second coming.

If there’s a question of whether it makes 2D Mario games relevant… well, I’d posit that the questioner is thinking a little too hard. Trying to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. It’s a great game, certainly up there with the best of the year for me, and that alone makes it “relevant”. As for the multiplayer aspect… I can’t offer any opinion on that at all, since I’ve never ducked into the mp mode :}