Years ago, games didn't have voice acting. They just had nice (though sometimes creepy) blips. As systems progressed, along come voice soundclips, even if it was a highly scratchy-sounding "FIGHT!" or "HADOKEN!" These were extremely cool, and hearing them repeated never seemed to grate. The PlayStation 1and 2 eras introduced 'proper' voice samples, which could go on for long period of time. On one hand, you had the wonderful casts of the 'Metal Gear Solid' or 'Legacy of Kain' series. On the other, there was 'Resident Evil', which was hilarious, but not really the mood they were aiming for.

We finally reach the current generation, and along comes 'Phantasy Star Universe' to pave the way for more appalling voice acting! I think my anger is aimed at the 'quality' of dialogue, cliched story, uninspired character design, and of course the voice acting. It reminds me very much of the old anime dubs, when Japanese animation first properly started filtering into the west. I have never heard so much unneccessary sound in all my life (other than a band called The Kooks, ha ha!). When these people talk, there is rarely a pause for breath. If the script has no words, it doesn't matter, they still feel the need to fill the air with useless and unwanted sound. Example: "Ugh! Karen!! Are you ok?!?!? Guh! Buuuh. *Gasp*" There's all this *filler* noise going on all the time, like gasps and grunts are being used as punctuation.

It's not as if there's just one culprit - all the characters do it! The main protagonist, Ethan Waber (whose name must have been picked from a 'Western name generator') will without fail, include a pointless noise or two in every sentence. When he gets hurt, the noise is appalling. Then there is Karen, who has a twin sister, both voiced by the same actress of course. But Karen's voice is different, in that it sounds like she's always got something in her throat, which somehow is meant to mean that she's the tougher of the sisters. Then there's Hyuga with his mock 'British' accent. It's pretty bizarre. Had they have not had voices, I could maaaaybe have warmed to them. But like so many people, they opened their mouths and ruined it all ;)

The one key scene, where the bad guy is finally killed (the usual falling to his death in a pit of doom), his character model clearly mouths a load of stuff. But in a game known for its over-abundant use of sound, there is total SILENCE. Perhaps he mouthed, "This game is shiiiiiiiiit!" I take it back, it's not really. Just a huge disappointment compared to 'Phantasy Star Online', which had no voice acting, you were able to design your own 'cool' looking character from the start, and was just a fantastic game all in all. *Huff puff*

When you complete this game, there's this cringe-worthy voice over from Ethan, Karen and Hyuga, talking about the joys of playing the game on XBOX Live, as if you could really stomach it after all these hours on single player. The characters cracked jokes, Hyuga flirting with us girl gamers to meet up with him online. I just sat there totally expressionless, took a deep breath, and turned the console off before it crashed once more (my 360 was constantly freezing whilst I went through this game, perhaps it was trying to tell me something!).

"Guh! Eyyyyyahrg! I....must...nevehearthis voice *gasp* acting again!! Whew. Bleargh! Nyaaahh! Argh!" :)

14 JAN 07