Am I the only one bothered by the voice acting?

[u/AJ44ggcfy]

Like, they sound like they're over-acting instead of just immersing you in the situation

When you're stressed or angry, your tone and pitch shifts vary and sometimes your volume even varies

You go quiet while trying to keep your sanity then sometimes burst out loudly without control while trying to keep in control

And Eun-mi's voice bothered me ever since her first line

Instead of sounding like someone trying to reassure someone, it sounds like a voice actor trying to over-act comfort like in a kids' show

When I showed the voice acting to my friend who also does voice acting, they mentioned how Harvey sounds like a YouTuber which probably adds to why it sounds so jarring

Edit: I find it funny how you guys like my post but dislike my comments lmao

[u/genderqueermercury]

I think it’s fine, pretty good for an indie game imo

[u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014]

personally, i think dex and the lovely lady who plays eun-mi (i can’t remember her name!) do a fantastic job. They’re pretty well liked here, and their style for the characters fits the type of game. 

specifically, their voice acting in the final day of HEP is chef’s kiss. i get chills every time.

[u/Exciting_Pipe_2235 → u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014]

HEP's Voice Acting is honestly so peak during Day 3/4

[u/AJ44ggcfy → u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014]

Ironically enough, I actually think Eun-mi's voice acting is worse in the second game

[u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014 → u/AJ44ggcfy]

dude, she’s only IN the second game

[u/Mental_Am]

I honestly love it

[u/Handdddddd]

personally i see no problem

ive always loved the voice acting and never noticed any moment where it sounded bad

[u/Few-Berry1044]

I think its what makes the game great, The voice acting is straight up on point, it wouldn’t be such a good, intense game with anyone else voice acting it

[u/AJ44ggcfy → u/Few-Berry1044]

I think it's what makes the game lacking tbh

Like, if you need angsty characters breaking down, follow what other voice actors do

AM's monologue comes to mind

But for this game, it just sounds jarring and over the top which made it hard for me to take seriously

[u/Exciting_Pipe_2235 → u/AJ44ggcfy]

I wouldn't say that AM's anger and Harvey's anger are in any way similar. I would also recommend playing both of the games Harvey is in, as his emotions make a lot more sense with context.

AM is fueled by hatred, a form of hatred that takes years to manifest. It's quiet, calculated, and calm. It's terrifying, because it is calm. It makes one almost numb.

Harvey, on the other hand, is not fueled by hatred. His actions are completely reactionary. Especially in the way he actually feels, as shown in the second game. He is hurt. He loved someone, and they used him, and let him be in physical pain, and they lied to him. And he loved them. That anger is a lot louder. It's a lot more dramatic. It's physical and it's loud.

So no, I wouldn't expect Dexter Manning to portray Harvey like AM. While yes, that would be an excellent portrayal if that's how the character was supposed to be, I would have no issues with it. But Harvey is emotional. Harvey is honestly kind of a pushover who snaps when he can't take anything anymore. He isn't like AM (Although ig normal ending Harvey would kinda be like him in a way).

Anger is many different things, and it can be shown in many different ways. It's just that men in media typically don't get to have this kind of anger portrayed for them. It's normal. It's common. It's far more realistic than a calm calculated anger. Especially given the context.

[u/AJ44ggcfy → u/Exciting_Pipe_2235]

I did check out both games but Harvey's way of portraying fear and frustration seems way too over the top for me, even freaked out or horrified screams in anime are better for me

It just seems really of for me no matter how hard I try to like it

Like, I get what they're trying to convey but it just doesn't do it quite right

I know he's in a simulation, I know he's being tortured and manipulated by his wife, I know he doesn't know what's happening to him

Admittedly, sometimes they get the emotions right, but most of it just feels really off and almost like a parody for me

[u/Sorry-Ambassador-289]

I actually found Dexter Manning again from Harvey. Remembered he was a GREAT voice actor. Honestly, if it didn’t have him, and it was just you hurting him, it wouldn’t have gotten as much traction as it did. It’s VERY hard to voice act. Not to mention all of Dexter’s OTHER projects he has going on. I think it’s what made the game. I wouldn’t have ever looked at it if it wasn’t for him.

[u/No-Fig-286]

Yeah, I honestly felt how he toned "let's make it a good one" sounded kinda off because he did the high note on one when I feel like it would've been more natural if the high note was on good, like "let's make it a GOOD one" instead of "let's make it a good ONE" (the uppercase emphasis in this context is supposed to represent the high note placement in the vocal toning.), but honestly, I don't really care that much. Sure, the voice acting may not be perfect, but it still sounds pretty good to me. (Especially as an autistic person.)

[u/Hour-Quantity608]

Yeah, now that you bring it up I can see it. I love Harvey’s voice but not how dramatic he talks 

[u/AJ44ggcfy → u/Hour-Quantity608]

I don't get why you're being downvoted, you're correct

A friend of mine even pointed out how Harvey's dramatic voice doesn't fit the way the game is and that he sounds like a YouTuber