Easily Identifiable Voice Actors in Video Games

[recurve6]

After rewatching a bunch of Unskippables today, I noticed a lot of the same voices, namely Paul Eiding, Chris Sabat, Liam O'Brien, and, of course, Steve Blum. The problem with some of these identifiable VAs is that they are frequently associated with another role, usually their most popular (Spike Spiegel).

Do you think that having one of these voice actors can detract from a game's character development due to their wide usage even if they give a great performance?

I love all of these guys, btw. Especially Steve Blum - he's awesome.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Nolan North, Steve Blum and Jennifer Hale are the first to come to mind.

Steve Blum, man, that guy's voice is like cigarette smoke dancing tentatively across a silk scarf

 

[Aircross]

I can recognize Yuri Lowenthal. He's kinda shoehorned into the teen or young adult with the scratchy higher mid-range voice.

 

[hazabaza1]

Nolan North, Steve Blum and Jennifer Hale are the first to come to mind.

Steve Blum, man, that guy's voice is like cigarette smoke dancing tentatively across a silk scarf

Not quite so recognizable at times.
But yeah, this bunch, plus others like Yuri Lowenthal, Johnny Yong Bosch, Laura Bailey, Paul Eiding, David Hayter, whoever the fuck does Teddie in Persona 4 (Dave Gotterman or something). Robin Atkin Downes too.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Liam O'Brian, Yuri Lowenthal, Troy Baker and Steve Blum are my 4 most easily recognizable voices. I can recognize them instantly. I can also pick up on Will Yun Lee's voice, because to me he sounds like a mix of Troy Baker and Yuri Lowenthal put together. Which is perfectly okay in my book.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Keith David. Goliath, Facilier, Anderson, he's awesome in pretty much everything.

 

[scorptatious]

I notice that people like Steve Blum, Tara Strong, and Laura Bailey are pretty easy to recognize in most of the games I play.

Seriously, how is it the guy who voices meek and kinda wimpy Karl from Valkyria Chronicles also play as the motherfucking god of war?

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Nolan North, Steve Blum, John DiMaggio, David Hayter, Jennifer Hale and so on. Speaking of Hayter, he was apparently also the (co-)writer of the first two X-men movies and the Watchmen movie.

Also, EMPEROR WAKAMOTO

Spoiler: MAKUSHIMAMU SHUPEEDO!!!

 

[Swyftstar]

I can recognize Claudia Black as soon as a character opens their mouth. Of course I have the serious hots for Aeryn Sun so that's probably why I can recognize her so readily.

 

[recurve6]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned James Arnold Taylor yet, whom I forgot to add to the original post.

 

[TrevHead]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Patrick Steward, he's just about the only VA I do know

 

[teqrevisited]

Quinton Flynn. Absolutely unmistakeable intonation on certain sounds.

 

[Launcelot111]

Whoever does Akihiko in Persona 3. I remember playing through New Vegas and thinking "oh there's Akihiko, and there he is again, and well now, look who we have here." Does this guy not have other voices?

 

[Applejack]

Michelle Ruff. I hear her everywhere.

 

[Nerexor]

Crispin Freeman. I recognized him as the wizard in Diablo 3 pretty quickly. Though I was saddened that he didn't engage in any Alucard-style maniacal laughter. I mean come on, what wizard wouldn't want to laugh maniacally as his enemies explode in torrents of fire and lightning?

 

[Some_weirdGuy]

I enjoy recognising voices, it's almost like a little easter egg for the game/anime that you'll only 'get' once you've heard them in a few other things.

I guess if you become too familiar with the voices it might not be so entertaining, but I'm not quite at that point myself.

(on a side note, I think http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/ is a great website Always cool to find out what characters are all voiced by the same person)

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

He's not in as many video games as say, Steve Blum, but I can identify Ron Perlman immediately when he starts talking.

Yuri Lowenthal, Laura Baily and Johnny Yong Bosch, why the hell are they in bloody EVERYTHING!?

Because casting directors thought they did the best audition.