6. Voice Acting
Lets stop and think about this one. Your first impression voice acting isnt important! Well stop that naïve point of view and listen to this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdJgD4xKSM Painful, isnt it? Not only does this validify my argument that voice acting is subconsciously CRUCIAL, but it also gives me grounds for comparison. Now, whilst Im not saying everyone in the game deserves a VGA for Best Performance, especially some of the god awful AI wondering around and specifically the man/woman working in all the shops. But a few shining examples really excelled through their whole role and brought their character personas, be them loveable weirdo or psychotic madman, into a different and much more surreal light. Jason himself has moments of emotional connection with the gamer, reflecting his traumatic revolution into his own version of insanity. Couple this with the detestable slime ball Hoyt Volker, and it ultimately amps up the entire drama created during the scenes when undercover. Beyond perfection and, in my opinion, setting the bar for future voice acting standards is the main bag of freak himself Vaas Montenegro, voiced by Michael Mando. Anyone and everyone was in some way intimidated by this guy, its unavoidable; he tries to kill you 3 times. But instead of just being your typical baddie, he comes with his own baggage and ever progressing emotional display. If youve played the game and paid any attention beyond that of a gnat, youll distinctly remember his speech on the definition of insanity. Now I dont know about you, but I got chills. Here, more so than any other antagonist I have ever encountered, he really came across as a lunatic, not just with his actions but through and through he was mental, and perhaps he hasnt fully come to terms with this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKMMCPeiQoc His stellar performance, chock full of charisma and genuine menace, allowed him to transform into the controversial and terrifying figure capable of breathing air the air of credibility needed into such a vast and farfetched game narrative.