Unless the quality of a game’s voice cast is so bad it becomes distracting or so good it’s made unforgettable, this critical element of game development often goes unnoticed. I think that’s because we’ve been spoiled by several years worth of movie quality performances in enough games that we sometimes forget how bad it once was. Awful, cheesy dialogue performed by overeager community theater actors was accepted in the 90s, but that was before we realized we could do better. In today’s market, a voice cast can make or break a game.
Voice actors can either bring our virtual characters to life, or they ruin them, which can in turn break the immersion. These performances can drag the entire game down or they can elevate it, transforming it into something else entirely. After watching this new trailer for The Evil Within, I’m confident the voice cast behind Sebastian and friends won’t disappoint.
In related news, it took this trailer for me to realize that Jennifer Carpenter is the voice of Sebastian’s partner, Julie “The Kid” Kidman. You may remember her from Dexter, or maybe her role in Quarantine, where she proved she has some serious scream queen chops.
The Evil Within arrives on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on October 14.
