Gotham Knights is just around the corner, and fans can already expect some fantastic voice acting from the highly anticipated game’s cast, such as Christopher Sean and America Young, who play Nightwing and Batgirl respectively.
Voice actors can help make great titles as the best games out there. With so many voice actors and great performances available to experience, it can be difficult to decide which performances are the best of the best. But here are 10 of these great voice acting performances.
10 Christopher Judge – Kratos (God of War)
Kratos was voiced by Terrence C. Carson in the original god of war games, but as the franchise continued years later and placed the character in the world of Norse mythology, stargate alum Christopher Judge took over the voice acting duties.
Judge nails the deep sullenness that war-weary Kratos, haunted by all his past actions, demands. The character’s emotional range, which goes from protecting his son to full-blown fury when fighting his enemies, requires an equally great range on the part of his actor, and Judge delivers. Judge will definitely continue this voice acting rendition when he reprises the role in the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok.
9 Rob Wiethoff – John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
Red Dead Redemption takes players to the last days of the Old West and features a fantastic performance from Rob Wiethoff as the protagonist of the game, former mobster John Marston.
Wiethoff continues to do great throughout the game as Marston tries to find his former gang members to see his family again. The trials he goes through are enough to make anyone break, as witnessed by Wiethoff’s acting. Finally, Wiethoff concludes this incredible feat when the game turns out to be another game in which the protagonist eventually dies.
Metal Gear Solid was one of the first video games in which voice actors voiced the characters. Despite this, the game managers still do a great job with it, especially David Hayeter, who plays main character Solid Snake.
Hayeter takes the given lines and draws out the personality of the battle-hardened, emotionless soldier to the fullest, while also showing the fun, more humorous side of the character. A soldier through and through, he buries his emotions as he goes through his missions, but still has his moments where he lets the hard facade slip – all of which Hayeter portrays extremely well.
7 Peter Cullen – Optimus Prime (Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron)
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron may be one of the biggest Transformers games ever. And at the forefront of success, Peter Cullen, the iconic voice of Optimus Prime, is back again to reprise the character.
Cullen reprises the role as Optimus witnesses Cybertron’s final days as the Decepticons take almost complete control of the planet. Filled with heart, wisdom and feedback to some of Optimus Prime’s most inspiring quotes, Cullen once again demonstrates that he is the only one who can truly create a character as iconic and heroic as Optimus Prime.
6 Keith David – Admiral Anderson (Mass Effect)
Keith David has voiced many great characters in the game industry, including the Arbiter in Halo. Another of his iconic roles was the strong-willed Admiral Anderson in Mass effect.
While Anderson doesn’t have as many rules as other NPCs in the game, he still stands out as one of the best. David’s iconic voice helps him get through the character’s biggest moments and deliver inspiring speeches, completing Shepard’s mission of stopping the Reapers. His strength and reach give life to a character who was one of the few higher authority figures in the franchise to side with Shepard the entire time.
5 Steve Downes – Master Chief (Halo)
Sometimes even characters with few lines are the ones people remember the most. No character demonstrates this more than John-117, otherwise known as the Master Chief and voiced by Steve Downes.
Master Chief is a man of few words, he only talks during the cutscenes, but when he does talk, Downes’ voice makes sure everyone is listening. His line delivery may be short and sweet, but for a hardened super soldier like Master Chief, it’s perfect. Soldiers are supposed to focus on the battle ahead rather than engage in idle chatter in battle. Downes’ performance as Master Chief is one of the main reasons the character is so loved and remembered.
4 Ashley Johnson – Ellie (The Last Of Us)
While many claim that The last of us is a game that shouldn’t get a remake, no one can deny the stunning vocal performance Ashley Johnson gives as Ellie.
Ellie is a young girl who is endangered as she may hold the key to humanity’s survival as she is immune to the virus that is plaguing the land. Johnson perfectly portrays the girl who becomes more determined and traumatized as the game progresses. What really seals this role as one of Johnson’s best was her interaction with Troy Baker’s Joel. The bond these two share is highly reflective in the performances of both voice actors.
3 Dameon Clarke – Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2)
Few video game exclusive villains have become more infamous than Dameon Clarke’s villain known as Handsome Jack, the main antagonist in Borderlands 2. And that shame is mainly due to Clarke’s performance.
Taking the iconic frenzy to the Borderlands franchise, Clarke calls it well past eleven in his role, filled with vocal improvisations and witty one-liners. The comedy in Jack’s voice may make him seem like a comedic villain, but it’s the sinister moments in the game that bring Clarke to the fore that show just how much of a sadistic villain Jack really is.
2 Mark Hamill – Joker (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
When it comes to voicing iconic duos, no pair is probably more iconic than Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill voicing Batman and the Joker respectively – roles both would reprise in Batman Arkham Asylum and subsequent sequels.
But Hamill goes to great lengths to show why Joker is Batman’s greatest villain. His performance is exactly what one would expect from the Clown Prince of Crime: sadistic, evil, but full of black humor and jokes. And after voicing the character in Batman: the animated series, there are very few people who can tolerate the complexity and darkness of the Joker’s voice than Mark Hamill.
1 Nolan North – Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
Nathan Drake is the action/adventure hero many people have imagined being, and Nolan North does a great job of bringing the character to life.
North anchors his own personality into the character, making him whimsical and funny, especially when placed in absurd, near-impossible situations. He says out loud what he thinks and almost mirrors the thoughts of the players in the process, especially during some of his toughest and most ridiculous moments. Nathan Drake even feels like he’s almost a real person with the perfect way North portrays him.
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