Yakuza followers are as soon as once more debating the efficiency of longtime protagonist Kiryu Kazuma’s new voice actor Yong Yea after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth clips have been shared on-line.
Whereas Yong Yea himself posted a clip of his English voice performing efficiency alongside the unique Japanese model, it was a karaoke clip that actually blew up within the Yakuza neighborhood. Many followers have shared their lower than enthusiastic response to the efficiency whereas others have rushed to defend Yong Yea, and a few have even referred to as out developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for not bringing in skilled singers.
The track on blast is likely one of the hottest Yakuza karaoke tunes, Judgement. The voice actor and YouTuber is changing Darryl Kurylo in Infinite Wealth and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title.
Come ON they might have simply introduced in a loopy skilled rock’n roll singer to do that, as a substitute of placing the dub forged by that. No person would have cared lol
We’d like some @Crush40Johnny do-overs patched in to scrub the timeline https://t.co/yiAYGwezsT
— DreadknuX (@Dreadknux) November 10, 2023
“Oh my god it sounds horrible,” mentioned @2005Dojima on X/Twitter. “My ears nonetheless harm,” mentioned RainBoyThatBoy on Reddit. “No method this s**t is actual,” added one other person, and lots extra shared related sentiments. Many defended Yong Yea, nevertheless, acknowledging the troublesome place he is in, having to exchange an actor who beforehand performed Kiryu throughout seven mainline video games plus remakes.
“Come on, they might have simply introduced in a loopy skilled rock and roll singer to do that as a substitute of placing the dub forged by that,” mentioned DeadknuX on X/Twitter, above. “No person would have cared.”
SuperM0haned6 on Reddit additionally urged followers to stay respectful even when they dislike the voice over. “For those who don’t just like the dub you’ll be able to say that each one you need, it’s solely proper to precise your opinions on the sport,” they mentioned. “However going to the voice actor himself and saying it’s ass, no. That’s simply straight up extraordinarily impolite. Don’t you assume he has emotions that may be broken too? Nobody compelled you to play on dub.”
Right here is an official have a look at Kiryu in English. Did a side-by-side with J for these wanting to listen to the distinction. That is among the first stuff we ever recorded a 12 months in the past, efficiency obtained extra refined as we went additional alongside. Excited for y’all to expertise the complete video games! pic.twitter.com/xAzxdtXbHY
— Yong Yea ? Eng Voice of Kiryu (@YongYea) November 8, 2023
Yong Yea’s clip, above, was additionally criticised, however the voice actor mentioned this was “among the many first stuff we ever recorded” and his efficiency has improved since. “Truthfully, even for me it is kinda unusual listening to a voice that is not [Japanese voice actor] Kuroda’s come out of Kiryu’s mouth, particularly one which I can acknowledge as my very own,” Yong Yea added. “There’s gonna be an adjustment interval for me as properly, however I believe having choices is dope. Decide the one which’s best for you.”
One of many primary criticisms of the voice is that it sounds too younger. Kiryu is 51 years previous in Like a Dragon Gaiden (the place Yong Yea will possible play him for the primary time), and 56 in Infinite Wealth, and followers are saying 28-year-old Yong Yea is just too younger for the half. Former voice actor Hughes is at the moment 57, although has additionally skilled huge age mismatches within the likes of prequel Yakuza 0, when Kiryu was simply 20.
“I am sorry however he sounds method too younger for Kiryu. The performing is ok although,” mentioned kornelius_III on Reddit. Legit, he isn’t a nasty voice actor, however is not Kiryu like 60 plus at this level?,” requested DeLoxley. “And among the strains do sound a bit flat, I am going to admit. However that is removed from dangerous voice work.”
This is not the primary time the voice actor has been compelled to defend his efficiency as Kiryu both. He premiered the voice at Anime Expo 2023 and followers instantly criticised it, forcing Yong Yea to clarify the efficiency wasn’t of an expert normal given the setting and say followers ought to look forward to the ultimate sport to see the way it all comes collectively.
Whereas that official look was anticipated in Like a Dragon Gaiden, which launched November 9, the voice actor confirmed himself the spin-off sport will solely launch with Japanese audio and subtitles for English gamers. No launch date for the English dub replace has been shared but, however IGN has requested SEGA for remark.
Like a Dragon Gaiden will reveal what Kiryu — who was the principle protagonist of Yakuza 0 by 6 — has been as much as since Ichiban Kasuga took over for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which might be referred to as Yakuza 7 beneath normal conventions RGG Studio doesn’t subscribe to.
Kiryu returns once more as a twin protagonist in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8), so Gaiden will function a facet story happening throughout however away from the occasions of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. If that is not complicated sufficient, you’ll be able to examine why developer RGG Studio renamed the sequence from Yakuza to Like a Dragon alongside its much more difficult naming conventions for Infinite Wealth.
Like a Dragon Gaiden may even include a particular trial model of the following full launch, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, forward of its launch on January 26.
In our 7/10 evaluation, IGN mentioned: “Like a Dragon Gaiden’s fight hits with flash and fury and its story is sharp, however its setting and facet actions really feel a bit on the stale facet.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll speak about The Witcher all day.