Quite a few folks are excited about Persona 4: Golden. However, for some, that excitement is tempered by worry over voice-acting. Perceptive fans noticed changes to the cast, in English trailers for Persona 4 Arena, the PS3/360-bound 2D fighter. Naturally, one might be led to wonder if the new faces (larynxes?) would carry over to Golden, especially given that the game promises “1.5x more voiced dialog” than the PS2 original. We talked to Atlus PR czar Aram Jabbari, and he had this to say:
“Persona 4 Arena, being a fighting game with one of the most substantial story modes the genre has yet seen, represents one of the most ambitious recording projects in ATLUS history. Every effort was made to retain the fantastic talents of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 voice casts, who were responsible for making those roleplaying games so memorable.
In a couple cases, however—including Teddie, as noticed by fans—and despite our best efforts, circumstances mandated that changes be made. We’re confident in the quality of the final English dub and ask fans to reserve judgment until they can see—or in this case, hear—how each character has been brought to life within the game’s full context.
Any changes for Persona 4 Arena with regards to the voice cast do not necessarily indicate changes for Persona 4 Golden.”
And there’s your answer. Maybe, maybe not. Given the relatively early stage of proceedings it’s about the best one can expect. For my part I especially loved Tracey Rooney’s portrayal of Chie in the original. If Erin Fitzgerald (who’s been rumored as her replacement) can pull of the same bubbly, vivacious rendition, I’ll be happy.
