Is Square Enix the new Blizzard? Recast of StarCraft 2 and FF7R

[@TheReunionVII]

To see more information about the Recast and Localization changes in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, take a look at this website: finalfantasylocalization.wordpress.com/

[@R0B5e55or001]

Now the fans of Persona should also feel bad for the original FF7 voice cast now that #Persona3Reload didn't feel the same without the OG VAs

[@Silent_Fool]

Technically, it’s only two that needs to be replaced due to them being very controversial, plus Tara Platt is still playing one of the characters in both original and Reload. Edit: Three voice actors that is now controversial.

[@101caliber]

This is truly angering. I personally spoke to Rachel Leigh Cook (the original voice of Tifa) earlier this year at a convention. She told me that basically they changed the cast because the original was older so their voices change or something like that. I know she had no say in the matter, but if that is one the excuses that Square Enix used, it truly pisses me off. The original cast is still young enough to retain their voices for those characters. The original cast performed their roles exceptionally well. To be clear, I think the new cast is good, with the exception of Zack. The new voice of Zack Fair doesn't fit the character, in my opinion.

[@R0B5e55or001]

Not so surprising that even Steve Burton considered their flimsy excuses to be million dollar question of why the original Japanese voice cast gets to be part of every new anticipating game, but not him and the whole English original FF7 voice cast. I know George Newbern finds it questionable, too.

[@GabeNwagbala]

Now the Totally Spies VO's are not returning!

[@GabeNwagbala]

Pokémon: First time? Steve George and the old compilation: (crying)

[@kirara2516]

Someone from Blizzard was one who did that? Why'd they hire a guy from Blizzard? Didn't SE realize the shit show that was happening over there? And how terrible Blizzard higher ups are? No wonder the Legacy cast was treated like shit.

[@riesonomura]

it seems Heinecke joined S-E in September 2018, before I think the first MAJOR Blizzard controversy happened (Blitzchung). and this was way way way before the reports of sexual assaults and the like (before the news went public). it seems sadly, S-E had no idea at the time...

[@curtisslememusic3493]

It baffles me how little people care about stuff like this. Performance matters. History matters. Continuity matters.

[@patrickbateman9410]

9:31 "Side Scrolling game"?? lol uhhh lmao I like John but he's gotta brush up on his video game knowledge if he's going to make statements like "FFVII never had 'original voices'" and doesn't even know that FFVII is NOT a side scrolling game ...lol 😂 It drives me nuts how people keep saying that when we talk about the "original voices" like the fact the PS1 version of FFVII didn't support voice acting somehow trumps the voices we got with Advent Children, Kingdom Hearts, Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, Dissida, Mobius, and the first friggin FFVII Remake trailer that showed gameplay lmao 🤦‍♂We're not stupid... we know PS1, 1997 FFVII didn't have voices. I swear this whole thing is like a South Park episode lmao

[@R0B5e55or001]

Yeah like why need to cower behind that cop-out excuses? Why pretend like no other direct sequel/prequel games/movies for the FF7 exists?

[@Solbrave00]

1:17 the "Modern Audience" crap again. That kind of thing is whats ruining media these days.

[@MarKreationsStudios]

9:18 Was the guy saying "anyways moving on... definitely moving on..." to mock George or Kingdom Hearts? Either way, it comes of as extremely shitty.

[@lycoidkris9679]

I'm not sure if the person speaking is the same "journalist", but I very distinctly remember an exchange on Twitter regarding the recast between a supporter of Operation: Reunion and a IGN journalist who wrote a article about the recast of FF7R who also similarly, talks and "jokes" about Lance Bass being Sephiroth's previous voice actor and did not mention George Newbern once in that entire article. When pressed on why George wasn't even mentioned or noted as Sephiroth's longtime voice actor, the "journalist" flat out revealed that he did not know or even bothered to do the most bare bones level of research to know that George Newbern is Sephiroth's established voice actor. He also revealed that the only games related that he played were only KH 1 and FF7R. I remember being very infuriated reading the whole thing. That same "journalist" also I'm pretty sure went on to get hired to work for Naughty Dog not too long after calling The Last of Us 2 "masterpiece" and giving the game 10/10 review as well. I can't even begin to describe the disgust and anger I feel at "Gaming Journalism" in general.

[@MarKreationsStudios]

@@lycoidkris9679 Oh god. Last of Us 2 is the video game equivalent of "The Last Jedi", as it usually shows how much you care if you like either of those XD

[@TheReunionVII]

My guess is they were not allowed to speak about the casting change and only speak positively of the new cast and the "moving on, definitely moving on" was another journalists attempt to get away from the topic of the old cast so they wouldn't get in trouble.

[@R0B5e55or001]

How ridiculous to try to leave out the whole original FF7 voice cast after stringing them along for 4 years and then in other FF7 games like Crisis Core Remastered, they look like they're trying to wipe out the Compalition of FF7. People who say they're ok with the change, but ignore the fact that the other region's get to be part of every anticipating new games aren't even true FF7 fans. It'll literally be end of the world if they're gonna do the same by replace Haley Joel Osment and the whole Kingdom Hearts voice cast next for future games.

[@cameronjr8]

That’s a shame

[@hikari_netto]

The bit at the end about KH is highly, highly unlikely. Even if Square Enix wanted to do that for some reason, Disney controls all of the voice talent in that series so any recasting is 100% up to them. Square Enix has no say outside of who voices their characters specifically.

[@R0B5e55or001]

If I were Haley Joel Osment, I'd be watching my back after sensing how these days the shady corporations happen all at the expense of the legacy casts even by stringing them along for years to be part of the next, big thing so I wouldn't be too unworried nor cocky with remaining intact all these years of putting reputation to my role. I would totally put trusting with the Square Enix (maybe Disney too) on the test.

[@georgehouliaras7239]

I just hope Square will get the original voices back when the remake done. They said that the remake cast is only for the remake and they will use the original voices after that. I don't trust them but I pray to God that they will honor their word.

[@TheReunionVII]

They already failed to do that! They recast Burton in Chocobo GP!

[@georgehouliaras7239]

@@TheReunionVII That's unfortunate. I hope they just used archived audio out of laziness(since Square Enix does that a lot) and they will get the original cast if they made a more mainstream game like World of FF2 or a new Dissidia or something similar. Crisis Core will make more casual fans aware of the va situation since I see a lot of people not liking Zack's voice. There is still a chance to get the OG cast in the future. Never give up.

[@R0B5e55or001]

In Chocobo GP, they could've at least archive Steve's voice from Dissidia Final Fantasy NT when they archived Doug Erholz's voice from that same game.

[@garciahotspur1914]

Great video 1 can only hope🙏🏻

[@R0B5e55or001]

It's lucky that Kingdom Hearts voice cast remains intact and get all the respect for KH3 and Melody of Memory(except voices for the Twilight Town gang like Hayner, Pence, Olette), but if I were one of the original voice cast for Kingdom Hearts even Haley, I'd be watching my back for the same CMO who replaced the original FF7 voice cast in case he's gonna make the same move for the original Kingdom Hearts voice cast in the future Kingdom Hearts installments for let's say "Kingdom Hearts 4." I would stand my ground. I however wonder if recasting KH characters like Hayner, Pence, and Olette with new voices were the same reasoning behind the FF7 cast by promoting the prolific actors that replaces the OG Hayner, Pence, and Olette voices.

[@lycoidkris9679]

With regards to Haley though, I get the feeling that Nomura might take a bullet for him when It comes to keeping his role as Sora, since Haley voicing Sora was a decision he wanted long before Haley was officially casted as Sora in KH 1. The rest of the cast (Riku, Roxas, etc) though? Yeah I would be concerned.

[@MarKreationsStudios]

Did we ever get a reason why the Twilight Town gang was replaced? Did any of the old actors say anything?

[@MarKreationsStudios]

@@lycoidkris9679 Ooh so Nomura specifically wanted Hailey as Sora? That's super awesome!

[@R0B5e55or001]

That, no faintest idea. However, years before that, I remember when OG Hayner says he was hoping to return as Hayner if the Twilight Town gang ever were to come back to KH3 which they did, and I also remember when OG Olette tweeted before saying she hopes so to return as Olette, but sadly none of them did, so I kinda feel bad for them.

[@lycoidkris9679]

@@MarKreationsStudios My reply got deleted it seems but yeah it is really cool! Nomura was a big fan of his work and was pretty impressed with his acting skills! Khinsider has the full interview (Ask the Kingdom Hearts team) where Nomura stated that he wanted Haley even before the Japanese voice for Sora was decided. It's really cool!

[@disgaealikerasapOG]

Yes it is

[@bigbossj6995]

You have got to be kidding me there was no original voice in Final Fantasy 7, true, but there were sequels, and prequels, it's called Advent Children, Crisis Core, and dirge of cerberus, and in the first trailer of Final Fantasy 7 remake which you guys later voiced, get out of here with that nonsense if you're going by that logic, and 2D side scroller, you need to learn the difference between 3D and 2D. If we are talking about official voice cast, Kingdom Hearts and dissdia like to talk to you, because it has the past original and official cast members from different final fantasies who officially voice the characters in the official games, when it comes down to Final Fantasy.

[@Delacroif]

Awesome video, Guys! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@R0B5e55or001]

Now with what happened to the original voice cast for #MobPsycho100 due to Sony and Crunchyroll's shady businesses that cost the veteran cast's jobs, people should by now emphasize with what happened to the mistreatment the original #FF7 voice cast had since 2018 when they were strung along to be part of the FF7R after voicing their characters in the first Remake gameplay trailer in 2015 until E3 2019 FF7R trailer confounded everyone with the unrecognizable voices who yet try to sound like the original FF7 voice cast and that the original Japanese, German, and French FF7 voice cast gets to part of it while their original English counterparts feel left out all of a sudden. With people advocating for Kyle McCarley to come back for Mob Psycho 100, they must help do the same for the original FF7 voice cast who were all meant to be part of every, new anticipating FF7 games like the FF7R, CCFF7R, and Chocobo GP.

[@GabeNwagbala]

Also Jackal Iris got replaced in Pokémon The Series Ultimate Journeys

[@HolyHadou]

I have so many feelings now. I feel betrayed.

[@night104]

This recast choice is still beyond my comprehension...

[@R0B5e55or001]

That's the danger of relying on the trust with the corporations these days. Former Activision Blizzard Entertainment employees who were hired to work for Square Enix since 2018 have caused the downhill for the gaming industry with the whole influential corporate politics as well as relying through celebrity endorsements over the VAs talent. But that's not the only worst part. There's been a hidden abuse behind those who's been working for the nowadays Square Enix when in Activision Blizzard Entertainment past, there's also hidden abuses behind those industries. Coincidence? Now that Sweet Baby Inc has become exposed to be working with Square Enix, it seems too late at this point when the majority of the fans choose to trust Square Enix who lately become out of character these days. We all know Square Enix would never rely on heavy celebrity promotions and the backdoor deals with other companies. Did anybody listen? No.

[@somethang9264]

Interesting, recently found out that some of the leads/middle management were toxic as fuck too. Funny enough, i have no clue who the new cast even was, except for matt mercer and brianna white

[@TheReunionVII]

I found something interesting as well, Briana White helped promote Hearthstone back in 2015, which was a game John Heinicke marketed and launched. Who knows what is going on honestly. I think the recast was simply to promote new actors that these corporations have plans for. After Square Enix worked with Avi Arad on Kingsglaive, they rushed to get celebrities in wherever they could which ultimately lead to the recast of Remake to get Tyler Hoechlin and Cody Christian in.

[@GabeNwagbala]

6:22 same with Dragon Ball Z Kakarot & Super Super Hero now after DBZKai The Final Chapters Crunchyroll Toei & BANDAI NAMCO never acknowledged Elise Baughman ask the voice of Pan ever again and only acknowledged Jeannie Tirado as Pan since DBS as if Baughman never existed I guess the former has her KZbin career And that she has been ghosted.

[@R0B5e55or001]

With what happened to #HellenaTaylor not voicing as #Bayonetta anymore and the ugly mistreatment she's got, everybody even in the #FF7R universe should please get out of their parasocial with the fictional characters and the hype blind for a moment to take a hard, good look at how the original FF7 voice cast were all mistreated from being part of the FF7R they've all been anticipating for years. Who knows if they might've get a same mistreatment as other original voices from other media like Star Craft, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Chicken Run, TWEWY, Super Mario Bros, Mob Psycho 100, and Bayonetta or maybe even worse? Nobody in the voice industry should ever get disrespected nor be set aside for the benefits of the corporation and the marketing gimmick through celebrity endorsement.

[@GabeNwagbala]

There's also Fire Emblem which replaces VO's & Pokémon

[@ManamiSoma]

Hellena shot herself in the foot by lying about how much she was initially offered to voice Bayo, and boycotting the game over false pretenses. She comes across as this pompous person, saying that SHE made Bayo. The Platinum Games development team made her. All Hellena did was voice the character and gave her personality. I prefer Hellena over Jennifer to be quite honest. It's a shame Hellena couldn't accept the 15k offer to voice the role. She was asking for too much when the offer was reasonable. Now she'll never voice Bayo again.

[@ThatGuy-en2nn]

This aged terribly considering how full of shxt she was. I got the sentiment on the mistrestment of VAs though.

[@thaolvue]

I don't mind the new va as they match in a way but Zach new va suck, this sound alot like metal gear solid v when they decide to use a celebrity, new coke

[@101caliber]

I don't know anything about Zack's new VA. I agree that his voice just doesn't fit with the character. The original VA fit Zack perfectly.

[@jase276]

They "match" because they're literally copying the performances of the OG VAs. Down to their very mannerisms and quirks. It's shameless.