Video Game Actor Swaps That Ruined The Character For Fans

Video game voice acting is a tricky thing to get right. We've seen so many classic examples of horrible voice acting, at times it feels like the norm. An ill-fitting voice can turn a serious game into a complete joke. However, when a voice clicks with a character, they become inseparable. For many fans, characters like Mario wouldn't be the same without the voice actors gamers have grown accustomed to. However, there are time when an established voice actor is replaced for one reason or another. When that happens, it can be extremely difficult for a new voice actor to match the expected cadence and tones of the character, leading many to write off even decent voice acting performances. 

While there are certainly some bad performances out there, it's not always an actor's fault when a voice replacement doesn't work out. Bad direction, rushed production, and ill-fitting casting can contribute to an underwhelming final result. Sometimes an actor just isn't right for the role they're playing. Despite this, players have a right to voice their own opinions still, especially when they are displeased with the direction that a series is heading. For anyone looking for some of the most jarring of these changes, here are some of the video game actor swaps that fans have argued ruined their characters.

David Hayter replacing by Kiefer Sutherland is one of the most infamous cast changes in gaming history. Kiefer Sutherland has quite an acting pedigree, and is widely known for his film roles and as Jack Bauer in "24". In most circumstances, he would provide an amazing voice performance for a video game character, especially a tough guy like Snake. Unfortunately, throughout the many years of David Hayter's run as Snake, the actor had developed such a unique cadence for the character that captured the over-the-top vibe director Hideo Kojima was aiming for. Fans continue to debate, but many feel Hayter's characterization is impossible to replicate.

Without Hayter's unmistakable gravelly tones, Snake's voice falls flat. Plus, the same acting methods that work in film and television don't necessarily transfer over to video games. This disconnect can sadly oftentimes lead to flat performances from otherwise excellent actors. Although it does seem like Kiefer Sutherland was trying, he had impossible shoes to fill. Hideo Kojima has said that he wanted to go for a different tone in "MGS 5," which prompted this recast.

Functioning as a spiritual successor to the "Xenogears" series, "Xenosaga" has an interesting history of replacing the game's voice actors. In the first entry, Lia Sargent played Shion, the main protagonist of the series. Many thought her performance was excellent, and very fitting for the character. Overall, players agreed Sargent excelled in bringing a unique delivery to the character that captured Shion's inquisitive and scientific nature, along with some immaturity that grounded her.

For the second game, Olivia Hack was recast to play Shion. A number of players were dissatisfied with Hack's performance, believing it was a lot less unique and goes for a more generic cadence. To them, Hack's Shion feels less like a scientist, like she is meant to be, and more like a generic anime protagonist. On top of this, many players have commented that they felt Hack lost some of Sargent's innocence in the role, and even those who enjoy Hack's take tend to agree that it's just not the same. Sargent was subsequently brought back for the third entry.

"Kingdom Hearts," for one reason or another, is a revolving door of voice actor swaps. Some of these changes are for the better, though a handful of them have not gone over well with gamers. Although it isn't the worst change in the series, Richard Epcar's replacement of Billy Zane's Ansem, Seeker of Darkness in "Kingdom Hearts 2" takes the character in a less-popular direction. Billy Zane is a well-known actor who has appeared in many successful movies and TV series, including "Titanic" and "Twin Peaks."

There's just something off about the voice direction in this game.
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Some fans think direction is to blame, since Richard Epcar has delivered excellent performances in games like "Mortal Kombat" and "Skyrim." Whatever the reason, Ansem lost some of the nuance that he had in the first entry. More specifically, many thought Richard Epcar played the character as too cartoonishly self-aware of his own evil. Although this is a valid direction to take the character in (particularly in light of the writing and the reveals about Ansem in this game), many devout "Kingdom Heart" fans thought the performance was shallow, with one forum user calling it "generic deep evil."

Aerith's change from Mandy Moore to Mena Suvari in "Kingdom Hearts 2" was particularly controversial. Aerith is already a very difficult character to perform due to how popular and well-known she is among "Final Fantasy" fans. Due to this, many gamers often have an especially critical eye when it comes to any new voice actor stepping in as the flower girl from Sector 5. 

Being the first English voice of Aerith, Mandy Moore wasn't quite perfect, but captured the sweet and innocent character very well. Though her time in the game was brief, she gave a measured performance with which few people had major complaints. Mena Suvari, on the other hand, gives a performance that many feel to be airy and monotone. The character's voice feels less lively and a bit more generic. This is a recipe for ruining a character like Aerith, since her energy and passion are what makes her so charming. Mena Suvari has done great work in things like "American Beauty" and "American Horror Story," but her Aerith simply falls flat.

Although Benedict Wong was most likely too busy working on bigger projects like the "Avengers" movies, it's a shame that we couldn't get him back for "Prey: Mooncrash." Benedict Wong's Alex Yu made so many specific and nuanced choices that made the character stand out in the game. When David Chen took over, many were disappointed when some of the subtlety of Benedict Wong's performance felt like it was taken away from Alex. The reality is that David Chen does a good job in his own right, but Wong is a difficult act to follow.

Alex also appears less in this DLC, giving David Chen less of an opportunity to make his mark. Perhaps if given more opportunities and a more pronounced role, he could have fleshed out his performance more. Sadly, in this case, Alex wasn't the same anymore, with one Reddit user stating, "The new actor is close, but it's a bit too harsh for my liking." In the end, this is yet another example where it feels like a good actor may not have been served by their script, resulting in an unpopular performance.

Replacing Michael Ironside with Eric Johnson as Sam Fisher in "Splinter Cell: Blacklist" was a huge blow to fans. Eric Johnson's performance isn't bad by any means. However, when comparing his voice to the original, it's easy to see why people prefer Michael Ironside. Johnson arguably loses much of the menacing and intense tone that Sam Fisher was known for. As noted in a review by 4 Player Network, "The transition from an older voice to that of a much younger one simply doesn't make sense for a character that has long been touted as a more season [sic], older operator."

Johnson was reportedly cast because Ubisoft wanted an actor to record voiceover and mo-cap at the same time, but it resulted in a huge departure that many fans saw as a major step back from Michael Ironside's performance. Although this was only a brief replacement, it was definitely something that fans noticed. Sometimes, even a temporary leave can be worrisome in the realm of voice acting. Luckily, Ironside returned as Sam Fisher in later games.