Most overrated protagonist from GTA 2-Present

[.Ryan.]

16 minutes ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

There's a lot more to it than just how authentic the Serbian accent is though. They'd have to not only speak Serbian but also (more importantly) speak English fluently and clearly enough, have a voice that suits the character, be a suitable actor to portray the character in general, and be available in the US to work for a long period of time, and all this without being told initially that it's GTA and not just more of a random voice acting job. I don't know how many Serbian voice actors (again, not even all Serbian actors would be up for this, only those interested in voice work) who fit all those criteria there really are clamouring for work in the US but I'd guess not many. And if they find an American actor whose voice acting they're happy with no reason not to use him. 

 

There's so many aspects to what makes the voice acting good or bad than just how realistic the accent is, particular when the vast majority of people playing the game won't be aware of how realistic or not it is. I'm aware that the accent isn't realistic but it doesn't matter in terms of enjoying the game whatsoever, as the acting is exceptionally good in every other way, and the accent is Eastern European enough to my non-expert ears to be convincing and is also pleasant sounding.

This is something GTA IV/Niko haters always get wrong. R* offered the role to Vladmir Mashkov (The actor who played Sasha in Behind Enemy Lines and forms Niko's likeness), but he turned it down due to a lack of interest.

 

Serbian/Eastern European voice actors don't exactly grow on trees so what else could they do? People don't even bother to do any research and just assume R*'s first choice was a white American. 

[El Penguin Bobo]

Micheal Hollick actually did a good job voice acting Niko. I didn't even know he was voiced by an American until I looked up his voice actor.

 

I have to admit though, he did frequently mispronounce some Serbian words which is why some people can offended....

[.Ryan.]

4 minutes ago, xXPinguXx said:

Micheal Hollick actually did a good job voice acting Niko. I didn't even know he was voiced by an American until I looked up his voice actor.

 

I have to admit though, he did frequently mispronounce some Serbian words which is why some people can offended....

He's only human. Given the few times Niko actually speaks Serbian it doesn't come as a surprise. His English sounds great though.

 

I like how the game progresses his English slowly starts to improve.

[GKZ]

10 hours ago, Jack Lupino said:

Niko obviously crappy voice acting, boring personality and dull character.

 

 

We're talking about the most overrated, Not the worst.

[Jack Lupino]

10 minutes ago, GKZ said:

We're talking about the most overrated, Not the worst.

He fits both categories if you think about it

 

[JPFL]

CJ and Trevor.

[GKZ]

12 minutes ago, Jack Lupino said:

CJ fits both categories if you think about it

 

FTFY.

[El Penguin Bobo]

22 minutes ago, GKZ said:

FTFY.

hey, that's my joke! 

[Lioshenka]

7 hours ago, American Venom said:

Serbian/Eastern European voice actors don't exactly grow on trees so what else could they do? People don't even bother to do any research and just assume R*'s first choice was a white American. 

All you had to do was follow that train was ask in the acting schools. I'm sure Belgrade has plenty, with graduates speaking many languages fluently. When you have a budget like R* you can train a dog to speak English and Serbian. R* went with the cheapest and easiest option - it completely ruins the authenticity of the GTA 4 story making it laughable at times, but hey, when your target audience are American teenagers who can't tell Montenegro from Bucharest it doesn't really matter.

 

Voted for Niko and Tommy.

 

Niko for - you guessed it - poor voice acting; but also because his is a mediocre story. All he is is a hired gun. Drives and shoots. He has no emotions, and only regularly has these "I must find someone!" dementia fits.

 

Tommy is a prick. He's not so bad as Niko in terms of the character quality, but he just abuses anyone that's near him and shoots everything that stands in his way.

 

I don't think CJ and Claude can be called overrated, because I am yet to see anyone who passionately loves them as characters. If they were, then Claude could possibly be overrated due to the fact that he lacks personality as such.

Edited April 18, 2019 by Lioshenka

[El Penguin Bobo]

I honestly don't consider Claude overrated as well. I never saw him get any kind of praise at all.

[mde2]

37 minutes ago, Lioshenka said:

Tommy is a prick. He's not so bad as Niko in terms of the character quality, but he just abuses anyone that's near him and shoots everything that stands in his way.

Ironically the same people who call Tommy a badass will sh*t on Trevor for the exact same reasons you've listed.

[.Ryan.]

5 hours ago, Lioshenka said:

All you had to do was follow that train was ask in the acting schools. I'm sure Belgrade has plenty, with graduates speaking many languages fluently. When you have a budget like R* you can train a dog to speak English and Serbian. R* went with the cheapest and easiest option - it completely ruins the authenticity of the GTA 4 story making it laughable at times, but hey, when your target audience are American teenagers who can't tell Montenegro from Bucharest it doesn't really matter.

Well unfortunately for you you're in the minority who feels it ruins GTA IV's authenticity. 

 

4 hours ago, mde2 said:

Ironically the same people who call Tommy a badass will sh*t on Trevor for the exact same reasons you've listed.

I don't really agree with that. Trevor gets bashed because he's an annoying manchild more than the fact he just lashes out at people. Tommy's a far more tasteful take on a "take no sh*t" type of persona and it works with Vice City's rags to riches story.

 

Trevor's just a sad "edgelord".

[Lioshenka]

46 minutes ago, American Venom said:

Well unfortunately for you you're in the minority who feels it ruins GTA IV's authenticity. 

Well, there's me and then there's 100 million American teenagers. No surprise here.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Lioshenka

[.Ryan.]

11 minutes ago, Lioshenka said:

Well, there's me and then there's 100 million American teenagers. No surprise here.

I didn't realise you spoke on everyone's behalf. How silly of me.

[Dave Mustaine 1998]

1 hour ago, American Venom said:

Well unfortunately for you you're in the minority who feels it ruins GTA IV's authenticity. 

 

I don't really agree with that. Trevor gets bashed because he's an annoying manchild more than the fact he just lashes out at people. Tommy's a far more tasteful take on a "take no sh*t" type of persona and it works with Vice City's rags to riches story.

 

Trevor's just a sad "edgelord".

Exactly! Tommy is a lot more blunt and “no nonsense” than Trevor. Trevor, on the other hand, is just obnoxious, cringe-worthy, and an attention seeker. Also, not quite to the same extent as Claude, but Tommy is also more quiet and reserved than Trevor. Sorry but I just am one who tolerates blunt, quiet, reserved, and chilled (sometimes with a combination of dangerous) more than obnoxious and cringe-worthy when it comes to just about anyone or anything! Type 1 is the Claude, Tommy, Niko, Johnny, and Luis way. Type 2 is the Trevor and GTA Online Protagonist way. Michael, Franklin, and CJ are all just somewhere in the middle imo.

Edited April 19, 2019 by ThatKyloRenGuy

[.Ryan.]

2 minutes ago, ThatKyloRenGuy said:

Exactly! Tommy is a lot more blunt and “no nonsense” than Trevor. Trevor, on the other hand, is just obnoxious, cringe-worthy, and an attention seeker. Also, not quite to the same extent as Claude, but Tommy is also more quiet and reserved than Trevor. Sorry but I just am one who tolerates blunt, quiet, reserved, and chilled (sometimes with a combination of dangerous) more than obnoxious and cringe-worthy when it comes to just about anyone or anything! Type 1 is the Claude, Tommy, Niko, Johnny, and Luis way. Type 2 is the Trevor and GTA Online Protagonist way. Michael, Franklin, and CJ are all just somewhere in the middle imo.

I have seen people say before Trevor's just like Tommy and I have to admit...

 

It made me throw up a little..

[El Penguin Bobo]

@American Venom I honestly think it's because some people like to criticize him all because he's a "psychopath", and he's really not imo.

[.Ryan.]

1 hour ago, xXPinguXx said:

@American Venom I honestly think it's because some people like to criticize him all because he's a "psychopath", and he's really not imo.

I've always thought he was like a tryhard high school bully. Thinks he's tough, but when the cards are all laid on the table he crumbles. 

[TheSantader25]

I do think they could have handled the whole "immigrant new in USA" theme better in IV and a proper Serbian voice actor could be one way to improve it. 

[Son of Zeus]

16 hours ago, Lioshenka said:

All you had to do was follow that train was ask in the acting schools. I'm sure Belgrade has plenty, with graduates speaking many languages fluently. When you have a budget like R* you can train a dog to speak English and Serbian. R* went with the cheapest and easiest option - it completely ruins the authenticity of the GTA 4 story making it laughable at times, but hey, when your target audience are American teenagers who can't tell Montenegro from Bucharest it doesn't really matter.

Yeah I guess they really wanted to save money. Picked up a random nobody from the street. A real downgrade from SA's star cast.

[mde2]

32 minutes ago, Son of Zeus said:

Yeah I guess they really wanted to save money. Picked up a random nobody from the street. A real downgrade from SA's star cast.

Yes who could forget the world famous Young Maylay, voice of CJ

Edited April 19, 2019 by mde2

[Evil empire]

Even if he's very enjoyable to direct and plays very well his role of badass Tommy Vercetti is slightly overrated and not as consistent as what some persons write.

 

The skumhole shack is by far the worst GTA "safehouse" I've ever seen, having also played 3 and San Andreas, and to make things even worse you need to pay for it.

Tommy always personally does the work to make his companies profitable even when he already owns them and which true badass would personally sell drug-filled ice-cream and take the risk to be arrested for it when he can have an employee do it for him? Or pilot a plane to distribute flyers when an employee can do it on his behalf?

Which true badass would keep waiting for his enemies to attack his companies and just protect them with guards instead of conquering the enemy territory?

 

 

Tommy Vercetti is a very good character but he also has severe inconsistences and doesn't represent the badass-alpha-male mafiosi/gangsters that well.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Evil empire

[Son of Zeus]

14 minutes ago, mde2 said:

Yes who could forget the world famous Young Maylay, voice of CJ

Atleast Malay is African-American like CJ is.Imagine having a black guy from Nigeria voice CJ. Star Cast is referring to Sam Jackson, James Woods, Chris Penn, Peter Fonda, Ice-T. IV was a bunch of nobodies.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Son of Zeus

[mde2]

Just now, Son of Zeus said:

Atleast Malay is African-American like CJ is.'Star Cast' is obviously referring to Sam Jackson, James Woods, Chris Penn, Peter Fonda, Ice-T. IV was a bunch of nobodies.

We're talking about protagonists here, the rest of the cast is irrelevant.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

There's rather a lot more African American actors in the US than Serbian lol. Come to think of it speaking of questionable casting choices couldn't they have chosen a good actor to play Franklin instead of just the cousin of the guy who played CJ? No personality comes through in his acting. Even in the most emotional scenes at the end of the game after killing another protagonist, no emotion expressed and no acting skills demonstrated. He's mostly a bad protagonist because of bad writing but the meh acting doesn't help. Completely outshone by the other two protagonists' actors.
 

15 hours ago, Lioshenka said:

Well, there's me and then there's 100 million American teenagers. No surprise here.

100 million (4x the number of people who've even bought the game) American teenagers have a problem with the nationality of a voice actor in a video game?  Source?

 

Also I haven't seen this discussed here so I don't know, but is it 100% accepted that he's from Serbia and not another Balkan state? Because if there was combat and atrocities and bombs etc in his own village as he described it's kind of much more likely that his village wasn't in Serbia (as it was other countries where that was mostly happening). I dig the theory that he's a Bosnian Serb based on this. Not that it's likely to mean the accent is any more realistic but still . They specifically didn't want to name the exact country he was from and had originally considered a Russian actor (and judging by that "Liberty City: The Invasion" song written for the game that's about a Russian coming to America possibly a Russian character), so I don't think they ever considered it a hugely important aspect of the game. They were just going for a "mysterious (Eastern) European" character pretty much, not a perfectly accurate portrayal of a specific nationality.

 

Like, it's a legitimate criticism and I can see why it might be a negative to some people (especially those more familiar with Balkan accents). But I think dismissing the voice acting as terrible on that alone is a bit much when there's many other aspects to judge it on other than just accent authenticity. 

 

3 hours ago, Son of Zeus said:

Atleast Malay is African-American like CJ is.Imagine having a black guy from Nigeria voice CJ. Star Cast is referring to Sam Jackson, James Woods, Chris Penn, Peter Fonda, Ice-T. IV was a bunch of nobodies.

Do you think the voice acting in IV is poor in general though? What does it matter if they're "nobodies" if they can still do a good job? I think they wanted to have the focus on an immersive story and characters rather than having celebrity voices pop up as a possible distraction and that's a legitimate choice. They could've had some more famous voices if they'd wanted to (proof: they did so with the radio presenters), I think it was more an artistic choice than being "cheap".

 

Edited April 19, 2019 by billiejoearmstrong8

[Lioshenka]

4 hours ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

100 million (4x the number of people who've even bought the game) American teenagers have a problem with the nationality of a voice actor in a video game?  Source?

It sounds like you misunderstood my point - I agreed that while I am seriously unhappy with the voice choice for NIko vast majority of players don't have that issue because they are juveniles from the USA. Just like I wouldn't know better if Claude spoke with Californian accent or if Michael spoke with a Chicago accent (I assume these things exist).

 

I assume Niko is supposed to be Serbian, but he pronounces his surname as Bellik. That suggests that he's native language is English. Has he been from Eastern Europe he'd either say that he is Bellich or Bellits. When a character can't pronounce his own surname it sort of ruins the game, as least for me! :)

[mde2]

24 minutes ago, Lioshenka said:

I assume Niko is supposed to be Serbian, but he pronounces his surname as Bellik. That suggests that he's native language is English. Has he been from Eastern Europe he'd either say that he is Bellich or Bellits. When a character can't pronounce his own surname it sort of ruins the game, as least for me!

Niko only says his own last name like one time and pronounces both Florian and Darkos surnames correctly (Cravi-ch; Brevi-ch). If this is really enough to sort of ruin the game for you thats pretty petty. I don't even think GTA IV is particularly that good but there are far better criticisms of the game, including a plethora of problems with Niko himself but this is getting to the point of getting extremely nitpick-y in order to find the most minor flaws.

Edited April 19, 2019 by mde2

[Lioshenka]

1 minute ago, mde2 said:

Niko only says his own last name like one time and pronounces both Florian and Darkos names correctly (Cravi-ch; Brevi-ch). If this is really enough to sort of ruin the game for you thats pretty petty. I don't even think GTA IV is particularly that exciting but there are far better criticisms of the game, including a plethora of problems with Niko himself but this is really nitpicky. 

Believe me, this is not the only reason why I don't like GTA 4

[GKZ]

23 minutes ago, Lioshenka said:

When a character can't pronounce his own surname it sort of ruins the game, as least for me!

I never saw such a bad criticism.

[mde2]

1 minute ago, GKZ said:

I never saw such a bad criticism.

 

5 minutes ago, Lioshenka said:

Believe me, this is not the only reason why I don't like GTA 4 

GKZ is right. I'm not here to defend IV tooth and nail because I'm not the biggest fan of it either but putting forward points that are so trivial adds nothing to the conversation. Wow a character can't pronounce a name in one instance. Someone call metacritic and get GTA IV's score knocked down a few points.