News
Roger Craig Smith Confirmed as New Voice of Soul in Phantom Blade Zero
If you’re planning on jumping into Phantom Blade Zero at launch, you might notice the protagonist, Soul, sounds a bit different than he did in earlier trailers.
In this article
If you’re planning on jumping into Phantom Blade Zero at launch, you might notice the protagonist, Soul, sounds a bit different than he did in earlier trailers. According to a report from Game Informer, industry veteran Roger Craig Smith has officially stepped in as the new voice of the game’s lead character.
A New Voice for the Protagonist
Roger Craig Smith is a household name for many gamers, known for his long-running tenure as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as iconic roles like Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed and Chris Redfield from Resident Evil. He is officially replacing Jay Maksenuk, whose performance can still be heard in various earlier promotional trailers and gameplay videos released for the title.
The switch appears to have been a late development. Game Informer noted that during their review period, the game still featured Maksenuk’s performance, only for the developer, S-Game, to push an update replacing the English voiceover about a week into the review process. While S-Game has not publicly disclosed the specific reason for the change, Smith’s voice is distinct, and players will experience his performance for Soul throughout the entire game at launch.
Why it matters
Voice acting plays a huge role in grounding a game’s atmosphere, especially in a title as stylized as Phantom Blade Zero. For players who were following the game’s development closely, hearing a familiar voice like Smith’s might offer a more polished or recognizable take on the protagonist compared to previous materials.
If you previously checked out trailers and weren’t entirely sold on the English voice acting, it is worth keeping an ear out for this update, as it marks a significant shift in the game’s tone. The game also continues to offer its original Chinese voiceover, which remains an excellent option for those who prefer the authentic localization. As you play through the release version, pay attention to how the new vocal performance colors the character’s journey.
