Baldur’s Gate 3 never ceases to impress with its richness and variety. And this time, Larian’s RPG takes yet another new step, surely never before achieved.
Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the most elaborate RPGs of recent years, if not the most successful to date, and it stands out in particular for its exceptional storytelling. In fact, it’s one of its greatest assets. Larian is recognized for his unparalleled talent in this field, capable of captivating and carrying away the minds of players. This was already the case in Divinity: Original Sin 2 and this time it’s a new level. Notably, with quite fabulous attention to detail.
A detail that matters for Baldur’s Gate 3
So, Amelia Tyler, the narrator of Baldur’s Gate 3, reveals that the game has 17 distinct “storytelling styles.” These vocal nuances have been developed to fit as closely as possible to each playable character, enriching their interior monologue. The depth of this work is simply mind-boggling when you think about it.
During a talk at EGX London on Baldur’s Gate 3, Tyler described the demands of his mission. The complexity lay in the diversity of dialogue, requiring tonal variations or rewordings to match the player’s character. For example, the tone for Shadowheart is lighter and emotionally charged, while for The Dark Urge it is significantly darker and more menacing.
A titanic job
Beyond the vocal modulation in Baldur’s Gate 3, Tyler adopted distinct body postures for each narration, helping him further immerse himself in the role. This detail garnered admiration from his peers, many confined to motion capture suits. Posture, like gestures, can influence vocal tone. In France, imitators perfectly illustrate this interdependence, such as adopting a calm attitude to imitate President Macron or an energetic approach for Nicolas Sarkozy.
Interestingly, not all the voice work done found its way into the final version of the game. Originally, each protagonist had to express their own thoughts. However, this idea did not appeal to players. The Larian studio then called on Amelia Tyler, already present on Divinity: Original Sin 2, to narrate all the characters. This choice was welcomed by fans, thus validating the studio’s decision. For those passionate about voice acting in video games, Amelia Tyler’s explanatory video on her YouTube channel is a wealth of information, revealing the crucial importance of voice acting in video games. You can discover the whole thing below:
This testimony reinforces the idea that dubbing is a unique art, requiring protection in the face of the emergence of artificial intelligence, a debate currently at the heart of concerns in Hollywood.