Is a new VO a deal breaker for anyone?

[JPEC83]

For me, I have to pretty much say: YES!

He has such a distinctive voice and an older Sam Fisher just doesn't seem right with the new VO. It is just completely wrong and I would be more interested if they just started a new character.

It makes sense for Sam to retire, especially after the last two games.

I'll keep following it and I'll certainly give any demo that comes along a try, but so far I am really disappointed with the decision to change the VO.

[Darthgamer138]

Absolutely. Michael Ironside and James McCaffrey (Max Payne) are THE voice actors that I think most MKAE the games for me. What a dumb decision.

[DarkReign2021]

I tend to agree. I personally think after the events of the last two that Sam Fisher would want absolutely nothing to do with Third Echelon. He lost his daughter and discovered she's alive after all the hell he was put through and instead of being with her he goes on another mission? Not bloody likely.

Archer and Kesler were proof that that are other agents just as capable as Sam, so I don't see why they can't just give us the next great character. Michael Ironside acknowledged that Sam Fisher is finished by not reprising the role, so Montreal needs to as well.

Personally, I'm willing to bet if the response is negative enough they'll do it. We all saw how they completely changed the other game after the response to hobo sam, so I bet they'd be willing to do it again. Time to put on the thinking caps and come up with a new character (or we could play as Grimsdottir. Wouldn't mind having a nice ass to look at while I'm stuck hiding in a dark corner. lol)

[Burnout x360a]

I haven't been this interested in a Splinter Cell game since Chaos Theory so it's doing something right. Honestly I didn't notice the change until the comments pointed it out.

[Veedrock]

After reading the reasoning behind it, I'm willing to give it a chance.

[Rapturous Rich]

Originally Posted by Veedrock

After reading the reasoning behind it, I'm willing to give it a chance.

This.

Although Ironside gave Fisher more depth and development, made him less shallow and added his own dry humour to him as well as those little nuances that really made him and Fisher one and the same, I can understand the choice made by Ubi - though why they couldn't just have one guy do the mo-cap work with Ironside still lending his voice is beyond me. Or why couldn't they just have Fisher in charge of 3rd (4th?) Echelon, never seen but only heard, giving orders to a new splinter cell agent that this new guy could have played?

It's no deal breaker for me, I love Splinter Cell too much to be as stupid as to boycott it or whatever bullshit "hardcore" fans will do, though I sure will miss Ironside's unmistakable voice.

[Hurricane Of 87]

I'm more interested in an Amon Tobin soundtrack than a Michael Ironside voiceover.
But then again ISAM was a pile of poo, like his spin on dubstep than managed to be just as awful.

[DropDeadArtemus]

Although Ironside has given us the voice of Sam for years, I'm willing to give the new guy a shot. I understand why the change is happening. It won't affect my love for the game.

[DEG23]

If Splinter Cell was still like the original game than yes maybe a new VO actor would be unwelcome, but the franchise has changed so much that i honestly don't care. I'm just hoping there will be more stealth in this one than there was in Conviction.

Originally Posted by DarkReign2021

Archer and Kesler were proof that that are other agents just as capable as Sam, so I don't see why they can't just give us the next great character. Michael Ironside acknowledged that Sam Fisher is finished by not reprising the role, so Montreal needs to as well.

Sam Fisher is Splinter Cell, a new character would put a dent in the series, in the same way that replacing James Bond with a new MI6 agent would ruin the bond franchise.

[HTownBoi]

It's not a deal breaker, but it definitely has me on the ropes about the game.

[OceanH]

During Microsoft Press conference, I thought that with the new "younger" voice and Sam looking kinda younger too that it was a prequel to the first game set during the 1983 Beirut incident.

[Rapturous Rich]

Originally Posted by OceanH

[. . .] a prequel to the first game set during the 1983 Beirut incident.

Highly unlikely.
- Sam says "Welcome to Fourth Echelon", obviously pointing at a progression from Third Echelon.
- Patricia Caldwell is shown as the president - she was in office during the events of Conviction after succeeding David Bowers from the previous games so we can safely assume that Blacklist is either the very same administration or she has since been re-elected.
- If it were a prequel then Lambert, not Grimsdottir, would be overseeing operations and we only hear Grim in the gameplay footage we have seen.
- Victor Coste, Sam's estranged friend from Iraq that he met up with in Conviction for assistance, may also be present providing sniper overwatch - since there was no previous mention of him in earlier games we can again assume that after helping Sam clear house of Tom Reed and his other conspirators in Conviction that he was then officially inducted into Third Echelon with Sam and Grim running it.

Although, this is all assumption of course.

[OceanH]

Originally Posted by Rapturous Rich

Highly unlikely.
- Sam says "Welcome to Fourth Echelon", obviously pointing at a progression from Third Echelon.
- Patricia Caldwell is shown as the president - she was in office during the events of Conviction after succeeding David Bowers from the previous games so we can safely assume that Blacklist is either the very same administration or she has since been re-elected.
- If it were a prequel then Lambert, not Grimsdottir, would be overseeing operations and we only hear Grim in the gameplay footage we have seen.
- Victor Coste, Sam's estranged friend from Iraq that he met up with in Conviction for assistance, may also be present providing sniper overwatch - since there was no previous mention of him in earlier games we can again assume that after helping Sam clear house of Tom Reed and his other conspirators in Conviction that he was then officially inducted into Third Echelon with Sam and Grim running it.

Although, this is all assumption of course.

I was thinking it was a prequel during the beginning where Sam transported the injured enemy until he started communicating with Grim which is when I went "what?".

[xJuicey Mooseyx]

i thought they was stopping the splinter cell series now, oh well love these games anyway deffo will be buying it

[ZingZitang]

Its almost a deal breaker for me.

Conviction is one of My Favorite Games of all time, and that is - quite simply - because of Ironside's performance as Sam Fisher.

[Spock]

I don't care one bit. It's just a damn voice. If that makes someone not want to buy a game... I just... I just don't know... :|

[kyboy]

no, its not a deal breaker. because ive never played any splinter cell games. but this one looks gorgeous. so i will be picking up this game!

[Rivercurse]

No, not a deal breaker for me at all. I've played most Splinter cells down the years on one platform or another, but genreally only once through each time. I genuinely think I wouldn't even have noticed the change if I hadn't read about it online.

I enjoy the series, but it's never been one that really grabbed me. I'll be getting Blacklist regardless of who voices Sam.

[cjdavies]

Doesn't bother me, it's a game I want to play either way.

[Rapturous Rich]

Originally Posted by Spock

I don't care one bit. It's just a damn voice. If that makes someone not want to buy a game... I just... I just don't know... :|

At first I was like "This guy knows" then I saw your username and I was like "This guy knows AND he has taste in TV and films".

[Splinter4]

SC: Conviction was so bad that it was almost a deal breaker. But now without Michael Ironside??? ...oh yeah, DEAL BREAKER... almost definitely.

Michael Ironside IS "Sam Fisher" and should get credit as the primary reason that the character ever worked in the first place. His creative influence on Sam Fisher was a huge reason for the Series' continued success.

Don't get me wrong, I'm open to the creative license Ubisoft has with the Series... but to simply "replace" Michael Ironside's iconic VO work as Sam Fisher with a new Actor because of technical considerations is pathetically lazy on the part of Ubisoft.

Retire Sam and introduce us all to a NEW character... simply a little creative STORY TELLING is all that's required. And I love the idea that "Rapturous Rich" posted earlier...

Originally Posted by Rapturous Rich

... Or why couldn't they just have Fisher in charge of 3rd (4th?) Echelon, never seen but only heard, giving orders to a new splinter cell agent that this new guy could have played? ...

What a brilliantly simple solution that would fit perfectly into the Splinter Cell storyline and heritage. We could all experience the OFFICIAL passing of the torch, from Sam Fisher to Joe Schmuckatelli (or whatever they want to name him).

Seriously Ubisoft, at least bring back Tom Clancy and ask him what he thinks of your "story". PLEASE!

Cheers

[The BiggD]

Originally Posted by DEG23

If Splinter Cell was still like the original game than yes maybe a new VO actor would be unwelcome, but the franchise has changed so much that i honestly don't care. I'm just hoping there will be more stealth in this one than there was in Conviction.

Gotta agree with you, DEG. It's not like Conviction played anything like Chaos Theory...or even Double Agent for that matter. I'm willing to give this game a chance. It bothers me that Ironside is gone, but it's not the end of the world and it's not going to let me skip out on what could be a really good game.

[Tentaklaus]

Not a dealbreaker, but it bothers me...

[Majica8]

No. And anyone who doesn't get this game JUST because of the voice actor is kind of an idiot tbh.

You won't find a bigger SC fan than me, and I love Ironside as Fisher, but I love SC as a whole even more and wouldn't dream of missing out on another game just because of a voice.

[Direkin]

It's not a deal breaker for me. I'd welcome another SC game that effectively goes back to the roots of the originals.

Originally Posted by DEG23

If Splinter Cell was still like the original game than yes maybe a new VO actor would be unwelcome, but the franchise has changed so much that i honestly don't care. I'm just hoping there will be more stealth in this one than there was in Conviction.

Sam Fisher is Splinter Cell, a new character would put a dent in the series, in the same way that replacing James Bond with a new MI6 agent would ruin the bond franchise.

Originally Posted by OceanH

During Microsoft Press conference, I thought that with the new "younger" voice and Sam looking kinda younger too that it was a prequel to the first game set during the 1983 Beirut incident.

And just like James Bond, he gets younger with every iteration :P