Poll: Who is the Better Sounding Shepard? Male or Female?

[Shock and Awe]

One of the biggest divides in fans of the Mass Effect series is that of the voice actors. Many see Jennifer Hale as the superior, while many believe it is Mark Meer. What does the Escapist think?

I personally prefer Meer(Male shepard). He really brings out what I think Shepard would be like. When he is being intimidating, he isn't overdoing it. Its much calmer and more of a "I'm to badass to even need to put effort into you". He is calmer when voicing stressful situations, a characteristic of someone as skilled and experienced as Shepard. Hale is most certainly better at showing emotions better, but I get the feeling she is trying a little to hard in some situations. This is especially true when she is going for intimidation. Though I believe both are excellent, I prefer Meer.

Wikipedia,
Mark Meer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Meer]
Jennifer Hale [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hale]

Spoiler: Comparisons

EDIT: Preemptive, please no flaming others' opinions.

 

[Tony2077]

it has to be the female one since i like most of the shows she's done even the cartoon ones.

 

[The Night Shade]

I actually like Mark Meer voice more when he is being threatening but Jennifer Hale is better when she is talking normally

 

[Epslion.Bear]

Femshep for the win

Jennifer hale does good as a character voice
(Although my favorite line from mass effect is better in marks voice)
"Because its a big stupid jellyfish" Shepard - Mass effect 1


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[Freechoice]

Femshep minus the big stupid jellyfish moment.

 

[Lost In The Void]

While Hale is still better overall, Meer has improved considerably since ME1. At this point its hard to say who will be better in ME3; either way, at this point they're both solid actors, both of who I can see my Shepard as.

 

[claymoreguy18]

I think male shepards voice is better for the role. Jennifer's voice just seems to soft for it.

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

Female Shepard. There isn't even the slightest comparison.

She has so much more emotion. Male Shepard is too bland sounding.

Also, Jennifer Hale is awesome and therefore makes any character she voice acts even more awesome.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Femshep for the win

Jennifer hale does good as a character voice
(Although my favorite line from mass effect is better in marks voice)
"Because its a big stupid jellyfish" Shepard - Mass effect 1


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[Belgian_Waffles]

Neither of them are particularly good,
But I guess Maleshep.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

Well you can be in the military and be sensible/sensitive. Although FemShep can sound plenty, er, commanding when she needs to be. I definitely prefer Jennifer Hale's performance, she can grasp every aspect of every possible Shepard persona better than the male version, in my opinion. From the empathic to the sadistic.

 

[Shock and Awe]

While Hale is still better overall, Meer has improved considerably since ME1. At this point its hard to say who will be better in ME3; either way, at this point they're both solid actors, both of who I can see my Shepard as.

Now that is true, Meer is not very experienced and I would say Hale was better there, but I believe Meer did a much better job in Mass Effect 2.

 

[DementedSheep]

Femshep except when trying to be intimidating. Sometimes it sounds like she is trying to hard.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Meer when he isn't trying to be romantic. I happen to like his voice.
Edit: [sub]My god his flirtatious dialogue is painful.[/sub]

 

[Phlakes]

Femshep sounds like the typical "look it's a badass woman isn't she so badass" character, like all of Michelle Rodriguez' characters. Male Shep just sounds badass, but like he's not even trying.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Um, where's the option for the "They both have their niche."??? I mean, Hale is amazing as a renegade, but it seems like she looses some of the characterization as a paragon. The exact opposite is true to Meer.

 

[Masteryuri666]

For me it has to be Jennifer Hale. Tried Mark Meer in ME1 for about 15 minutes as was starting to question buying the game. Switched to femshepard and have never looked back. With one or two exceptions Hale nails the voice work for me. My brother says he got a lot better in ME2 but it just doesn't hit the mark for me. Besides, I can't say no to a woman in armor with a mini-nuke on her back.

 

[FangShadow]

I like her voice more but well, she sounds forced. Too cliche. Little girl trying to sound tough.
Male Shepard just sounds like he knows what hes doing so does not have to force any sort of threat into his tone.
She sounds better, he fits the role more.

I agree with this somewhat. Hale sounds better overall though sometimes her voice does fit certain moments. However, when it comes time to say something funny, her voice makes it better.

Meer has the advantage of making epic speeches feel more epic. He has that command voice that is more respect that discipline.

From my experience, I've always found Meer to sound better paragon and Hale to be better renegade. But both are great choices for their respective genders.

 

[The Night Shade]

Femshep for the win

Jennifer hale does good as a character voice
(Although my favorite line from mass effect is better in marks voice)
"Because its a big stupid jellyfish" Shepard - Mass effect 1


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Who are they and why would I copy them?

I'm sorry, I just had to do it.

They made a remix out of that,jesus they make anything these days