Ryan
is an incredible
character actor. Rarely have I seen such range and creativity from
anyone I've worked with, making him a wonderful asset to any project. I
look forward to working with him more in the future. [...] You're a
swiss army knife, ha ha ha! You did great work. -Matt White,
Old Moon
Ryan
Cooper is equal parts gracious and talented, a rare gift in a
collaborator. The first time we heard his voice, we knew immediately
that we wanted to work with him. That instinct has proven correct over
and over. Nearly a decade of collaboration and two full audiobooks
later, Ryan continues to surprise and impress us. His vocal range and
nuance, the hard work he puts in to ground his performances are
extraordinary. He's the first man we call for any project. -Jack
and Hugh Monahan, Stellar
Jockeys
With
Ryan, all of the
professionalism, skill and creativity are intertwined like a
finely-laced orchestral piece. You will never wonder what the character
would
do in a situation because the vocal pieces themselves inspire the
story. On-time delivery, 100% clean and amazing audio, all in a
beautifully crafted professional shell. Ryan has been a joy to work
with; I would hire him to narrate my daily life if not to only hear
what Ryan would come up with next. It was an honor to work with you and
I hope to again in the near future. -Adam Lehenbauer, Forteller
Games
With
Ryan, I put out a call on Twitter and he responded. It was before
STASIS launched on Kickstarter and I wanted a voice for the alpha demo.
He hit the nail on the head
with the character.
I
wrote the lines, but he gave them heart and soul. Ryan is such an
amazing artist to work with that I find it hard to imagine a project
that he wouldn’t be involved with in some fashion. -Christopher
Bischoff, The Brotherhood
Cooper
has an incredible
talent and is malleable to any need. His work on The Old City:
Leviathan
surprised us all with just how well he understands what is needed while
also elevating the work with his own creative license. If we needed him
to act with guidelines, he nailed it. If we needed him to act with
little to no guidelines, he nailed it. He's willing to redo his work to
get the perfect take, though he rarely needed to. He's a fantastic
actor and we look forward to working with him again in the future.
-Blaine Bowen, Postmod Softworks
"I
really, genuinely hope that Bethesda Studios works
with Ryan
Cooper one day." -Mackenzie
Rowles (aka Camelworks). "Thanks
Ryan! Your voice took it to the
next
level!" -Haenir Studio.
"Man,
I LOVED your character!
The performance was absolutely
perfect. I was always keen to find him within the world, to hear more
of his story and dialogue" -Tommy
Holloway, editor at PSU.com.
"This amazing dude is the one you hear crying
in the first sequence of the
game and narrating all
those
tapes! ♥ Such an amazing voice actor!" -Alexis Di
Stefano, Bloodious
Games.
"The wicked and
the blessed will be judged the same - let nothing stand in your way." The Last Faith by developers Kumi Souls, is a
gothic action-adventure
game in the pixel art style of the original Castlevanias,
crossed with
the Victorian era aesthetic of Bloodborne. I play several
characters.
The Old Wymond is a withered scavenger all-consumed by his quest for
vengeance against the church that wronged his family. Mariano is a wary
Scottish quartermaster who assists the player-character in upgrading
his arsenal. The Cold One Beast is a man turned monster by a plague
that afflicts the denizens of the city of Mythrangil. I also lent my
voice to various monster creatures in the game: The Giant Patron, Cold
One Stray and Cold One Primitive.
The
characters feel alive and carry a sense of value that enhances the
overall narrative. The voice acting is exceptional, adding depth to the
story and making every interaction a memorable experience. - PlayStation
Universe
Another
layer of quality is the outstanding voice-over work for all dialogue
scenes, despite the actors’ somewhat slow delivery, which contributes
to the immersion in the gothic world.
- Noisy Pixel
The
English dubbing resonates well in the ears. The quality is evident in
the first conversation that takes place, between Eryk, the protagonist,
and the Old Wymond, a merchant in disbelief about the future after his
daughter's fate. - Supernovas
Gorgeous
pixel art, different starting archetypes, gothic setting,
solid voice acting, demanding combat, custom executions, huge arsenal
and plenty other elements look to result in a perfect blend of
Metroidvania and Bloodborne.
- VGDMS
Every
other character I've come across, they are top notch. They're chewing
up the scenery, yelling and screaming and getting into it [...]
Nine out of ten of the voice actors are great.
- The Scarlet
Seeker
Voice
acting is another treat here, each performance believable and
interesting, drawing you into the narrative [...] There are some
genuinely attractive cut-scenes and the voice acting is top-notch.
- Seasoned Gaming
The
voicework is excellent. Regardless of your feelings on the dialogue,
the performances stayed true to what one would imagine the characters
to sound like.
- Worth Playing
The
voice actors do a flawless job of breathing life into the
characters, and even though most of the ensemble carry themselves with
a prolonged, obscure approach, they do so with a sense of poise and
self-assurance.
- Game Reactor
The
sound is very good as well, from fully voiced cutscenes that explain
what is going on, through to the usual combat noises of swords swishing
and flesh squelching.
- The XBox Hub
The
same can also be said for the NPCs inhabiting the game’s desolate
world; nearly every one has a distinct, interesting design as well as
an excellent voice actor to bring them further to life.
- Gamer Escape
I've
already spoken to the high-quality
voice acting, but they've done a fantastic job of adding in creepy
environmental effects. - Switch Corner
A
deep, rich backdrop is bolstered by a story filled with intrigue,
excellent music, and surprisingly good voice acting.
- XBox Era
It
was a pleasant surprise to see all the dialogue excellently voice acted
as well.
- Gaming Trend
The
pixel graphics are top-notch, the animations are gorgeous, and the
sounds and voice acting are stellar in general.
- Game Tyrant
I have voiced for a number of
high-profile modding projects, some complete and others in
the latter stages of production.
The Elder Scrolls Renewal: Skywind: I will play a
host of
roles in the "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind" conversion mod,
including Dagoth Endus, General Darius, Kaushad, and Tharer Rotheloth
among others.
The Elder Scrolls Renewal: Skyblivion: For this
conversion mod of "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion", I am the
voice of the developer diary series, and I also voiced the doomed
Imperial fighter Calius Rebel
for an earlier promotional video.
Enderal: Forgotten Stories: I played barkeep Ulfur
Featherdance, taciturn antagonist Brother Sorrow and other additional
voices.
Beyond Skyrim: The New North: I will voice the first
character you meet in the mod, ship captain Randras Thuvo.
Skyrim:
Interesting
NPCs: I played Ogdul, a former bandit gone straight and a mage
called Lattimore.
Skyrim: Helgen Reborn: I played the Khajiit Joto on
his quest for a good boy.
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYBLIVION
Over
the course of 19 minutes,
narrator Ryan Cooper enthralls the
viewer with descriptions and explanations of the updates, overhauls and
redesigns of key parts of Cyrodiil. -Game Rant
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYBLIVION
The
grass now glimmers in the sun, blinding you to the darker elements that
hide there, though the manly narrator assures us that the necromancer
infestation is but a myth. Phew! - Rock, Paper,
Shotgun
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYBLIVION
That
man narrating has a wonderful voice! Does he do any of the
character voices? If not, he should! - Shirley Curry
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYWIND
The
narration comes courtesy of Ryan Cooper, a professional voice actor who
brings just the right amount of Sean Bean to the role of Dagoth Endus.
- Polygon
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYWIND
The
trailer is narrated by a man whose
vocal chords I would very much like to steal, (presumably) assuming the
role of Dagoth as he mutters some fittingly megalomaniacal words. -PC Gamer
THE
ELDER SCROLLS RENEWAL: SKYWIND
Taking
us on an ominously (and professionally) narrated tour of House Dagoth’s
volcano-side properties, it’s a testament to what a small team can
achieve with the right tools, enough time and a lot of dedication. - Rock, Paper,
Shotgun
"On the desolate
moon of
Lorian, a
long-dormant Deadsuit awakens from slumber. Journey beneath the surface
on an atmospheric adventure of self-discovery, ancient mysteries and
cosmic terror. Explore winding caverns and acquire new abilities to
unearth this world’s long-buried secrets."Nearly a decade in the making, Ghost Song
developed by Old
Moon
Games and published by Humble,
has released to widespread acclaim among fans and critics.
Solo developer Matt White first cast me way back in 2013 after a
successful Kickstarter campaign. I play no less than seven
distinct supporting roles - a tremendous challenge that taught
me a lot about the creative process of developing character voices.
Saymund: an enigmatic wanderer who is inextricably
tied to the events of the desolate moon Lorian V. He speaks offhandedly
about incredible triumphs and horrors, and has a strong nostalgic
streak. I played him like an Oxbridge old boy looking back at those
halcyon days, when he felt invincible and unlimited. He has become
nonplussed by this destructive and decidedly less hopeful future.
However,
"Little
Blue"
offers him slight curiousity, and grounds for optimism.
Just slight.
Adam: a tragicomic robot whose circuitry has become
fried in its dank surroundings. I think an 'old-timey' Transatlantic
American accent fits the grandiose atmosphere cultivated within Adam's
'mind' (the antithesis of his reality): a big bash for the
elites with
chandaliers and curving twin staircases, lobster and fine champagne in
crystalline flutes. The mayor is looking dapper this evening... Good
show, old sport!
Hector: a grizzled bounty hunter who is
tracking a
runaway robot girl. His exoskeleton protects and sustains the life of
the ancient, vulnerable man within. His voice similarly is eroded by
age and excess; Nick Nolte was a big inspiration.
The Outlier: Hector's crashed spaceship, that just
so happens to be sentient and mistakes the Deadsuit for an enemy drone
ship. My inspiration came from the joke of Sat Navs with peculiar
celebrity voices (Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Oz etc). I settled on
the dulcet tones of Mancunian "punk poet" Dr. John Cooper Clarke. Not
sure why exactly; the script somehow reminded me of his dour but
lyrical voice. Maybe because Hector might find such a voice grating -
or perhaps refreshingly dour. It creates a subtle sense of backstory.
Lord Pennick, the Excommunicated: another old bounty
hunter, blinded, and convinced he saw "Blue" in his childhood dreams,
ending his life decades later. I liked the contradiction of a fighting
man who doesn't want to fight, but fights anyway because it his fate to
fight, and lose - and a boss that the player would doesn't want to not
fight but fights anyway, because that's the inexorable nature of
violent video games. Even in combat under fire, his voice never
changes, and at no point is he aggressive. As with most characters in
the game, there is a melancholic and poetic aspect to him.
Door: a door, believe it
or not. A grumpy one that blocks the way to the ruins of a city, and an
avid flower collector. I played him as though he had a hangover, and in
no mood for malarkey, but warms to the Deadsuit once he has received
the flower he wants.
Bill: a trader whom I played as a
"no fuss, no muss" Southerner, with the hidden heart of a poet.
In September 2023, Old Moon
released an update to Ghost Song with new NPCs. I played Xorogon
the Undefeated, a hulking raging brute.
The
performances of the voice cast deliver authentic and raw emotion that
serves as pillars upholding the weight of the story. Su Ling Chan gives
a phenomenal performance as Deadsuit, particularly with her use of
pause and hesitation as she delivers lines dealing with regret and
loss. Other standouts include Glen Cooper as Roper, Madeline Dorrah as
Pasha, and Ryan Cooper as Saymund. - Boss Rush
The
voice work feels like its punctuating the important moments, in an
almost sorrowful yet charming manner. My favourite character in Ghost
Song isn’t a part of the main crew who crashed onto Lorian, but a
drifter android named Saymund. He can be found in multiple locations
throughout the game, and always has interesting dialogue and lore to
divulge.
- PlayStation
Universe
One
thing that caught me off guard was
just how fantastic and
interesting the voice acting is. [...] Just give this video a watch to
hear a bit of it and find out a little bit more about the story (though
I guess you could say it contains light early game spoilers). It’s so
good, and has some pretty great writing too. - Destructoid
While
Ghost Song is very narrative-driven, its partially voiced dialogue with
its various characters bring a great deal of depth to its world and
characters, the game's boss fights and varied combat customizability
ensure players of all stripes will find something to enjoy. - Game Rant
I
enjoyed traversing through
the unanswered, getting history snippets from Saymund, and talking to
the deserted NPC’s – Raven and Gili
in particular – all of whom had interesting backstories through the
little they said, and were brought to life with genuinely solid voice
performances.
- Game Luster
Ghost
Song is actually full of charming and unique NPCs to befriend (and
sometimes fight). Not only are the cast of characters well written, but
their dialogue is also partially voiced by some lovely performances,
making each one a joy to interact with. - Well Played
I
find myself especially intrigued by the little bits of voice-acted
character and story on show. [...] The bit toward the
end of the video with the lonely, demented robo-butler definitely had
me by the follicles of my Intrigue Cilia.
- Rock, Paper,
Shotgun
More
often than not, it’s the story and character moments that shine.
There are NPCs littered throughout the game that give personality
through some impressive voice acting and great writing.
- Console
Creatures
I
took a fast liking to the downtrodden crew members who
were
sparingly
but excellently voiced and all embodied an attitude of both
melancholy and hope. - Escapist
Magazine
And
the voice acting? Don’t get me started. Though not every line of
dialogue is voiced, those that are stand out particularly well.
- RPG
Fan
In shorter roles, trailers
and miscellaneous projects:
In Lunacy:
Saint Rhodes, as protagonist George Rhodes, a bookish loner who
inherits a familial mansion that is not all it seems. -July 2023
In Stasis: Bone Totem, as a corporate hologram
who debates ethics with a religious hologram, played by my
brother Glen. -May 2023
In Kingshunt,
as
pious warrior Isac, brawler Grozny and cackling jester Noxis. -November
2022
In Glen Cooper's World's Fair,
as
Bill White and Aiden White. -February 2014
Narrating the backstory for Strike
Vector. -November 2013
LUNACY:
SAINT RHODES
The voice actors managed to convey the emotions that their
characters were feeling at that point in time. Whether it was anger,
sadness, or even confusion, it was done well and added to the immersive
feel. - Gamescreed
UTOPIA
SYNDROME
Utopia
Syndrome is
a very impressive game with a highly detailed environment, great voice
acting, an intuitive UI and a very intriguing lore. - Alpha Beta
Gamer
THE
ELDER SCROLLS DETECTIVE: YAGRUM
BAGARN
Ryan
did an incredible job
and thanks for such an amazing video!
- Mary Cherry
RUNE
II
The voice acting additions, combat improvements, more focused
questlines and Action RPG feel for the most part, work wonderfully!
- Game Tyrant
RUNE
II
From
what I heard and experienced during my tour,
the voice acting
is nothing short of amazing.
- Nerd Stash
RUNE
II
I
loved being in a story with gods, even one that speaks directly to
me with excellent voice acting and all the skills I could get. - LifeisXBox.eu
In recent years, I have
performed a variety of voice work for Forteller Games, who provide
accompanying voice overs for adventure board games, involving hundreds
of independent voice actors. In: Frosthaven:
I played Crain Tallengyr, a Quatryl genius, and a Bird Demon straight
from the Bayou. Crain was inspired by John Bentley, one of the hosts of
"The Gadget Show" on British TV. He has a quintessentially English
voice and a "tally-ho" manner that I thought suited Crain. Crain
otherwise represents the classic engineer trope who understands people
less than how their parts are put together. The Bird Demon is inspired
by the character Old Georgie from the movie "Cloud Atlas" played by
Hugo Weaving. Dungeons
of Infinity: the third audiobook for which I have narrated. Above
and Below: I played several supporting roles.
"You've ruined
our family." In the acclaimed
debut title MADiSON by Bloodious Games, I portray John Maxwell,
the anguished father of the protagonist. Anguished because his wife and
daughter have been brutally slain... and he is convinced his son is the
perpetrator. So no real influences here, just unbridled rage and
devastation. I also play Priest
Thomas, whose voice can be found across several audio cassette
recordings. I channelled Max von Sydow in the Exorcist for this role.
The
Polaroid camera isn’t the only piece of retro tech at Luca’s
fingertips; in the absence of any other human characters to interact
with a lot of Madison’s plot is delivered via audio recordings found on
cassette tapes. I reveled in the disturbing details drip-fed through
each recording. - IGN
It’s
not an incredibly complex story at the end of the day but was one I
found myself engaged with throughout the entire runtime. This is in
part due to the excellent writing and voice acting. Each audio
recording was ominous in its implications. - Keen Gamer
Your
own father seems to be an incredibly
more complex and in-depth
character, despite never being a voice outside of the initial minute of
the game. -Maxi-Geek
Superb audio including voiceover, music & atmos.
- Shack News
To
cap off the sound, the voice acting is
very solid. Everyone is
giving 100% and it definitely shows in most of the performances. - The Click
The story is solid thanks to high quality
voice acting.
- Game Spew
Capping
the excellent sound design is the
phenomenal voice acting, particularly from Luca's voice actor, Jacob
Judge. [...] The
other voice actors, though sparsely used, are just as captivating in
their delivery. - Game Rant
With
superbly implemented 3D audio, every noise made in the game is one that
instigates fear and paranoia. On the other hand, voice acting is also
excellently done, with each character feeling real and genuine. - Gaming Nexus
Voice
acting primarily features Luca’s fearful performance with all other
voice work presented extremely well. - PlayStation
Universe
The
game has good visuals and background audio, well-done voice acting, and
interesting puzzles. - Daily Record
"Welcome,
Executor! It's the year 117 After Earth and you have a very important
mission. You were awakened to lead the Cell, a secret taskforce
assembled to counter the threat of the STROL mutant invasion. Take
command of your squad to fight the mutants and find a cure to the virus
that threatens to end mankind." For the sequel to
the best-selling The Red Solstice, I play protagonist Executor
Ryan and reprise the role of Connor "Grunt" Rhinefield
for the M.E.R.C.S. DLC. I wanted to impart a certain
falseness and untrustworthiness to Grunt, on the basis that he is a
corporate marine (a frightening thought in of itself), and also
because he keeps secrets from his allies. I landed on a
combination of Buzz Lightyear and a used car salesman.
"Battle for survival
against waves of Martian mutants in this tactical shooter. Using the
skills of your drone companion, make fight-or-flight decisions that
drastically alter the threats you face. Will your choices lead you to
freedom... or your doom?" After voicing the
trailer for Red Solstice, I was asked by developers
Ironward to return for Solstice
Chronicles: M.I.A. I play the sole surviving corporate marine
caught deep behind enemy lines, whose only hope for survival lies in an
unlikely alliance with a rebel drone called Saffron.
The
voice acting was extremely well done and really gave the characters
within the game a deep atmosphere around their being and added to the
immersion within the game [...] Great voice acting & audio. - MKAU Gaming
It's
difficult to say if that bit of fun I had would still be there by the
time there's a finished product. Surprisingly, the developers have
already managed to include some great voice acting which is a positive
sign. - Keen Gamer
The
gameplay hasn’t changed dramatically, but now, there are cutscenes that
introduce your character, as well as some exceptional art and voice
acting.
- Esports Edition
While
the cut-scenes are well-animated, the voice actors do a special job.
Excellently done, combined with fun and witty dialogues between the
grunt and the drone, they give the story an exceptional charm. - Goodgame-HR
“H.P. Lovecraft
meets Cyberpunk. Delve deep into a dystopian world and investigate what
is happening to you and your friends in a domed city. Solve puzzles,
hack systems and plug in to explore other dimensions. Discover a truth
that might tear apart your sanity and question your very existence.” In Stormling Studios' Transient,
I portray protagonist Randolph Carter, an outlaw hacker-for-hire who
accidentally stumbles across a terrifying truth. I played Carter like
his augmented world is always a few decibels too loud, leading to a
constant low-key migraine that brings his voice to a hush. This lends
itself naturally to the understated protagonists of Tech-Noir classics
like Blade Runner and Dark City.
The
eerie voice acting overlaid with Bioshock-esque atmosphere prompting
the player to enter their own memories has me hyped to jack in to the
matrix and inject this game directly into my brain. - Akupara Games
The
voice acting and soundtrack, which consists mostly of atmospheric
noises and creepy vibes, also do a fine job in adding a bit of tension
to the mix.
- Adventure
Gamers
This
is then complemented further thanks to the excellent, albeit
occasionally hammy acting. The combination of overbearing characters
and a gruff protagonist was great, as it added many dynamics to the
storyline. - Movies, Games
& Tech
Excellent
work is done in the performance of dialogues and the general
voice acting, as well as the music where cold synths of a future
dystopia intertwine with Oriental melodies forgotten in time, and
provide an air of mystery. - Ragequit GR
Transient
also has great voice acting for all of its major characters. - Monster Vine
The
game is fully voice-acted with solid performances. - PC
Invasion
“Beautiful
Desolation is a 2D isometric adventure game set in the distant future.
Explore a post-apocalyptic landscape, solve puzzles, meet new friends
and make powerful enemies, mediate conflicts and fight for your life as
you unravel the secrets of the world around you.” Set in a future
South African landscape, The Brotherhood's Beautiful
Desolation focuses on two estranged brothers ripped from their
original timeline, looking for a way back home. I play four supporting
roles. Atum is a zombified
drunk whose brain has been commandeered by a
worm-like parasite called the Fley. Driven to physical ruin, the host's
final stop is an obscure tavern where he encounters player-character Mark
Leslie.
For the performance, I wanted a disparity between the voice of host and
parasite to give the impression of two minds in one body. The host is
soused, giddy, even promiscuous (and yes Chris, I did have a few shandies for the role,
I'm method like that!). The parasite is harsh, desperate, throttled
and always in danger of losing control. I also played
zealot-cum-barkeep Bra' Bones, a Cockney publican with a
glint in his remaining eye. Grave, a mechanical warrior poet I played
as a well-spoken Stratford thespian, which I think creates an
interesting dissonance next to his formidable physicality. Finally,
there is the chronically depressed creature Narchee: a disembodied
human skull effectively enslaved by drones that force him to act as
their topographer.
The
game has a talented cast of voice actors. Known names like Julian
Casey, Sarah Williams, and Ryan and Glen Cooper help bring the
characters of Beautiful Desolation to life. - Keen Gamer
Each
[character] is brought to life with
voices that express these ranges of emotions brilliantly and make each
conversation have an impact on the story and how you feel about it.
-Thumb Culture
Along
the way you are treated to an engaging sci-fi story, deep character
interactions, wonderfully performed voice acting, distinct dialogue
choices, and all set in a mysterious but well-built future world. - Gaming
Nexus
Beautiful
Desolation has some of the best
voice acting and writing I’ve ever experienced in an indie game. Every
character is given a unique voice (and even animated conversations) and
the script is beyond impressive. -Switchaboo
There
are surprising twists and turns throughout the game, all delivered via
some impressive voice-acting and jaw-dropping cut-scenes that far
exceed anything you would expect from a game with such a modest budget.
- Gameplanet NZ
Voiced
by a cast of talented voice actors, the dialogue is brought to
life and often requires the player’s input in the game, engaging us in
the story right from the start. - Cog Connected
The
voice acting is pretty top-notch throughout, and the South African
accents are an oddly refreshing element. - God is a Geek
The
standout audio feature here is the
voice acting. [...] Every
character is fully voiced, and the entire voice cast does an excellent
job. - 3rd Strike
The
fully voice-acted script is chock full of excellent performances to
boot. - The Switch
Effect
Conversations
are engaging, thanks to the
imaginatively weird folks you encounter and a high standard of voice
acting. - The Sixth Axis
The
voice acting is excellent and its
profanity-filled convo choices are right up my street. -Movies, Games
& Tech
The
real treat in this game is the voice acting. The voiceovers are not
just done well, they're done differently and each character finds
themselves and has their own personality. This goes for both flesh and
metal characters, and it really does heighten the game so much. -Switch Heads
"Ancestors
Legacy is a squad-based real time strategy with a strong focus on
tactics. Inspired by medieval European history, it brings to life four
different nations and their conflicts, usually solved by war."
I play the first King of Poland, Boleslav
the Brave, and the bloodthirsty Viking Truvor;
both men are driven by a ruthless, unrelenting aggression. The
character performances were wrapped in (physically exhausting)
live sessions.
Storytelling
is done with elaborate images that portray great emotion, along with
intense voice acting. This really draws the player into the action,
making you another member of the squad, not just a person behind the
keyboard. -Gaming Lyfe
The
game has amazing voice acting, and it really stood out in all the
individual stories. Each historical event was well told, always
engaging, and never felt dull. In my opinion, the narrative was also
very well-paced. - Lords of Gaming
The
music and voice acting were all great, I didn’t cringe at any accents
or feel like they hired cheap voice actors throughout the Viking
campaigns. - Game Pitt
Tapestry-like
cutscenes, intriguing storylines based on historical events and solid
voice acting all round. - VG Almanac
In the Winter
of 2016, I travelled to the chilly Old Post Office deep in the
Arthurian land of Tintagel, for a University of Falmouth production of The
Highwayman, based on the 1906 poem by Alfred Noyes. I portray the narrator
who bears grim witness to a treacherous tryst. Director Oliver Chater
and Producer Henry Isaksen invited me on board after their successful Kickstarter campaign, and to return to the
University for additional ADR work. Highlights include
chewing the fat with Poldark and Doc Martin stalwart Rory Wilton,
enjoying the splendid National
Trust building for the day, and working with a vibrant young crew. The
Highwayman was entered into The National Film Festival for
Talented Youth among others, and Ben
Sutcliffe's excellent score took the runner-up spot at the 2017 LA
Shorts awards.
“Private
Ranulph Kinny swears his Mongoose- an eight foot-tall powered armor
suit- is trying to kill him. Even his sergeant is acting paranoid,
invoking the Saints and keeping the platoon battle-ready, just in case.
Everything changes when a mysterious broadcast blankets the city and
triggers an all-out civil war. Now, Kinny and his power-suited platoon
fight for survival as their city crumbles around them. Welcome,
Brigador.” I took on the
mammoth task of turning Brad Buckmaster's 2016 novel Brigador into an 7-hour audiobook, serving
as a companion story to the video
game of the same name. It was the first audiobook to release on
Steam, with a 100%
user rating and a 4.8/5 rating on Audible. For the performance, I
honed what I facetiously call my "Sean Bean" voice. It has become
something of a running joke in my household that my performances are
often met with comparisons to the world's most famous Sheffield United
fan, even when I'm actively trying to avoid them... The rustic aspect
of a Northern English voice seemed appropriate for this visceral
military tale (as well as being an accent I could hold for 80,000
words). The challenge came in demarcating the characters from the
narration. At one point, I was speaking in a coarsened Northern accent
to interpret the grizzled Sergeant Koenig, then a mocking impersonation
of it from his own subordinates! The Spacer faction is non-terrestrial,
mostly cruel, cold and snobbish. For the marooned Spacer Pilot, I took
inspiration from Twin Peaks'The
Man from Another Place, and Gman
from the Half-Life series, emphasising the wrong words and an
unsettling cadence, like he is a chameleon merely passing for human.
Enter
Ryan Cooper, who did an equally impeccable job on giving
voice to Brad's
writing. - Hugh Monahan,
Stellar Jockeys
The
big surprise came in the form of Brad Buckmaster's Brigador novel and
subsequent audiobook, narrated wonderfully by Ryan Cooper. - Permanent Beta
I
usually loathe military / tactical driven sci-fi, but between the
fleshed out world of Solo Nobre, Brad Buckmaster's excellent writing,
and the sublime narration talent of Ryan Cooper, I can't help but fall
in love with this book. - Audible Review
The
narrator does a stellar job throughout, with his performance being able
to describe the one battlefield multiple times, but subtly altering his
tone to emphasize each soldier's perspective. -Audible Review
"In the distant
future, aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft, John Maracheck awakes
from stasis. He must push himself to new physical and emotional limits
and unravel the mysteries around him. John is in tremendous pain, his
wife and daughter are missing, and time is running out as the Groomlake
plunges further into the swirling blue methane clouds of Neptune..." Stasis is
the acclaimed debut title of South African siblings Christopher and
Nicolas Bischoff, aka The Brotherhood. The game was credited with
breathing new life into the point-and-click adventure genre. Rock, Paper, Shotgun said, "Stasis
punches so far above its weight that I almost can’t believe it exists."
Destructoid
said, "There are scenes in Stasis, especially towards the end
of the game, that I'm not sure I'll ever forget." I play the
beleaguered protagonist, a teacher whose ship is waylaid by the
unscrupulous Cayne Corporation en route to a family vacation on the
moon of Titan. I portrayed John as the 'every-man', but with a softness
born of a privileged lifestyle- such a holiday must surely be above the
pay grade of most. To Rafael Serrato
of Bit
Cultures, I spoke at length about my preparation for the
performance: "It is important to internalise the character, reflect on
the themes of the story and how the characters attract and oppose each
other. Family is the central theme of Stasis, and all three lead
characters symbolise this in their own way. John has an arc, which I
look for in characters. It was vital that he be vulnerable, uncertain
and slow to harden to the horror. If the player can connect with the
character, they then consider the uncomfortable question: how would I
cope in this situation? That is the essence of great horrors, they
shine a light on our own lives." Kim at Later Levels asked for my thoughts on the
game and its developers, The Brotherhood: “I was an early-bug tester
and a beta Kickstarter backer, so I played it a couple of times before
release. For a one-man development, Stasis is a minor miracle really,
and serves as inspiration to other small teams. It has been spoken
about in the same breath as peers like SOMA, which had several team
members with years of experience between them. The game has a timeless
quality and won’t really age in years to come. Chris should be very
proud of what he has achieved.”
In January 2017,
The Brotherhood released a free DLC chapter to the Stasis story, called
CAYNE. I played two supporting characters,
the nameless man who assists protagonist Hadley
from an unseen
location, and Danie Boland- a vulgar engineer who comes to realise he
won't be walking out of the facility. I returned for the
sequel to Stasis, called "Bone Totem", which released in May 2023. I
played a cameo role as a Cayne Corporation hologram who gets into a
philosophical quarrel with a religious
hologram.
I
have never heard a videogame character sound so vulnerable and human
[...] It's better than a lot of VO work in some AAA games out there
[...] A great deal of the game's intensity is a result of Ryan Cooper's
performance. - Grimbeard
Diaries
[Cooper]'s
performance in Stasis is excellent and reflects the dark atmosphere
perfectly. [...] Whether John is screaming in pain or catching his
breath from shock, his voice work captures these heavy, extreme moments
greatly. - Bit Cultures
You
have to clamber into the machine and operate on yourself in
excruciating detail. Props to John's voice actor, who emits many, many
convincingly tortured noises. - Forbes
Where
the sound really shines is in the voice acting. [...] There is none of
the panic-about-to-lose-it in one clip and happy-no-cares in the next.
This may be the best voice acting I have ever had the pleasure to
experience. - Just Adventure
It
was therefore a nice surprise
to find out in the credits that [Utopia Syndrome]'s protagonist is
voiced by Ryan
Cooper, who did an excellent job of playing John Maracheck in [Stasis].
- Later Levels
In
terms of characters, the game is almost entirely carried by John,
masterfully voiced by Ryan Cooper, who perfectly descends into the role
and is able to convey anguish with every sentence he utters. - Adventure's
Planet (Italy)
John's
rage, his naked horror is perfectly conveyed by the well-motivated
English voice actor. - PC Games
(Germany)
The
player character [John Maracheck] is well-developed, in part thanks to
some fantastic voice acting. - Game Rant
[Cooper]'s
the
one that I think has had the most opportunity to show his range of
emotions, and he's done a great job. He's really a good voice actor. - Laila Dyer
The
voice cast is tiny, and John's is exceptionally good, There are some
horrific scenes that are brought up by how intensely he reacts to them.
- Lord Mandalore
I'm
not typically a fan of puzzle games but this has got good atmosphere,
good environment, good graphics, the voice acting is ****ing superb. - Alpha Sid
The
key players behind Stasis’ slight tremors and occasional jump scares
are the sound FX, music, and voice acting. - That Videogame
Blog
The Old City: Leviathan
is described as "an experiment in first-person exploration that focuses
entirely on story. All that exists is you and the world. Set in a
decaying city from a civilization long past, The Old City: Leviathan
puts the player in the shoes of a sewer dwelling isolationist." The
Washington Post described the game as an “experiment in
literary gaming.“ Known colloquially as a
'walking
simulator', the game is my first major credit as a voice actor; I
played the protagonist (and sole character) Jonah. I discussed my experiences in a 2015 interview with
Rafael Serrato of Bit
Cultures:
“It was here I understood the responsibility of the voice artist, in
co-ordination with the devs, to form a fleshed-out character that will
engage the audience. There was a theatricality in Jonah’s dialogue, so
I interpreted him as a worn-down actor of sorts. How many times has he
approached that specific brick arch and launched into the same
over-rehearsed soliloquy? For how long has he been shambling that
facility like a ghost caught in a self-imposed cycle? Surely way before
the player arrived. There is a subtle horror to the role.“ To Kim of Later Levels,
I went into more detail about the challenges of the role: “Getting into
the head space of someone who has spent too much time alone, but has a
keen philosophical mind and forms these unique insights into the
meaning of life. He comes from a very different place to the average
person and therein lay the challenge of making him relatable. “I put Jonah into terms I could understand, as an actor
of sorts. More
specifically, someone whose life has become an act, who created
Leviathan to avoid the pain of the unknown. Maybe we all create our own
personal Leviathan as we get older. Jonah’s life views become his
lines, rehearsed to the point of banality, the theatrical pauses more
deliberate with the years. Only when he is exposed to the uncertain
does the child in him break out. Jonah manages to rekindle a deep ember
of childlike curiosity that helps him get off his ass and leave his
self-imposed prison.“
In
that place [the narrator] becomes a little panicked, the
sneer of discontent and slight superiority cracking for a moment. It's
a necessary emotional pinprick of a moment. - Rock, Paper,
Shotgun
I
found [Cooper] to be rather excellent. [...] As I continued, as more
and more was uncovered, the game's narrative began to take hold, and I
really have to say for that, I think the voice is excellent. - Angry Centaur
Gaming
The
lone voice actor does fine work, carrying the game emotionally and
sounding convincingly detached from reality. - Adventure
Gamers
Another
title in the growing walking simulator genre that combines beautiful
graphics and great voice over work into a readily playable title. - The Refined
Geek
Ryan
Cooper, the narrator, also does some of the best voice
acting I have ever heard. - Lair of the
Wolf Dragon
The
actor providing the voice for the
protagonist also did a very good job of making the soliloquies sound
convincing. - Game
Ramble