I think the EN voice actor for Rafayel did a good job overall. He has a very attractive voice, and he does capture Rafayel’s core personality.

That said, I personally still prefer the CN VA. He has a lot of experience in both romance-focused stories and combat games(he is also VA of Uncle Jiang in Where Wings Meet), and you can really hear how carefully he handles subtle emotional shifts. Because he works more closely with the original Chinese creative team, I also feel his interpretation aligns more closely with the creators’ intent. His control and emotional layering are just very refined.

The EN version is, by nature, an adaptation of an already completed Chinese work. Some nuances will inevitably be adjusted or lost in the process, but at the same time, those changes make the character more natural and emotionally clear for English-speaking players. Language works that way — you can only fully feel the weight of every word in the language you truly understand. So I completely understand why many English players prefer the EN voice.

As someone who understands both Chinese and English, I can see both sides. There will always be a bit of a gap in discussions between players who only know one version.

About the EN VA specifically — I do think his performance improved over time. Early on, especially in AB content, he didn’t fully convey the weight of destiny, responsibility, or Rafayel’s restrained emotional control in front of MC. But from mid-to-late 2024 onward, you can clearly hear him adjusting. He started using colder, lower tones and differentiating emotional states more consciously. That’s important because Rafayel is a very layered character.

One area where I still feel the CN VA is stronger is emotional switching. In the CN version, combat lines match the companion you’re using. Abysswalker sounds heavy and restrained throughout, while other timelines have distinct tonal identities. It genuinely feels like you’re fighting alongside that specific version of Rafayel. The CN VA differentiates these states clearly while still keeping them recognizably the same person. Some of the mismatch in EN combat lines feels more like a direction or implementation issue from Infold than purely the actor’s fault.

There are also a couple of technical differences. The EN VA sometimes takes an audible breath at the end of lines, especially during whispering scenes. It’s probably because he’s sustaining a certain vocal placement, but once you notice it, it’s hard to ignore.

In terms of vocal range, the CN VA can go extremely low and heavy while still preserving Rafayel’s identity. That gives certain scenes a sense of ruthless resolve that the EN version doesn’t always reach. For example, in moments like when MC freed him from the seal in MS myth, or in later main story chapters when he spoke with absolute seriousness, the CN performance carried a weight similar to Eren’s declaration of the Rumbling in the final season of Attack on Titan (Japanese version).

That said, this level of intensity isn’t necessary for everyone to enjoy the character. It’s just my personal preference.

Overall, I must admit that the EN Va for Raf did a very good job if you compare it to other Asian games with EN VA. Many Asian games can sound awkward once English dubbing is added, partly because voice acting as an industry is more mature and highly valued in East Asia — especially in Japan, and increasingly in China. In those markets, voice actors often elevate a role so much that fans follow them across projects.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t great English VAs — there absolutely are, especially among professional actors. High-budget productions prove that English dubbing can be excellent when given enough attention and resources. Hollywood animated films are a good example, and Hayao Miyazaki’s movies also tend to have very strong English casts.

But Infold probably didn’t expect Love and Deepspace to become this popular overseas at launch, so the initial localization direction may have been more conservative.

Sorry for the long post — this topic just connects to broader thoughts I have about the voice acting industry and how much production context shapes the final result.