I think the thing AI can't do is inspired delivery of lines. Mario doesn't say much, but the way it is said is very important. I think it would be easier to replace most characters in Final Fantasy games with AI than it would Mario.
i just went and rewatched the reveal trailer. it is absolutely not him in that trailer, but i really had not noticed until i listened for it. it's...weird. i'm not ready to move on from Martinet.
In closing, you people must realize that the public owns you for life, and when you're dead...? You'll all be in commercials, dancing with vacuum cleaners.
He's now going to be a Nintendo Ambassador or something. I wonder if this is just to change the voice of Mario while also effectively retiring him from voice acting so they don't have Mario voicing Bayonetta in the next game or something.
Yeah, I know it was a lame joke. Charles Martinet is still voicing Mario in Super Mario Wonder. The reason he sounds different is because he's simply getting older.
Edit: Apparently I was wrong, I saw the imdb credits and they list Charles Martinet as the voice actor, however Nintendo just announced that he wasn't involved in it. Damn.