[Spoilers, kind of] Characters who are completely different between JP/ENG

[SavingPrincess]

I play with JP voices on, and today I heard a friend play in English, and heard Soroban talk in English for the first time.

Wow... he's like a completely different Ninja Turtle.

In Japanese, he's kind of an overzealous doofus... the kind you want to like, pat on the head and go "good for you big guy!"

In English, I wasn't prepared... he's like some haughty, nobleman.

Have players out there noticed some other characters who VO choices make them seem like completely different characters?

[Krotoan]

Ooo! yes!
I play with japanese voices but english subtitles. I never understood why people would yell "sloppy!" all the time when we fought griffin.

there was also a boss I vaguely remember who in japanese was begging for his life and help, but the english subtitles made him sound a lot more stoic... I don't remember who it was though.

[Sigiria]

Sometimes the translation is so off it's actually the opposite of what the character is saying. last things that come into my mind is Zenos fight, when he's going to unleash his special move in Japanese he say something along these lines "Don't be defeated by that" and in English I believe he says "have you the strength?" Which is arguably not so off but the worst is in the french version where he screams something like "Won't you die already!"

That's completly out of character and is not the only time the translation is completly off from what the character is saying.

[Daralii]

Sometimes the translation is so off it's actually the opposite of what the character is saying. last things that come into my mind is Zenos fight, when he's going to unleash his special move in Japanese he say something along these lines "Don't be defeated by that" and in English I believe he says "have you the strength?" Which is arguably not so off but the worst is in the french version where he screams something like "Won't you die already!"

That's completly out of character and is not the only time the translation is completly off from what the character is saying.

The English version generally suffers from overly-flowery language more than actual mistranslation, but that's just the style that Koji Fox likes.

[Rasylia]

Especially the dragons from the Mogry Dailies suffer from extremly bad translation.

German & English though.

I remember the one daily where you had to make small airships for the 3 dragons.
In german, the dragons are threatening you with their parents, and are aggressive, demanding and "bad" childish.
In english, they are playfull, happy about the gifts and generall more "good" childish.

Its just weird. Especially after switching back to english for SB when playing HW completely in german.

[Musashidon]

i can't speak for for german/french but when it comes to jp/en its comes to area preference/koji fox.

since koji fox is a main lore person and the head of na localization he changes things based on his own ideas/target audience.
the biggest localization being the end of keeper of the lake which caused a small uproar.

also i believe haurchefant had a bit of a personality difference between na/jp

[Rokke]

also i believe haurchefant had a bit of a personality difference between na/jp

Yeah, in NA he's just your kinda odd friend vs. in JP he's a lot less subtle that he's really really into you.. and muscles. Those shirtless guys working out in his building make more sense with JP Haurchefant

[Clethoria]

JP: My first and last friend
NA: My friend, my enemy
Me:[angry adventurer noises]

I was in bliss before finding out the way Koji Fox inserts his fanfiction levels of flavor into things. There's even the hyur at the hot springs in Kugane. Ha ha I get it, Simpsons joke. But like...stahp.

JP: I can't find my clothes (Or I think it was, Where are my clothes?)
NA: Stupid sexy Roegadyn.

[Kahnom]

I wonder what SIR Charibet,Grifffin,Zenos and Gwyn-something yells in japanese.

[eschaton]

Major differences. This is not only in FFXIV... you get this in games, movies, anime, music, heck it is in everything.

Once you figure this out you are kinda screwed also; you've gotta choose to experience the original setting, or go with the translation. Or watch stuff multiple times. Personally I think this really blows, and when being serious about it the original always seems 'better'. (How strange, how the producer meant it to be, seems better?!)

Each their own, of course, some friends can't stand foreign languages / voices. (And I wish I knew more of them!)