This frequency of English localization issues is unacceptable

[anhaato]

A recent topic that has sprung up regarding discussion of the writing is that certain things have been getting lost in translation, and even slight dialogue changes have been making huge differences in context.

Originally I figured this was an issue for every language, but cross references of similar scenes across all of the languages have found that English is usually the only one that's saying something different. One key example I can bring up off the top of my head is dialogue from 5.4 in which Y'shtola discusses Zodiark.
In French:

Here (thanks Teraq for the translation) she says; "Emet-Selch entrusted us with the future of this world, thus it falls to us to make sure Zodiark is not used for nefarious ends. After all, he was created to stop the Final Days..."
In Japanese (I use JP audio) what she said is much the same from what I can tell. I'm not yet fluent so maybe the egg is about to be on my face
However, in English...

...yeah. Completely different.

Another example, Y'shtola again, in Thavnair:


In French:

"Hydaelyn, or rather Venat, could perhaps help us out. After all, she was there when Zodiark was summoned to fight against the Final Days. She was also the one who kept him alive to protect us."
Once again, completely different. This is far more egregious than changing Haurchefant to be less horny, these minor differences completely change what's being said and change the story by consequence.

I understand that localization isn't just purely translating, I know it has to be made to sound good in the language it's being translated to, but localizers should NOT be taking creative liberties! There's absolutely no reason why EN players should be reading an entirely different story than everyone else, and it's really frustrating because it kneecaps discussion between people on different language clients until they figure out that they're being confused by a bad translation.

[Kranel_San]

What sort of Havoc Zodiark's powers wreaked? I never really understood the meaning of that sentence beyond: "Final days are bad and we should try our best to not face something similar."
So yeah. Bring back the old localization team!

[anhaato]

What sort of Havoc Zodiark's powers wreaked? I never really understood the meaning of that sentence beyond: "Final days are bad and we should try our best to not face something similar."
So yeah. Bring back the old localization team!

THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYING LIKE why is the localization team straight making shit up now?!

Also I doubt the team was ever good. Apparently issues like this go back to ARR.

[Jeeqbit]

The French version looks refreshingly clear, while the English version looks dumbed down to the point of being wrong (because Hydaelyn didn't forestall the final days).

I imagine they were each separately translating it from Japanese and not comparing the quality of their work before release, like we are doing in retrospect. Unless they went through the story with 4 speech bubbles translated into English from each language, it would be difficult for them to compare their work the way we are doing.

[anhaato]

I imagine they were each separately translating it from Japanese and not comparing the quality of their work before release, like we are doing in retrospect. Unless they went through the story with 4 speech bubbles translated into English from each language, it would be difficult for them to compare their work the way we are doing.

Assuming this is a valid excuse for anything, why is the EN localization the only one suffering from it?

[Kranel_San]

THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYING LIKE why is the localization team straight making shit up now?!

Also I doubt the team was ever good. Apparently issues like this go back to ARR.

It's worth noting that line was present in the patch 5.4 trailer. Which makes me wonder if they're intentionally misleading lines to work as baits to get people hyped up? I truly wonder....

[Larirawiel]

The same with German translation. It contains more informations than the English translation.

One example:

When you confront Emet-Selch and Ardbert merges with you, he sees an Amaurotine for a moment. In the English version he says: "No, it cannot be!". In the German version: "What? You? It cannot be!" It means, that he recognises you. In the English version it is absolutely not clear.

Cheers

[Nestama]

I think it would be better to play the scenes back to back in video, rather than single out of context dialogue boxes (I'm implying there's a chance that what Y'shtola is saying here will match what she says in French/Japanese with the full scenes played out).

That said, I'm pretty sure the localisation team still works very closely with the Japanese team or something (unsure if this has changed over the years. I just recall a thread made by someone on the localisation team some years back explaining how things were being done).

[Kranel_San]

I think it would be better to play the scenes back to back in video, rather than single out of context dialogue boxes (I'm implying there's a chance that what Y'shtola is saying here will match what she says in French/Japanese with the full scenes played out).

That said, I'm pretty sure the localisation team still works very closely with the Japanese team or something (unsure if this has changed over the years. I just recall a thread made by someone on the localisation team some years back explaining how things were being done).

If I'm not mistaken, the old localization team (Who worked on the game until somewhere in late HW or SB to my knowledge) is the one who's praised for their excellent work but they have been moved to work on FFXVI.
The current one has worked on both ShB and EW to my knowledge but unsure of any other details.
Please for anyone with more info please correct me if I'm wrong or lacking.

[OhNooo]

I think it would be better to play the scenes back to back in video, rather than single out of context dialogue boxes (I'm implying there's a chance that what Y'shtola is saying here will match what she says in French/Japanese with the full scenes played out).