This frequency of English localization issues is unacceptable

[Yshtola_Cat]

OH LORD THE PANDORA'S BOX IS OPEN

[Midareyukki]

OH LORD THE PANDORA'S BOX IS OPEN

Oh believe me, this is MILD for the crap I've had to deal with. At least we're not getting into cultural differences and social mention of taboos being erased. I've had a friend of mine whose manuscript got sent back because the original text had profanity, and in her localization she ended up making it worse and insulting. What was just crass language in one text became an outright insult in the other.

Or worse. "But in the original, this character was X social minority"... And I'll keep it at that, because... no.

[OhNooo]

Well, one example that comes to mind for me is the Japanese vs English translations of the dialog between WoL and Midgardsormr after the Keeper of the Lake dungeon...



I definitely would've preferred the direct translation because it explained things to me better. Especially the part where in the English localization he says he won't harm us and then shoots that light into our chest lol, it makes more sense that he said he would test us. The phrase "I remember and I consent" was just too vague for me, compared to what he actually said which definitely sheds more light on things. It seems to me that the localization team is trying shorten things and make things sound cooler or more poetic at the cost of leaving important context out. These are things that I would've appreciated knowing.

[Avidria]

Well, one example that comes to mind for me is the Japanese vs English translations of the dialog between WoL and Midgardsormr after the Keeper of the Lake dungeon...



I definitely would've preferred the direct translation because it explained things to me better. Especially the part where in the English localization he says he won't harm us and then shoots that light into our chest lol, it makes more sense that he said he would test us. The phrase "I remember and I consent" was just too vague for me, compared to what he actually said which definitely sheds more light on things. It seems to me that the localization team is trying shorten things and make things sound cooler or more poetic at the cost of leaving important context out. These are things that I would've appreciated knowing.

This cutscene is the one that always comes to mind for me when I hear about changes (other than the Haurchefaunt changes ofc )
Like I spent a long time being very confused about what Midgardsormr's actual motivations were and what on earth he was talking about here because it just didn't seem clear at all to me. Then I read the more direct translation and it made infinitely more sense to me.

Please don't tell me the "myriad tiny lives" bit is where some people got into their mind that Ancients were about to feed babies to their Blood God lmao

It was more the "lives newly born" bit actually. And I don't think that's the only place it came up - I definitely don't remember a point where it was ever made clear what the nature of the life they intended to sacrifice actually was, but the framing of it in those two screenshots you quoted is definitely different... The English version focuses more on giving over the world to new life, and the Japanese version emphasizes it being "time for the sacrifices to stop."

It is fascinating to see the differences and interpretations across languages, but there are definitely some cases where it seems the changes just muddy the waters.

[Theodric]

As an aside, maybe we should get an American English localisation and a British English localisation. I want to read favourite rather than favorite in dialogue.

[Fiel_Tana]

As an aside, maybe we should get an American English localisation and a British English localisation. I want to read favourite rather than favorite in dialogue.

I've often wondered why it's written in American English when most of the voice actors are British.

[KizuyaKatogami]

Uhh, he sacrificed half the population? That havoc?


Look, we know you are a zodiark fan boy. Keep it to the other threads lol

Wow gatekeeping a thread because you disagree with the objective fact i’m stating? You realize that’s grounds for a report right?

[Teraq]

I've brought up some more examples of English <-> French differences in a recent post (trigger warning: page 517 of Quite Lackluster thread and the mandatory Ancient simping that goes with it).

Another example that comes to mind is Hermes explicitly mentioning he and Meteion would likely be imminently arrested and locked up. I remember bringing this up in discussion about Ancients, their laws and punishment, and I can only assume people who play the game in English were politely nodding along until one decided to come out and say this isn't really made explicit in their version.



(To Hermes) "And if you would be so kind to follow me [to Amaurot], whether you're interested in the Seat of Fandaniel or not, you will have to answer for your acts."



(To Meteion) "I would like to ask you a last question... before you and I... are deprived of our freedom."


Some comparison of Emet's absolutely cursed Ultima Thule lines as well, which might clear up some... misconceptions:


(French) "Venat has always been quite single-minded. Might she have spared me to make me the cornerstone of her bridge throughout the ages? Unless it is a veiled criticism, my punishment for having forgotten the cause of the Final Days in spite of myself."
(English) "So, here I am, Venat. I suppose you needed me to tie it all together, these frayed threads of our history─but knowing you, I suspect there's a joke in it too. Oh yes, I can imagine you gloating over my forgetfulness."


(French) "Although, if I were not so spiteful, I would say she simply sought to pull off this late turn of events..."
(English) "Were I feeling charitable, I might assume you had left room for the possibility of this outcome."


(French) "If she expects gratitude, she will be disappointed. My life was not quite a peaceful and quiet stroll, and this change of heart changes nothing."
(English) "Even so, you'll get no applause from me. A single gesture will not lighten the burden I've had to bear."


(French) "I must admit however she has quite the matchmaking skills. A human being would have never been able to set foot here with our methods."
(English) "Still, you must be commended. Our methods would not have brought mankind this far."


(French) "So be it. As an eulogy to Venat, and last gift to original mankind, I could afford to make a preamble!"
(English) "And so, as a show of respect to the last of us, I make this declaration."

[Lauront]

The rest of it is more or less the same, with no other material differences beyond some phrasing choices. There is no allusion in the rest of the text to what the EN version is referencing, highlighted in the red box.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

The rest of it is more or less the same, with no other material differences beyond some phrasing choices. There is no allusion in the rest of the text to what the EN version is referencing, highlighted in the red box.

But doesn't that make Thancred's question more confusing if they don't answer that way?

Seeing zodiark as a threat would make them opposed to his creation. I think this is just language nuances lol.


If someone is creating something that I see as a threat, I would be opposed to it being created.

Post creation, they had no choice, Zodiark was already made. They couldn't unmake him without removing the effect had staving off the final days, so sundering weakens zodiark, who is then sealed away. Protective measure is still there and he can't be used further.