This frequency of English localization issues is unacceptable

[Xirean]

I see a lot of people saying that the "The differences don't matter in the grand scheme of things", but I feel like it's still important for the enjoyment of a story to ensure that every localization is presenting dialogue with a similar enough context, tone, and wording that the different audiences are able to walk away with a unified impression.

IE, I've seen many who did not draw the connection that the WoL is Azem's reincarnation until 5.3, and that small difference of Emet Selch saying "It can't be..." vs. "You? It can't be..." is enough to get mental gears turning that might not have otherwise. It also makes it much more apparent that up until that moment he didn't actually realize precisely who we were, and I've likewise seen people chiding him for being extra terrible for behaving the way he did in the aftermath of the Innocence fight with the mistaken impression he already knew our soul's original identity but just didn't care anymore.

This is a really spot on breakdown. The Emet point is a perfect example of the issue. If the intention of the writers is that he only knew at that exact moment then it shouldn't be something left to question "When did he know who the WoL was?" which is an actual conversation I've had with friends and FC mates because I didn't know there was an alternate line that makes it VERY clear when that moment was.

[Rulakir]

(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."

Ultima Thule is such a mess. I still don't know what "matchmaking" is supposed to mean, though that seems to be consistent throughout every language except EN. (I have theories, but this isn't the thread for it.) The context between "a human being" and "mankind" I consider important.

The second part is so bizarre. Considering Emet looks directly at the WoL when he says "as a show of respect to the last of us", knowing that Venat is dead-dead, I would naturally take that to mean he was talking about us. Instead, it's mainly in reference to 'authentic mankind'.

The "whatever reason" here being so I don't have to refer to the French version to pick up on stuff that has been dropped in the EN version, or to resort to it where the vague phrasing used in the EN version introduces ambiguities.

This. Not only is there a lot of missing context I consider important, but several instances where dialog isn't even remotely the same. Like they just plugged the JP into Google translate and tried to make sense of it.

It wasn't as noticeable in ShB, but EW had a lot going on with inconsistencies and contradictions. I consider it important to know if that's due to the storytelling or poor translation.

IE, I've seen many who did not draw the connection that the WoL is Azem's reincarnation until 5.3, and that small difference of Emet Selch saying "It can't be..." vs. "You? It can't be..." is enough to get mental gears turning that might not have otherwise. It also makes it much more apparent that up until that moment he didn't actually realize precisely who we were, and I've likewise seen people chiding him for being extra terrible for behaving the way he did in the aftermath of the Innocence fight with the mistaken impression he already knew our soul's original identity but just didn't care anymore.

My first impressions of 5.0 were that the WoL was just another Ancient, no one special. I saw nothing throughout the EN version to suggest otherwise despite reading the contrary online. Then I played through 5.3 and wondered why there wasn't much more emphasis on Emet recognizing who we were and his fond feelings for our original incarnation. I read an interview where Yoshi-P said it was difficult to depict what Emet was thinking and feeling (I don't know why), so I thought that was the problem. However, seeing the discrepancies in EW between EN and other languages I now wonder what I may have missed that was elaborated upon or explained better in other languages.

Maybe this isn't important to some people, but it is to me. Missing context or rewritten dialog leads to misunderstandings and confusion, which has a direct effect on the enjoyment of the story.

[Amenara]

I can understand the complaint a little, but at the same I feel like the english localization more or less conveys the same story from the examples I read in here. I feel like the big thing is you have to look at how the story is conveyed as a whole through localization vs using snippets of text and comparing the scenes. I don't know how the story was localized and conveyed as a whole in the other versions of the game so I have no frame of reference to compare the english localization to anything else as a whole.

If the complaint is about the story, then there is the 500+ page thread that is there for a reason.

[Kaliesto]

Didn't some localizer/translator on a certain site with the number 4 expose the Localization side of the Video Game industry few years ago claiming they were hiring people that couldn't give give 2 cents about the audience amongst other things? Seems like the English side of Localization has gone down hill in quality because of corruption and laziness.

Though to be for real its been kind of like this since the 1990s sadly.

If you wanted good localization and translation is often from people with free time and passion which has slowly been becoming the norm since I believe going back as the early 2000s, Falcom one of the Video Game Companies in Japan in particular has acknowledged those particular individuals.

I think Sega to some extent as well.

Kind of sad you have to rely on fans to get anything good at this point.

To Localizers/Translators reading this I'm not saying everyone of you all are like this of course in the industry, but some of your colleagues been giving a bad name to the Job title mainly in the mainstream. I think I can see why some have become somewhat distrusting of them because of past incident with other games besides FFXIV here. I don't know why its mainly the English Localization having these issues, but the Gaming Industry should try to do better.

[Necrotica]

At this point calling someone a localizer is the worst insult you could ever come up with.

Scum of the earth.

[Lihtleita]

At this point calling someone a localizer is the worst insult you could ever come up with.

Scum of the earth.

who hurt you

[Syrri]

Nice to see the usual story is bad mmmkay cultists are active, keep up the good work guys!

Not that anything will change because thank our lady and saviour hydaelyn the devs don't read a single word of what you say.

[Raoabolic]

Nice to see the usual story is bad mmmkay cultists are active, keep up the good work guys!

Not that anything will change because thank our lady and saviour hydaelyn the devs don't read a single word of what you say.

Which is funny considering the second half of EW before the final fight can be boiled down to your sig, lol.

I can't believe Lauront has finally done it. Mankind's first hero, and his final hope...

You know, I've been saying Lauront was a primal for decades and no one was listening!

[anhaato]

Nice to see the usual story is bad mmmkay cultists are active, keep up the good work guys!

Not that anything will change because thank our lady and saviour hydaelyn the devs don't read a single word of what you say.

You people avoid self awareness like it’s white auracite.

[KageTokage]

Nice to see the usual story is bad mmmkay cultists are active, keep up the good work guys!

Not that anything will change because thank our lady and saviour hydaelyn the devs don't read a single word of what you say.

It's ironic how you tend to see far more white knights ragging on people for disliking elements of the story then the opposite.

Nobody expects what was already written to change, but they can at least retroactively clarify points and add more context/details to make what did happen more satisfying. Yoshi even explicitly stated they would "adjust the narrative based on reception" so I'd like to think that goes both ways.

The Omega quest actually addressed multiple grievances I've seen echoed, such as the MSQ initially suggesting that the people who succumbed to the transformations during the Final Days were simply weak of will/heart in a very "natural selection" sort of manner, then walked back on it by going into how immensely complicated the heart/emotions are and that even those in nearly identical circumstances had survivors and victims alike for reasons that really cannot be pinned on one specific cause.

Though the best thing it did was encouraging the player think about then inject their own opinion on who among the three pivotal Ancients they thought were properly justified in their actions.

It spun nuance into elements that felt very black and white with how they presented in the MSQ.