This video does an alright job at explaining why the Localization is so different

[SentioftheHoukai]

It's hard to know when something is acceptable as behavior to society and when it is only acceptable as comedic entertainment when you are not part of that specific society.

There's also a difference between themes that are considered acceptable to share with minors and those that are considered adult only. Right now, the game is getting a ESRB-Teen (13+) rating in the US and PEGI-16 for UK and EU.

If Haurchefant had been portrayed closer to his JP characterization in the EN version when ARR was released the ESRB almost definitely would have rated the game M (17+), which would have blocked it from sale at most major US retailers. Even today, it might still get that M rating even though open discussion of same sex relationships has become more accepted since then. There are still a lot of conservatives that feel that children shouldn't be "corrupted" by exposure to such discussion.




Again, how did we not get the same story as the other languages got?

Oh, right. We did get the same story. Haurchefant might have been characterized differently in flavor text but his part in the story remains the same.

You know, for someone named "Joy" you cannot possibly have too much joy in your life.

Also, looks like this thread's about to get bogged down by American idpol just like the latest Juri debacle.

JOY~

Personally, I would have found Lord Horse Fart's horni nonsense more than a mite amusing but then this fandom has people who see the Zenos bodyjack as a sexual assault analogue so....

[Jojoya]

Personally, I would have found Lord Horse Fart's horni nonsense more than a mite amusing but then this fandom has people who see the Zenos bodyjack as a sexual assault analogue so....

Again, blame ESRB. Localization had to make sure that the game would get past ESRB's standards for a Teen rating so some of the flavor text had to be localized to fit.

To be honest, I'm surprised that a lot of what Koji did made it past the ESRB's guidelines. Makes me wonder just how much of a game the ESRB actually pays attention to.

It also makes me wonder what he had origiinally included that ended up removed in the final version.

[SentioftheHoukai]

Again, blame ESRB. Localization had to make sure that the game would get past ESRB's standards for a Teen rating so some of the flavor text had to be localized to fit.

To be honest, I'm surprised that a lot of what Koji did made it past the ESRB's guidelines. Makes me wonder just how much of a game the ESRB actually pays attention to.

It also makes me wonder what he had origiinally included that ended up removed in the final version.

I'm no friend of dick jokes, but I'd take Koji's nonsense all over again if meant we didn't have to suffer Kate's bullsheiss diluting the narrative quality of the game and stirring up pointless arguments on this forum.

I don't even see why the ESRB is even necessary when shops like GameStop stopped requiring I.D. for rated M games seemingly a millennia ago. But then, GameStop considered themselves an "essential business" during the height of COVID and refused to close (apparently they forgot people can buy games over the net, so frankly in store purchases aren't even necessary any more) so I don't really expect any semblance of personal responsibility from them.

[Ranaku]

Everyone who says that the english version exists as it is just cause to market it better at "western players" is full of kupo nuts tbh. The english version of the game is the playground of Koji Fox and his liking for strange and absurd language for which he even got in trouble, just saying starboard larboard everyone should know what it means.

Also people hating Urianger, maybe just hate the translocation cause the perversion that is urianger or the dragons speaking is solely the doing of Koji Fox. Not saying he had no hand in rescuing the game itself and he should be well...held in high regards for that but heck some quests are basically completely rewritten to the point where Zenos just asks you how your life was instead of telling you that your life was a miracle and that he envied you.

Just wish they would stick more to the original...

[andrealfus]

just learn japanese 4heads