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....