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Post by Peytral on Aug 22, 2010 18:25:20 GMT -5
And I don't have a problem with that. The game had enough plot twists and humorous dialogue to easily make up for it. Especially considering how simplistic other Ys games I've played have been plot-wise.
The point is, it's a plot that works. Works well, in fact.
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Post by HJ on Aug 22, 2010 18:26:33 GMT -5
Ys games have never really been known for their top-tier writing, with the possible exception of Ys Origin (easily the most well-written game in the franchise). Straight-forward and simple is generally the name of the game, story-wise. We tried to make things a bit more interesting by adding a bit of extra character to the dialogue, but there's only so much you can do before it starts to become a different game altogether... -Tom Oh no, you're making me look forward to Ys Origin even more! Oh no 2, I think I quoted the wrong post! Okay, there we go
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Post by bishopcruz on Aug 22, 2010 18:47:15 GMT -5
One of the comments from someone who had played the game in Japanese:
I can see where he is coming from, though as stated before Dogi came across rather well IMO. Of course the different dialects and manners of speaking in Japanese can be hellish to try and find appropriate analogs for.
Wyrd, I was just wondering if you considered adding different vocal ticks and manners of speaking for the different characters, was there even enough time? I mean you were hired what, four months ago if that?
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Post by Incog Neato on Aug 22, 2010 20:29:59 GMT -5
... Hirm. I dunno. The characters are a bit cliched to begin with so I don't think the original was probably any better. I think the personalities of each of the playable characters got through quite okei.
I'm gonna keep my reservations about the Felghana translation since the last time someone hyped up something, it ended up being a bit of a disappointment. XD
*cough* Xanadu Next *cough*
Seriously though, if the dialogue in that games shine like Dogi did in SEVEN, I'll be ever-so-happpyyy.
BTW, why is there so much nitpicking on the English translation on forums anyway?
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Post by knightofancient on Aug 22, 2010 20:37:29 GMT -5
Because Ys focuses on its action more than story as stated earlier. Also part of it is because there still at the beginnings of the game and the story hasnt picked up yet.
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Post by gnosis301 on Aug 22, 2010 20:40:07 GMT -5
I'm gonna have to agree with wyrdwad on this. Drawing from the dialogue I remember, I liked how Geis seemed to be more detached and aloof (read: asshole) than he was in Ys 6, and Elk's dialogue was pretty kiddy and upbeat (meant as a compliment).
I only had one real complaint with the game, but that would be a spoiler.
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Post by bishopcruz on Aug 22, 2010 21:16:34 GMT -5
Well, the nitpicking comes more from NeoGAF with a few of the members there calling the translation fairly awful. Some said it pales in comparison to XSEED's own Retro Game Challenge. On my end I was trying to offer my own constructive criticism on the whole thing on this end, and defending the translation on NeoGAF, its been a bit of an experience to say the least. I... actually completely disagree with that comment. If anything, I think we diversified the dialogue MORE than in the original Japanese! The original Japanese really didn't have all that much unique personality for each of the characters -- they all kinda blended together. I think we did a really nice job of giving each one their own unique flavor in English (even if only subtly, i.e. both Cruxie and Mishera speak using very polite, courteous phrasing, but Cruxie's a little more impulsive, often blurting out exclamations without thinking, whereas Mishera remains calm and collected at all times). Honestly, that comment seems totally backwards to me! Unless the commenter just wanted us to add accents to the characters - southern drawls, etc. - which we actively sought NOT to do, as that's generally more obnoxious than anything. -Tom I'm asking the commenter for some more information because what you are telling me and what the commenter mentioned seem to be mutually exclusive. As far as accents and the like I see where you are coming from but on the other hand, considering that the Ys series takes place on several continents and several different countries wouldn't it make a bit of sense for there to be a bit of that in the game? Adol never speaks, so it wouldn't be an issue for him, but Dogi comes from Felghana, and Geis comes from Romn, it stands to reason that they would speak with different accents than those in Altago would. In Altago itself there are 5 (6 if you count old town) distinct cultures that don't have all that much contact with each other, they SHOULD sound a bit different, no? Accents of course are a serious pain in the ass because if they are done poorly then it can be EXTREMELY annoying, but when they are done well, like in DQVIII or to a lesser extent DQIV, they can help add a bit of feel to the different characters. And while I understand the subtle attempts to differentiate the characters it might have been a bit TOO subtle in this case as it honestly didn't stand out much to me and it did feel that the characters often blended into each other in the English, and I never quite felt the characters had as much of a voice as they could have. How much of that was a result of the original I don't know, it just didn't come across as much as it may have been intended to. Sigh, why is it that these seem come off as too harsh? Probably the editor in me. Gift and a curse I swear. Also, have we gone too off topic? Maybe there should be a separate thread, or take it to PMs. Don't want to clog things up too badly.
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Post by Incog Neato on Aug 23, 2010 7:50:19 GMT -5
As far as accents and the like I see where you are coming from but on the other hand, considering that the Ys series takes place on several continents and several different countries wouldn't it make a bit of sense for there to be a bit of that in the game? Adol never speaks, so it wouldn't be an issue for him, but Dogi comes from Felghana, and Geis comes from Romn, it stands to reason that they would speak with different accents than those in Altago would. Gah. You're making me think of Chrono Cross. ^^; *imagines an Altago clan speaking like Starky with extended vowels* Anyway, I vote that Dogi should speak in Ebonics. Just because.
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Post by AllenSmithee on Aug 23, 2010 7:55:50 GMT -5
What... about Mustafa?
...
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Post by Mutagene on Aug 23, 2010 8:00:57 GMT -5
Dogi is a surfer dude. Don't argue with me.
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Post by Incog Neato on Aug 23, 2010 8:07:42 GMT -5
What... about Mustafa? ... He'd speak in Nordic.
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Post by AllenSmithee on Aug 23, 2010 8:09:23 GMT -5
IT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND
but I'm stereotyping.
Alright, Aisha is Russian and Mishera has a thick Japanese accent.
Oh and Geis sounds like a clown.
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Post by Incog Neato on Aug 23, 2010 8:14:42 GMT -5
IT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND but I'm stereotyping. Alright, Aisha is Russian and Mishera has a thick Japanese accent. Oh and Geis sounds like a clown. ??? What do clowns sound like? But come on, Dogi as a black d00de would work just fine, I'd say! He'd pity the wall before each time he punches through one!
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Post by AllenSmithee on Aug 23, 2010 8:29:47 GMT -5
Clowns sound like Bozo, duh.
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Post by PhantomOfTheKnight on Aug 23, 2010 12:34:54 GMT -5
Welp, I'm done with it; solid 8.5 - 9 for me. ...I can have Oath in Feghana now?
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Post by Varion on Aug 23, 2010 13:09:09 GMT -5
Oh lord, now duckroll (one of the ones calling the translation 'piss-poor') has posted Tales of Vesperia as an example of a 'really good' one. The game where the translation team couldn't even be bothered to check term usage from previous installments and (changing the Devils Arms for no reason, changing Verius' name to Belius, etc) and where they randomly decided to shoehorn in out-of-world concepts like emo for no reason? Really?
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Post by winterfury on Aug 23, 2010 14:55:36 GMT -5
I doubt this is really true, actually! Literal translations are the worst. The best is a healthy mix of the two: taking SOME liberties to make a game's dialogue sound more natural, but without taking SO MANY liberties that the end result gets skewed from the original dialogue. That's kinda what we did in Ys Seven: we took some liberties, but we did NOT take them too far. -Tom Yes I sort of agree with you. But if I have to choose between a translation that takes too much liberties (es. name changes, high percentages of dialogues invented on the spot etc.) and a literal one, I have no doubt, I'll choose the literal. That's why I completely dislike the localization of the DS dragon quest (both italian and english, well, at least in the english vesrion of DQIV Ragnar is still called Ragnar...), they gone too far from the original text IMHO.
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Post by Este on Aug 23, 2010 15:00:08 GMT -5
That must be it, wyrdy, I really like the way the translation reads. They talk like someone would in real life and the game doesn't get preachy or philosophical (if you can call it that) like a final fantasy game.
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Post by Rebel40000 on Aug 23, 2010 23:56:05 GMT -5
That's why I completely dislike the localization of the DS dragon quest (both italian and english, well, at least in the english vesrion of DQIV Ragnar is still called Ragnar...), they gone too far from the original text IMHO. Yep, nowadays there's like a 95% guarantee that a character or town in a DQ game will get renamed, even if their name is already in English to begin with.
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Post by HJ on Aug 24, 2010 10:23:40 GMT -5
Gamespot review is up. Frankly, I think that's a terrible review. I only just skimmed it, but I noticed she called the bosses cheap, saying it's impossible to avoid getting hit when you go in for an attack. Someone needs to get out of the "zerg rush to win" mindset that most Action RPGs seem to encourage these days. Also, does she even mention flash guarding? That's a really important aspect of the game, especially during boss battles. I also didn't hear any mention of the music. I'm honestly a bit surprised they let this review slide, I really think it's quite bad. And not just because the game "only" got a 7.5.
Edit: Wait, I found a line about the music. "Energetic dungeon themes serve as great audio backdrops for the length of your travels without grating." I don't really think this does the music justice, it feels more like she's (hopefully unintentionally) undermining one of the game's strongest points. Also, aren't there more solemn and atmospheric dungeon themes in Seven than fast and furious rocking themes, anyway? >_>
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