Lost in Translation? ─ Comparing Ultima's English & Japanese Dialogue in Final Fantasy 16
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2023
- Final Fantasy 16's localization is weird. There are times I legitimately think the English version of the text suits the game better than the Japanese version, and then there are a few moments here and there which just feel like giant misses in terms of what the Japanese is trying to convey.
We know English is the primary "voiced" language, and so the characters' models line up with what's being said in English, so the English localization of the Japanese script must have been done pretty early on. I'm curious if anything was changed on the Japanese side of things after the voice recordings were already done because some of these differences are really surprising.
Anyway, there's an interesting exchange at the end of the fight with Ultima or Ultimalius that I thought others would want to know about, so I figured why not make a video and highlight some of these differences.
The point of this video isn't to say that my translations are "more correct" or anything like that; it's just to help foster more discussion surrounding the game, and even what I've hardcoded into the video can be argued.
Here's the Japanese dialogue and my translations side by side for comparison:
貴様は自分を 唯一の存在だと信じ疑ってこなかった だから選べなかったんだ 自分以外の誰かとともに生きる道を 想いで強く紡がれる自分を…！
You never doubted the belief that you were the only one who existed and so you couldn't have chosen it. A path living with others besides yourself
because you're so spun up on your own feelings...!
知ったような口の戯言をやめろ…！
Quit drivelling on as if you know me...!
俺は想いを託された そしてみんなの想いに応えたい 人が人として生きられる場所をつくるために 守るために 俺たちがこの世界で 自分の意思で生きていくために！
I was entrusted their feelings So I want to respond to everyone's feelings by making and protecting a "place where people can live as people" in order for us to go on living by our own wills in this world!
人が…人ごときが…！
Man...for the likes of man...!
まだだ…まだ終わらせぬ…！
Not yet...I won't allow you to end it...!
人ごときがッ!
The likes of man...!
この世界を"最後の幻想"にしてくれる！
I'll make such a world your "Final Fantasy!"
なら 俺は創生という"究極の幻想"を打ち破る
Then I'll destroy that which you call creation, or "Ultima's Fantasy!"
I accidentally messed up the one line about Ultima not allowing Clive to end it in the subs. Whoops lol.
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The final line is definitely arguable, and while Clive literally says something like, "I'll destroy what's called creation, the 'ultimate fantasy,'" I think 究極 kyuukyoku in this instance might be meant to refer to the character of "Ultima" even though the characters mean "ultimate."
If you guys have any more input about the translation, I'd be curious as to hear your takes in the comment section.
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Игры
I was under the impression that ultima was a collection of his species wills. If thats the case, then the entire thematic approach in the third act of "rely on your comrades and we can win this thing" kinda becomes null & void doesnt it???
They were a collective consciousness, so basically one guy or one will, just in multiple bodies. My question is why he would even bother reviving his people if they’re all just him to begin with
Thank You 😊
"you never doubted the belief that you were the only one who existed" reinforces my belief that Ultima's race is a hive mind.
The rest of the dialogue is different, but at the end of the day has the same implications while sounding a lot more cheesy to a western audience, so I'm ok with the changes overall.
I honestly regret playing in English. Most of the dub was great, but late game Clive started talking like Batman and ruined everything. Jill also felt one note. Worst of all though was the English ending with that stupid as choir song. The jrock song has way more impact. If I play the DLC it will be in Japanese. Ultima also sounds BAD ASS in Japanese WTF. I wish I could go back in time.
Christ do modern localizers even speak the languages they're localizing? lmao
Okay, I was not expecting it to be THAT off. The translators pretty much rewrote it to change the message.
I disagree though maybe I don't remember the context as well as I think. I think the translation was crafted to make the players feel similar sentiments but culturally that resulted in some differences.
Yeah, this is one of the cases where I'm genuinely unsure if the Japanese text was revised after the English was done, but in general, things relating to Clive and his "will" are pretty different between both versions