Japanese Dialogue of Sonic Games

[ehh123]

A youtube user called Windii Gitlord has uploaded the Japanese cutscenes of Sonic games and has provided accurate translations of the dialogue. From what I can remember, the era from Sonic Adventure to Free Riders had the story written in Japan first and got localized to America (with varying degrees of success). From Colors to Team Sonic Racing, the infamous Ken Pontac and Warren Graff wrote the scripts in America before being localized in Japan. The one exception was Forces and even Pontac and Graff localized that script.

For those who have seen the Japanese scenes, especially for the older game, what scenes do you think got lost in translation? Not in an "All your base are belong to us" way, but rather something that makes you say, "They should have kept that line in." or, "Wow, this character doesn't come off as an asshole nearly as much!"

[Treacher]

Sonic's line to Shadow's return during Sonic Heroes makes a bit more sense now after learning it was a callback to Shadow being surprised at Sonic surviving certain death in SA2. 

[King Conne]

Very interesting thread!!...
Thank you for the link!!...

[Kuzu]

Most of Shadow's lines in TSR come to mind.

[Zoomzeta]

On 1/5/2022 at 9:45 AM, Kuzu said:

Most of Shadow's lines in TSR come to mind.

How different were they between regions? 

On 1/4/2022 at 5:41 PM, ehh123 said:

A youtube user called Windii Gitlord has uploaded the Japanese cutscenes of Sonic games and has provided accurate translations of the dialogue. From what I can remember, the era from Sonic Adventure to Free Riders had the story written in Japan first and got localized to America (with varying degrees of success). From Colors to Team Sonic Racing, the infamous Ken Pontac and Warren Graff wrote the scripts in America before being localized in Japan. The one exception was Forces and even Pontac and Graff localized that script.

For those who have seen the Japanese scenes, especially for the older game, what scenes do you think got lost in translation? Not in an "All your base are belong to us" way, but rather something that makes you say, "They should have kept that line in." or, "Wow, this character doesn't come off as an asshole nearly as much!"

I would like to know if there is some insider information that gives a decent timeline on the localization and writing changes from Adventure 1 to now.

[FlameStream]

There is no need, since this is mostly the result of what is known as Dub Personality Change.

Quote

This [difference] is usually due to Values Dissonance, cultural differences, or marketing reasons. A character's personality might be more acceptable at home than it is in other cultures, so translators soften them up or otherwise edit their dialogue. Othertimes, it's also a case of Character Exaggeration or an attempt at making characters less cute or goofy. Tropes Are Not Bad as, though most people associate this trope with bowdlerization, it can work and sometimes is even preferred by many fans.

A good constant example I've noticed is Eggman's characterization. Many people in the west prefer him to be a menacing threat with no scruple while the portrayal on the east side is more a goofy playful person with a heart at times.

[King Conne]

Eggman is a great example for me : I Know I might be one of the few Western fans who don't like Mike Pollock's work on the character but for me, he is not the (Japanese) Dr Eggman I love with his high-pitched voice!!...
I think Mike Pollock, as for instance the French voice actor who does the same, makes him sounds like a sort of "ogre" with a deep voice that doesn't suit the so peculiar character Dr Eggman is!!...
In Japanese, his deceased seiyû, Chikao Ôtsuka made him sound like a mix between a child, a clown and a really really crazy and evil and childish genius... and his Japanese laughter was unbelievable (it really became unbelievable from SONIC HEROES)

Listen to his crazy laughter and all his intonations and funny little sounds from 2:09 to 3:18... (the laughter at 2:23 is wonderful) :

For me, Chikao Ôtsuka managed to make Eggman the most singular archenemy I have ever met in a videogame!!...

Now that Chikao Ôtsuka is dead, Dr Eggman's new seiyû is Kotaro Nakamura and he does a very good job too, trying to play the character as Chikao Ôtsuka did, copying his way of talking well enough... even if he still doesn't master Eggman's unbelievable laughter as well as his predecessor!!...

Try to play with the Japanese voices and you will see Dr Eggman as a brand new and singular character!!...

[BubbleButt TV]

i feel like in Japan, Sonic is written as a pretty chilled out and laidback guy, but in US they changed him to be more cocky and abrasive

I definitely got this vibe when comparing Team Sonic Racing's dubs