Sunday, November 19, 2017

Xenogears - "You're a coward!" scene - Version Comparison **SPOILERS**

First, take a look at the official version:

And here's the new version:

So, why did I make these changes? Are they more accurate? Let's take a look at the original script below. Note the parts I've highlighted in red. They're the ones I'm trying to show.
 あなた自分には何の責任もないって
 言い方してるじゃない!
 Anata jibun ni wa nan no sekinin mo nai tte
 ii katashiteru janai!
フェイ
「俺に責任なんて……
Fei
「Ore ni sekinin nante......
 それをあなたがギアに乗って
 応戦なんてするから
 被害が拡がったんじゃないの!?

 Sore o anata ga Gia ni notte
 ousen nante suru kara
 higai ga hirogattan janai no!?
 あれは誰もが扱える機械じゃ
 ないのよ!

 訓練も受けていない民間人が乗って
 ちゃんと動かせる訳無いじゃない!
 Are wa dare mo ga atsukaeru kikai ja
 nai no yo!
 Kunren mo uketeinai minkanjin ga notte
 chanto ugokaseru wakenai janai!
 どうしてその責任を自分で
 背負うとしないの?
 どうして他人になすりつけようと
 するの
よ?
 Doushite sono sekinin o jibun de
seou to shinai no?
 Doushite tanin ni nasuritsuke you to
suru no yo?
 そんなのただの逃げじゃない!
 あなたは卑怯だわっ!
 
 Sonna no tada no nige janai! 
 Anata wa hikyou da wa!
フェイ
「ああ、そうかもな……
 そうさ……、俺は卑怯者なんだよ。
 そんなことは最初からわかってるさ。
Fei
「Aa, sou kamo na......
 Sou sa......, ore wa hikyoumono nanda yo.
 Sonna koto wa saisho kara wakatteru sa.

Now, listen to Elly's words in the FMV below (**WARNING: DISTURBING/GRAPHIC CONTENT**) while reading the Japanese parts I've highlighted in red. The first video below is the original dub in Japanese. As you can see in the video, Elly puts herself in Fei's place and reflects upon her own harsh words. She is no better than him since she also murdered innocent people. And she remembers the exact same words she told him earlier. This isn't as consistent in the official translation.



Now, watch this same FMV in English (video below) while looking at the screenshots of the new version. The English voice acting is terrible, but that's not what I want you to pay attention to. You should pay attention to the words.

 

Yes, it's much more consistent now, but not exactly more accurate than before. The "they died" part isn't mentioned in the original Japanese script. What is actually said is "damage" or "harm" (被害, higai). But there's still a certain degree of accuracy.

4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Nice work, the dialogue sounds ten times more natural!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think the guy who translated the FMVs and the guy who translated the main dialog aren't the same person.

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    2. Oh yeah, I just wanted to add that the "It takes training" part is still in the translation. I didn't delete it, it's in the next page after pressing X. I had no choice but to do it.

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