Japanese speakers. RE: Samurai Shodown/Spirits.

[Specineff]

I'll be brief:

I've always wondered if the translated dialogue for the Samurai Shodown games is anything close to the original Japanese, but no search has confirmed or denied this, plus the Engrish in some of the games makes me doubt there was any actual intent to be accurate, or go beyond to what the (valium-intoxicated) translators felt the characters were like. Ukyo sounds like a narcissistic f*ckboy, Haohmaru a bullying jock, Charlotte a bitter feminazi, Hanzo a remorseless killer, Nakoruru as xenophobic, etc. Perhaps the only one that is accurate is Kyoshiro because he comes off as being in character all the time.

Is it because of the language barrier, archaic terms, cultural differences, etc that the translations had to be done in such way? More importantly, does anybody know what the characters are saying in the original Japanese dialog during their intros, winning quotes and endings? Does the English translation even touch on some of the original intent?

Thanks for any info.

EDIT: Does Galford speak like a "dude" in the Japanese versions as well?

[Ed Oscuro]

I think Neo-Geo.com hosted, or at least linked to, some details on the translation process for the game. Unfortunately it appears to have retreated to the obscure depths of the internet, at least if nobody on N-G will point you towards it.

My recollection is that Neo Geo USA had one point man on translation. He would get the script, translate it, and send it back. But he never seemed to win on actually getting the improved translations into the games, apparently because their fellows in Japan did the usual dictionaly-flipping translation and the result is a 'literal' translation with incorrect grammar, and the loss of nuance / appearance of nuance where it's not intended.

As for actual meanings I'm clueless, but some of the translations seem pretty unambiguous: "All the creature will die and all the things will be broken" seems like it's more or less what was intended.

[GaijinPunch]

Got any screen grabs? My guess is none of them talk like a dude...

[Specineff]

I'll get some from Youtube and post others from memory, if you're referring to the English ones.

Ed, thanks for those bits of info.

[Leandro]

I'll be brief:
Ukyo sounds like a narcissistic f*ckboy, Haohmaru a bullying jock, Charlotte a bitter feminazi, Hanzo a remorseless killer, Nakoruru as xenophobic, etc.

Haha, I loved this description!