Story translations?

[Azure Eternal]

So, I am recent a shoot 'em up enthusiast, and after importing both Deathsmiles and Do Don Pachi for 360 I realized that I would really love to know what the stories were for each of the games. I understand that some shmup connoisseurs disregard the stories in these great games, but I am very much so interested in the background of the games I play and the stories they tell, no matter how small or big. I read the background on Do Don, and thought it was fantastic, however, I'd like to know more. While there doesn't seem to be much more to Do Don Pachi than what I've already read, Deathsmiles has a lot of dialogue (a lot of dialogue for a shoot 'em up, anyway) and a story that seems very interesting.

So, with that said, does anyone know where I could find a translation of, say, the Deathsmile script? Or better yet, is there a website out there dedicated to translating the stories of these brilliant games?

[EinhanderZwei]

The usual story in (D)DP is the following:

- You kill a fuckaton of bad guys
- The general tells you that they were all your comrades
- You are depressed
- Go play for score

[gs68]

DonPachi is a bit similar, but your player character knew the whole time (it's part of a training regimen to make the ultimate fighter squad).

[agustusx]

Someone translate mushi and futari for me too

I think the first Mushi goes:
You have a friend you love.
A new person is introduced.
You don't like the new person.
They both die of STD's.

I could be totally wrong though.

[lgb]

no one seems to care about what little story a shmup might have because... shmups aren't supposed to have them

there are some shmup stories that have been researched and translated (at least the script itself); cj_iwakura is trying his/her hand at Shikigami no Shiro, GaijinPunch will translate material sometimes, you can look at WORLD OF ARCADES for a bit of info, and then occasionally one of the older shmups-with-story will get translation patches by the various translation groups

Deathsmiles is getting a US release soon, and if I know Aksys they're keeping the story and they may not even dub anything

[Aquas]

I have a ROUGH understanding of Mushi1's story. Here's what I gathered: every 300 years Starfall Village (where Reco lives) is plagued by a curse that requires a prince or princess to be sacrificed to the forest, lest a cancer plauges the villages people. Perhaps sacrificed is not the right word, I'm not sure, but Reco agrees to visit the forest one way or another. She has a pendant that lets her talk with the bugs too, that's how she became friends with her beetle. I dunno, but I think the bugs attacking her is essentially her trial to becoming the new forest's guardian, with the death / dethroning? of Aki at the end of the game... I'm not sure. The ending hasn't been translated anywhere... wish it was.

In Futari, there's a different scenario, I don't think Palm is wanted to be sacrificed (the brother of Aki,) however, Palm grew curious of his mother Larsa's accusations that Reco killed Aki, and went to investigate. Is this true? I don't know. Larsa is pissed because she misunderstood her son's death... or something. I don't understand at all why the dinos and bugs are now being destroyed in Futari.

There you have it. I wish I knew more.

Edit: Man, I remember a similar thread as this around when I registered 2 some years ago. Perhaps I'll try to dig it up here... Well, this is how Mushi1 is.

Quote:
A different time axis from now...

On an earth with more deserts than now, where huge arthropods bearing hard carapaces prospered...

The humans lived in the shadow of the carapace-bearing beasts called them "Koujuu" and worshipped them like gods of the forest...



In that forest there were many villages were people lived. In 200 years, they once had to give the "Koujuu" a person of 15 years of age and approaching adulthood as a sacrficice. Thus, they were allowed to live in the forest. The kingdom "Hoshifuri no Sato" (Starfall Village) got its name after the night of the sacrifice when a great number of falling stars were seen. The kingdom had a cheerful princess. Her name was Reko.

One time when Princess Reko was little, she got lost in "Shinjugamori" (Forest of Pearls) where the "Koujuu" lived.

"It feels like I've met a boy... It was wearing a beautiful stone bracelet. When I said it was pretty, it made a very surprised face. It smiled kindly and gave it to me. This is incredible. When I wear this, it feels like I can understand the 'Koujuu.'"

Even today she wore the bracelet and liked to go into the "Shinjugamori" to play, where everybody else in the village feared and did not go. The people of the village were extremely surprised when they saw her bracelet. The bracelet is given to people who are chosen to be a sacrifice.

Why is the princess wearing something like that?

Could it be the princess's turn next?

But nobody in the village could say that to Princess Reko. There were also some people who were jealous and also wanted the bracelet.

On the year Princess Reko turned 15, Starfall Village was beset by a plague. One after another, the people were falling ill to some unknown disease. In the midst of all this, only Princess Reko remained healthy. The people started gossipping. Aren't the "Koujuu" calling for Princess Reko? The year that Princess Reko reached adulthood. The bracelet. And then the epidemic.

The tradition of 200 years still remains.

"The 'Koujuu' are telling us to give them the princess."

"They are."

"I guess we have to hand her over."

"It's for the village."

The king could not disregard the alarmed voices of the villagers and was worried. With a trembling voice he told Princess Reko.

"...Shinjugamori, the place of the 'Koujuu,' won't you please go?"

Princess Reko agreed without any hesitation.

"The people of the village will be cured!"

Then she got on the back of a golden "Koujuu" named "Mori de Tomodachi ni natta" (Became a Friend in the Forest) and while staring at her bracelet, she suddenly realized... "I have heard something about an epidemic happening before. I think it was when the time for the sacrifice was late..."

"That's it!"

Princess Reko hurried off deep into the forest. I wonder what God is like. I hope God is that boy...

[Azure Eternal]

no one seems to care about what little story a shmup might have because... shmups aren't supposed to have them

I'm not quite sure I agree with you on this one. There are plenty of shoot 'em ups I've played in the past (when I wasn't even all that into them at the time), like Radiant Silvergun. Sure, RS and nearly every other shmup is all about the gameplay - but RS, for example, had a nice, quaint little plot from what I gathered from various sources back in the day. I don't think shmups need grand plots or anything like that, but just something to tie it all together. Perhaps I'm the only one that shares that opinion. It just seems nonsensical to say games of this genre aren't supposed to have stories. Do Don Pachi, for example, actually has a very interesting and fairly intricate plot:

A thousand years ago, people created war machines to fight for them, however, technology overwhelmed the human kind and soon everything was destroyed. To avoid such calamity from happening again, the people who survived sent the war machines to the moon and sealed them there.

An eon has passed peacefully and technology has flourished again, robots that help with farming and dangerous operations are created for the prosperity of human kind.

In the midst of these peaceful times, the war machines showed signs of unrest. The seal has been lifted and the federation received information that the war machines have developed an intent on taking over the human world again. To counter their onslaught, the federation amassed their forces and set off for the moon's capitol, Lunapolis.

Elemental Dolls make up the soldier population in this war. These dolls are robots that upgrade and control all aspects of their fighter planes, including the weapons and maintenance. Once again, humans are pitting machines against machines, will the tragedy that happened an eon ago repeat itself?

I mean, that's pretty damn bad ass, if you ask me.

[linko9]

(Do)DonPachi's story is interesting in that it actually tries to explain the whole looping thing (hilariously of course). I don't think I've ever played another shmup that tries to explain this phenomenon.

[Azure Eternal]

Dude, Aquas, thanks so much for hooking me up with that.

See, that just proves my point even further - the stories, dialogue, and overall plots of these games CAN in fact be very awesome. Again, I'll stress that the emphasis of a shmup should 100% be on the gameplay - but for me, having an interesting setting and backdrop for the game makes me like it all the more.

[BIL]

(Do)DonPachi's story is interesting in that it actually tries to explain the whole looping thing (hilariously of course). I don't think I've ever played another shmup that tries to explain this phenomenon.

Gradius V had a pretty cool take on it.

[Aquas]

Somewhat off-topic but: the way I see it, with STG's comes dedication and passion and hours spent replaying the same shit, perfecting your run. If I have a good story that serves some of the motive in my mind, it'll make it that much more enjoyable or epic and I can just take that in subconsciously when I play the game. Admittedly, not knowing why the bugs and dinos are attacking in Futari... bugs me a bit... *cough* it does. But I just make up shit about them, like "they stole my fucking Sugar Crisp" and I've been doing okay.

[lgb]

I mean, that's pretty damn bad ass, if you ask me.

a lot of what I've heard is "shmup stories aren't important except for maybe Thunder Force", of course there are people who do care (like me! and you apparently!)

[Danbo]

i always wondered what the dialogue is in the ibara ending...

[agustusx]

Aquas thanks much!

[Azure Eternal]

...But I just make up shit about them, like "they stole my fucking Sugar Crisp" and I've been doing okay.

Hahaha. That's what I do most of the time. I usually try and piece together the story by character interactions, facial expressions, etc. etc. Of course, it gets really old just ASSUMING what's going on - I'd like to ACTUALLY know what's going on every once in a while. Although, I think I may start using the "they stole my fucking sugar crisp" line because that's nothing short of hilarious.

a lot of what I've heard is "shmup stories aren't important except for maybe Thunder Force", of course there are people who do care (like me! and you apparently!)

Well, it's at least good to know that there are other people out there who actually care about what the hell's going on and not just only concerned with blowing shit up and dodging endless swarms of enemy bullets, haha. ^_^ Of course, don't get me wrong - I sure do love blowing shit up.

[Evrain]

I second the request: as strange as it sounds, most CAVE games have quite an elaborate and intricate backstory (took me over a month to fully figure out the plot behind ESP Ra.De. - came as quite a shock to discover Irori might be the daughter of a crime syndacate boss, if I read the description for JUDGE correctly) and I'm really curious to know exactly what all the dialogues are about, too bad no one seems to really care.

For example, someone thinks the Element Daughters in DFK are just for fanservice or something, whilst in truth it's some sort of revenge from the Element Dolls seen in DOJ; then again, DDP bests it all, where you discover that all the fuss in DP (killing comrades to become the ultimate fighter squadron) was the commander's plan all along, due to some not-really-explained intent of purging the whole human race. I'd love to get the whole picture of the Donpachi series.

[gs68]

Anyone have a translation of the plot to the PS2 port of Trizeal? I lol'd at its use of gratuitous shmup terminology.

[Ghegs]

Anyone have a translation of the plot to the PS2 port of Trizeal? I lol'd at its use of gratuitous shmup terminology.

Few years back I posted a scan of the story page, and glitch did a partial translation of it. If somebody wants to go at it, the file is now available here (warning: HUGE pic).