Which games have the best translations?

The best localization is the one you don't notice at first. In other words, it's a mix of translation and a little flair to make it feel like the work is being experienced exactly as intended. Many people are confused about what localization actually is.

Translation is the simple act of transferring information from one language to another. Localization is the task of maintaining the feel of translated text and conveying cultural nuances to adapt it to different audiences. And today we're celebrating some of the best examples.

Since the article you are reading is in English, the localization we are talking about will primarily revolve around works created in one language and localized into English.

8 pokemon

It's easy to forget just how huge Pokémon actually are, since they're almost exclusively produced in Japan. Because of its large scale, each game requires intense work. Older games tended to be translated into English and then use the translated English as the basis for all other languages. It's not a Pokemon.

Almost every Pokémon in the series has a unique name in every language, leading to puns. Alakazam is Foodin in Japanese. Drampa is Sen-Long in German. Scorbunny is Flambino in French. Apply this to 1,000 Pokémon and you have a series that appeals to countless languages ​​around the world without anyone even noticing.

7 Unicorn Overlord

With 13 Sentinels, Vanillaware finally gained international recognition and Unicorn Overlord became a game eagerly anticipated by people around the world. There has also been a sharp increase in the number of people who do not fully understand the role of localization.

Unicorn Overlord has a very theatrical language, like a play. This works well for game presentations where characters stand opposite each other and have a conversation. It also pays homage to early Vanillaware localizations such as Odin Sphere, a game with a realistic stage play style.

6 the witcher

The Witcher is one of the biggest RPG series in the world right now, and developer CD Projekt Red continues to make its mark with each game. It's an excellent game, with voice work that gets stronger with each entry. It's so well done that many people might forget that it's a Polish game in the first place.

The Witcher games are based on The Witcher series of books, which draw heavily from Polish folklore and mythology. The game is just as heavy as this. For example, Lubberkin from The Witcher 3 is based on Kłobuk, Poland. In fact, many of the locations and monsters that appear in the game are taken directly from Polish, but have been localized to make you feel like you're in the world of The Witcher.

5 final fantasy 12

Every Final Fantasy game introduces a new form of dialogue. They go from quasi-contemporary to fully medieval, giving each game a new identity. Ivalice games are among the best-rated, with localization features that make each game in this world feel alive.

Final Fantasy 12 uses a variety of Japanese accents to distinguish each region in Japanese. Because English does not rely on typical American accents but rather has different accents in each region, it feels like a completely different country to the ears. For example, the Bhujerba people speak with a Sri Lankan accent.

4 earthbound

It's sometimes difficult to discuss what made Earthbound so special when so much of its wonder has been completely absorbed by the gaming industry as a whole. It's impossible to use an uninspired top-down perspective in an RPG indie game.

A big part of why Earthbound was so beloved in the West was the quality of its localization. He was sharp and witty, and wasn't afraid to make a sharp joke. Because so much of Earthbound had Japanese cultural and modern elements, the English localization made some surprising choices to make it work in the same way. Can you imagine the final collapse of capitalism?

3 Ace Lawyer

To understand why Ace Attorney is so popular in Japan, you need to understand the legal system. Cases only go to court if they are successful, so the conviction rate is around 99%. The joke of an ace lawyer is to have a lawyer so loyal that he won't stop until he is found not guilty.

Of course, this isn't quite the same in North America, so there have been some dramatic changes to the series. Suddenly the game is set in America. Ryuichi Naruto becomes Phoenix Light. Names that are puns in Japanese can be equally competent puns in English. What other games offer an assassin named De Killer?

2 Xenoblade

For a long time, and even now, the English dubbing industry has been dominated by North America. The only British market to be attracted was the American market. Other English-speaking countries will be ruined. It can be translated from English, but it can only be localized according to culture.

Xenoblade Chronicles announced something new. There was no need to use an American voice, and the game could have been just as good if localized to British standards. As the game progressed, the game got better with the addition of Welsh and Scottish accents and slang.

The UK localization occurred because Xenoblade Chronicles was not originally scheduled for release in North America.

1 like a dragon

If anyone deserves an award for localizing an impossible script, it's the people behind the LIke A Dragon games. These games are very Japanese, from the characters to the settings, and making the puns work is an incredible achievement.

The biggest achievement was maintaining Japan's identity while making cultural aspects understandable to everyone. A particularly notable example is the famous crossword puzzle from Yakuza 0, in which Majima says “Backup, what the hell is gravy?” This is a question that can be answered in many different ways depending on where you ask it, and is why localization is so important.