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Kaidan

Dec 14, 2023 @ 4:06am

Is the translation alright? Or is it better to wait for a Fan-Patch?

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Originally posted by Fey:

To get a sensible voice in this vitriolic thread—I'll start by saying that you're unlikely to get a fan patch anytime soon, or ever. The most I can see is a patch changing the names to Hepburn romanization, but nothing beyond that.

Secondly, and this is speaking as someone that's read the original in Japanese and has partially read the English version and compared it, I can say the translation is... fine, for the most part, but it has a lot of snags.

People have mentioned the typos which were notorious in the Switch/PS4 version, but Aniplex has stated that the game received a localization update, and we can confirm[i.imgur.com] it's true. That said, it's definitely not perfect[i.imgur.com], so while it is an improvement, it's not quite a gamechanger.

I would like to say however that, at the very least this is, with all its faults, one of the better TM translations, and easily outdoes anything mirror moon has put out. The issues with the translation are not at all for a lack of competency, but rather a lack of time, as the issues with it are the telltale signs of a work being rushed rather than not cared for.

Character voice is handled extremely well. The narration prose is, while lacking compared to Nasu's original, still quite enjoyable to read and carries the nuances where it counts. I would still very much say that anyone who's read this version has read Mahoyo, even if they hadn't read the best version of it. If you're not planning to learn Japanese anytime soon, I see no harm in giving this version a try.

While the twitter thread being posted here raises some concerns regarding the localization accuracy, there's a fair bit of examples on it that indicate the writer doesn't have the best English comprehension, as it mixes in some actual complete inaccuracies with just... translations that are fine and make sense. Like this.

Also, side note, and this is speaking as a JOP—many JOPs don't have reading comprehension, so don't take their words at face value.

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Showing 1-15 of 36 comments

pokedude900 Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:42am

Copying my response from a similar thread made previously.

For the most part the translation is fine, but there are some oddities.

1. One of the main characters' names is not spelled with Hepburn romanization despite being Japanese.
2. One character's dialogue is written as if they have a Cockney accent. The character in question is technically from England, but nothing in the original script suggests that there's anything unusual about how they talk.
3. There are a LOT of typos.
4. There is one minor but really bizarre instance of censorship. During a side story that's unlocked after you finish the main game, you can clearly hear one character say something suggestive in English, and the translation replaces it with a different line that fits the situation.

黒猫 Dec 14, 2023 @ 6:55am

Honorifics? Name order? Localization idiocy?
Edit. Everything checks. Hard skip.

Last edited by 黒猫; Dec 14, 2023 @ 1:36pm

Howard Heyman has WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT

Dec 14, 2023 @ 10:58am

From what I know, the translation is quite poor, but not below what you'd expect from previous Type Moon translations. As mentioned above, there are many typos, but there's also very stilted and poorly flowing text which simplifies or cuts down a lot of Nasu's more flowery prose. Still, if you've read Tsukihime (2000), Fate / Stay Night or any of the other mirror moon translations, you'll be right at home. Despite its issues, much like the aforementioned TLs, you can still understand the meaning of the original well enough. I also wouldn't hold my breath for a fan translation. The group working on it has gone silent for over a year and, as I understand, progress slowed down substantially over the years. At this point, the only people who've even read their translation are those who've received it privately, so don't expect any leaks or releases from that anytime soon. I also wouldn't hold much hope that it will be substantially better than the official one, but that's my opinion.

Last edited by Howard Heyman; Dec 14, 2023 @ 10:58am

Juandiqsuc Dec 14, 2023 @ 11:08am

EOP'S WANNA READ THIS KEK https://imgur.com/a/EaAwVlh

Ryou

Dec 14, 2023 @ 11:44am

Look I can put up with a lot of things, but I need a patch to change Sizuki to Shizuki. It bugs me to no end. You can hear Shi but it says Si it drives me mad.

Cry

Dec 14, 2023 @ 12:01pm

It's passable enough to play if if you were waiting +10 years like me. If you are not in a hurry wait for the fantranslation. They are working on the old version of the game but I imagine it should get ported someday.

Kaidan

Dec 14, 2023 @ 12:44pm

thanks for answers..
think I can wait.

Halko

Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:07pm

Honestly i hate the idea a lot of people have that fan translations are always better than official ones. Ive been around long enough and seen enough fan translations to know thats ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Its pretty sad if some of the things said so far in the thread are true but at the end of the day its probably not going to ruin it.

The biggest bottom line to the whole thing though is if the game doesnt sell that well it just shows them there isnt a market. If you want more type moon in english buy it but raise hell about what you dont like about the translation. VN localization has always been a sketchy business for japanese companies so titles performing poorly ESPECIALLY if its from such a big name as type moon will only hurt the chances of getting more.

inFantry-32 has WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT

Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:33pm

Originally posted by Halko:
Honestly i hate the idea a lot of people have that fan translations are always better than official ones. Ive been around long enough and seen enough fan translations to know thats ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Its pretty sad if some of the things said so far in the thread are true but at the end of the day its probably not going to ruin it.

The biggest bottom line to the whole thing though is if the game doesnt sell that well it just shows them there isnt a market. If you want more type moon in english buy it but raise hell about what you dont like about the translation. VN localization has always been a sketchy business for japanese companies so titles performing poorly ESPECIALLY if its from such a big name as type moon will only hurt the chances of getting more.

"Better"

Nobody is saying they're definitively better.

They're just more likely to be trustworthy or as close to the original intent, since the passion fans have for their favorite works usually trumps the corporate translators who nowadays insert memes, poltiics and whatever comes at night into someone else works.

All because they believe that you can't do anything about it & they won't get fired.

They openly brag on Twitter about even hating the project & intentionally butchering the original works.

Does "I Think I Turned My CHildhood Friendd into A Girl" ring any bells?

A mistranslated work so egregious, it changed the entire story intentionally & the rights holders had to get involved.

Nobody fired btw.

Halko

Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:42pm

I could tell you a horror story about the Ford Pinto too but that doesnt mean that every car manufacturer or model is a flaming coffin waiting to roast someone alive. Sometimes people do stupid things but that doesnt mean EVERYONE in that job role is now somehow complicit. Besides if you want to complain about inserting memes and boasting about how great you are then you obviously dont remember a whole lot about the intergroup politics of fansubbing. I still remember one group releasing porn renamed as episode of a show as a joke.

Simple fact is ill bet basically nobody in this thread has actually read the damn thing so judging before that is just silly.

#10

Berry

Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:56pm

Originally posted by Halko:
I could tell you a horror story about the Ford Pinto too but that doesnt mean that every car manufacturer or model is a flaming coffin waiting to roast someone alive. Sometimes people do stupid things but that doesnt mean EVERYONE in that job role is now somehow complicit. Besides if you want to complain about inserting memes and boasting about how great you are then you obviously dont remember a whole lot about the intergroup politics of fansubbing. I still remember one group releasing porn renamed as episode of a show as a joke.

Simple fact is ill bet basically nobody in this thread has actually read the damn thing so judging before that is just silly.

I've read it, it's serviceable and I'll be reading it again, but the amount of typos and spacing errors is pretty crazy. I doubt they fixed it for this release as well. Sizuki is also a crime, I wouldn't be surprised if that was some sort of Nasu approved localization tho.

Last edited by Berry; Dec 14, 2023 @ 5:58pm

#11

Howard Heyman has WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT

Dec 14, 2023 @ 7:18pm

Originally posted by Halko:
I could tell you a horror story about the Ford Pinto too but that doesnt mean that every car manufacturer or model is a flaming coffin waiting to roast someone alive. Sometimes people do stupid things but that doesnt mean EVERYONE in that job role is now somehow complicit. Besides if you want to complain about inserting memes and boasting about how great you are then you obviously dont remember a whole lot about the intergroup politics of fansubbing. I still remember one group releasing porn renamed as episode of a show as a joke.

Simple fact is ill bet basically nobody in this thread has actually read the damn thing so judging before that is just silly.

I read it on Switch, actually

#12

Juandiqsuc Dec 15, 2023 @ 12:38am

https://x.com/HccvJPE8Dk/status/1608448156630671361?s=20 https://x.com/Weisskaiser/status/1601738531855966208?s=20

AND THIS WAS WHEN THE CONSOLE CAME OUT KEK

#13

Brambachacer has WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT

Dec 15, 2023 @ 3:15pm

Originally posted by Ryou:
Look I can put up with a lot of things, but I need a patch to change Sizuki to Shizuki. It bugs me to no end. You can hear Shi but it says Si it drives me mad.

Lol this. This right here was why I started looking for an alt translation. It's not just Shizuki though. They spelled Yamashiro as Yamasiro (Lol even the spellchecker on my phone knows better - it tried to change to Yamashiro as soon as I typed it!). I've read about 50 visual novels and I have never seen such weird romaji. It's tweaking my OCD something awful and breaks the immersion.

Last edited by Brambachacer; Dec 15, 2023 @ 3:25pm

#14