FFXVI really needs an 'accurate JP subtitles / translation' mod

[gnome_chomski]

Well, I tried playing with JP voiceover and ENG subtitles like I always do, but I just can't get over the (total lack of) lip-syncing, not to mention that the Japanese dialogue is often wildly different from the english 'dubtitles' shown on screen. Gonna have to do the rest of my first playthrough in English, which is a mild bummer.

It seems like every other subtitle language uses the Japanese script for its translation. Or at least that's how the French subtitles looked to me, which is the only other language I'm fluent in. It sucks that English players don't get that same option.

This got me thinking: Is anyone currently working on moding in an alternative set of subtitles for the JP script? I would happily donate my time and money to help realize a mod like this.

Please note that this is NOT a complaints thread about Koji Fox or "muh localization!!!!" so kindly sashay away before posting any of that off-topic clownery here.

...

UPDATE -- For anyone else interested, we're gonna try to get some momentum going on this via the FFXVI Modding Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/XVX9RAFW

[Αη Ιnτellecτual Tsiραr]

Publicado originalmente por 🐤:

Does anyone want to teach me English? I may even fall in love with you!

I want to speak just as good as the FF XVI characters!!

I would but I've had my heart broken before. I don't know if I could bear it again.. be gentle with me please.

[Fulgerion]

Publicado originalmente por kiteless 凧無し:

This game was actually made with English voices first which should give you a strong indication who the target audience for this fake final fantasy game is

I mean the whole setting is pretty much post medieval England, hence why the game is entirely British actors

Honestly, I'd just skip the Japanese voices with this one, the whole thing was an afterthought and it clearly shows

Fake? A medieval theme fits Final Fantasy more than you could possibly imagine. And an action-focused gameplay style fits the medieval theme. And each Final Fantasy is intended to be different from the previous. Final Fantasy is a science project. It's supposed to re-invent itself with each installment. Final Fantasy is the concept of reinventing the wheel. If you refuse to understand the philosophy of the franchise, it wasn't meant for you. Cease your ignorance.

[kiteless 凧無し]

Publicado originalmente por Fulgerion:

Publicado originalmente por kiteless 凧無し:

This game was actually made with English voices first which should give you a strong indication who the target audience for this fake final fantasy game is

I mean the whole setting is pretty much post medieval England, hence why the game is entirely British actors

Honestly, I'd just skip the Japanese voices with this one, the whole thing was an afterthought and it clearly shows

Fake? A medieval theme fits Final Fantasy more than you could possibly imagine. And each Final Fantasy is intended to be different from the previous. Final Fantasy is a science project. It's supposed to re-invent itself with each installment. Final Fantasy is the concept of reinventing the wheel. If you refuse to understand the philosophy of the franchise, it wasn't meant for you. Cease your ignorance.

It's a fake final fantasy, yes. The combat is as far removed from a true final fantasy game as you can get and the whole game is western pandering, going so far as you make the English voices the default

But is it any wonder, the PlayStation 5 is not popular in Japan and this game sold a pathetic 300k there, gone are they days when FF sold millions in it's home country

I wouldn't be surprised if Square just gives this franchise to Western developers going forward, it's heading that way

The final fantasy you once knew, is long dead. This is Final fantasy in name only and that is why the sales are pathetic and gamers rejected it in droves

[Bad Distraction Carnifex]

Without tools is going to be near impossible to implement a change this big. Especially the lip synch. Don't get your hopes up.

Mods for FF16 are largely going to be limited to

*Gameplay tweaks
*Model and texture swaps including custom textures/models
*Combined effect items
*All Eikons during combat
*Hotkey mod, maybe even custom hotkeys via an ini file

[Sononeo]

I'm torn about this to be honest. Had I not read it here, I wouldn't have thought that it was English first, though I had an inkling just from how different the subs are from the JP dialogue.

I feel like they should have at least maybe done a adjusted version of the English subs to better fit the JP dialogue, there are other games that do it and even make mention that the subs for the JP dialogue will differ from English voices (Yakuza Infinite notes this in selection).

But considering how big it is and their recent publications of not meeting profit expectations maybe that was a conscious decision?

I understand a good amount of the JP dialogue that I feel like I'm almost hearing two different accounts of the story at times, generally I have subs on to fill gaps in where my JP language knowledge lacks. Which is nice for learning, except for this case where most of the time it's so different.

Also I wouldn't go so far as to call it a fake FF, but there is a feeling about it that's not so FF like previous entries. It's odd.

FF7 Remake feels very much like a Final Fantasy game, so I can get why maybe some people would say it, though I can't put my finger on why.

[kiteless 凧無し]

Publicado originalmente por Sononeo:

I'm torn about this to be honest. Had I not read it here, I wouldn't have thought that it was English first, though I had an inkling just from how different the subs are from the JP dialogue.

I feel like they should have at least maybe done a adjusted version of the English subs to better fit the JP dialogue, there are other games that do it and even make mention that the subs for the JP dialogue will differ from English voices (Yakuza Infinite notes this in selection).

But considering how big it is and their recent publications of not meeting profit expectations maybe that was a conscious decision?

I understand a good amount of the JP dialogue that I feel like I'm almost hearing two different accounts of the story at times, generally I have subs on to fill gaps in where my JP language knowledge lacks. Which is nice for learning, except for this case where most of the time it's so different.

Also I wouldn't go so far as to call it a fake FF, but there is a feeling about it that's not so FF like previous entries. It's odd.

FF7 Remake feels very much like a Final Fantasy game, so I can get why maybe some people would say it, though I can't put my finger on why.

The Japanese voices aren't very good, the acting feels phoned in, like nobody cared, no personality or charisma, it's like someone sent them the memo that hardly anyone is going to listen to the Japanese voices so don't bother trying. Also we won't waste our time lip syncing it either which shows how little effort was put into it.

Honestly, the English voices are one of the saving graces in this game. Ralph Ineson is excellent as Cid and hands down the best character in the game, as you would expect from a multi bafta winner, way better than the non entity that is playing Cid in the Japanese version

Nobody can accuse me of being biased, I'm being as impartial as I can. Unleash your inner weeb on a game where the Japanese cast wasn't an afterthought, this is the wrong game for that

[REBirthTheEdge]

Publicado originalmente por kiteless 凧無し:

Publicado originalmente por Sononeo:

I'm torn about this to be honest. Had I not read it here, I wouldn't have thought that it was English first, though I had an inkling just from how different the subs are from the JP dialogue.

I feel like they should have at least maybe done a adjusted version of the English subs to better fit the JP dialogue, there are other games that do it and even make mention that the subs for the JP dialogue will differ from English voices (Yakuza Infinite notes this in selection).

But considering how big it is and their recent publications of not meeting profit expectations maybe that was a conscious decision?

I understand a good amount of the JP dialogue that I feel like I'm almost hearing two different accounts of the story at times, generally I have subs on to fill gaps in where my JP language knowledge lacks. Which is nice for learning, except for this case where most of the time it's so different.

Also I wouldn't go so far as to call it a fake FF, but there is a feeling about it that's not so FF like previous entries. It's odd.

FF7 Remake feels very much like a Final Fantasy game, so I can get why maybe some people would say it, though I can't put my finger on why.

The Japanese voices aren't very good, the acting feels phoned in, like nobody cared, no personality or charisma, it's like someone sent them the memo that hardly anyone is going to listen to the Japanese voices so don't bother trying. Also we won't waste our time lip syncing it either which shows how little effort was put into it.

Honestly, the English voices are one of the saving graces in this game. Ralph Ineson is excellent as Cid and hands down the best character in the game, as you would expect from a multi bafta winner, way better than the non entity that is playing Cid in the Japanese version

Nobody can accuse me of being biased, I'm being as impartial as I can. Unleash your inner weeb on a game where the Japanese cast wasn't an afterthought, this is the wrong game for that

Yeah naw.

Clive, Cid and Jill's seiyuu putting in the work.

So far only Benedicta's seiyuu seems to be trying too hard.

[goodbye_bonito]

It's a legit idea to want such thing, but hearing Japanese and reading subtitles, I would say that writing in English is much better, Japanese one is pretty dull. Here Japanese is not the original language and it checkouts in both voice acting and writing.

[gnome_chomski]

Publicado originalmente por Bad Distraction Carnifex:

Without tools is going to be near impossible to implement a change this big. Especially the lip synch. Don't get your hopes up.

No one is suggesting that. All I'm talking about is replacing / adding a new set of subtitles that are more accurate to the JP voiceover track, which is very much do-able.

[Shirakani]

The same mod for FF XV exists, it just took quite a while to eventuate since literally re-writing an entire script... nevermind having to actually translate BY EAR, is going to take a very, very frigging long time.

This is the real problem with a project undertaking like this; finding ppl who have the time, dedication and energy to commit to it.

[Zer0]

Publicado originalmente por kiteless 凧無し:

Publicado originalmente por Fulgerion:

Fake? A medieval theme fits Final Fantasy more than you could possibly imagine. And each Final Fantasy is intended to be different from the previous. Final Fantasy is a science project. It's supposed to re-invent itself with each installment. Final Fantasy is the concept of reinventing the wheel. If you refuse to understand the philosophy of the franchise, it wasn't meant for you. Cease your ignorance.

It's a fake final fantasy, yes. The combat is as far removed from a true final fantasy game as you can get and the whole game is western pandering, going so far as you make the English voices the default

But is it any wonder, the PlayStation 5 is not popular in Japan and this game sold a pathetic 300k there, gone are they days when FF sold millions in it's home country

I wouldn't be surprised if Square just gives this franchise to Western developers going forward, it's heading that way

The final fantasy you once knew, is long dead. This is Final fantasy in name only and that is why the sales are pathetic and gamers rejected it in droves

oh shut the ♥♥♥♥ up honestly XD

[2D神]

Game ain't weeb enough for me to put it in Japanese also English fit the setting.

[yusuku13]

Publicado originalmente por kiteless 凧無し:

This game was actually made with English voices first which should give you a strong indication who the target audience for this fake final fantasy game is

I mean the whole setting is pretty much post medieval England, hence why the game is entirely British actors

Honestly, I'd just skip the Japanese voices with this one, the whole thing was an afterthought and it clearly shows

The english dub was done first, but this of course was AFTER the japanese script was translated, POORLY, into english.

It doesn't matter what voice track was recorded first. Its the english translation that's the issue here. And it sucks. This is ADV/Ocean tier. Harmony Gold did a better translation for Macross in the 80's and you won't find a single anime fan out there singing their praises.

I actually buggered up my fight with benedicta when "Owari Da" got translated as "Die you ****" and was so stunned I missed the QTE prompt.

My knowledge of japanese is what's getting me through this, but yeah. The english translation is bloody terrible and the kind of hack job that got older studios shut down.

[yusuku13]

Publicado originalmente por gnome_chomski:

Well, I tried playing with JP voiceover and ENG subtitles like I always do, but I just can't get over the (total lack of) lip-syncing, not to mention that the Japanese dialogue is often wildly different from the english 'dubtitles' shown on screen. Gonna have to do the rest of my first playthrough in English, which is a mild bummer.

It seems like every other subtitle language uses the Japanese script for its translation. Or at least that's how the French subtitles looked to me, which is the only other language I'm fluent in. It sucks that English players don't get that same option.

This got me thinking: Is anyone currently working on moding in an alternative set of subtitles for the JP script? I would happily donate my time and money to help realize a mod like this.

Please note that this is NOT a complaints thread about Koji Fox or "muh localization!!!!" so kindly sashay away before posting any of that off-topic clownery here.

...

UPDATE -- For anyone else interested, we're gonna try to get some momentum going on this via the FFXVI Modding Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/XVX9RAFW

I hear ya mate, but there's no reasoning with those so illiterate that reading subs is painful for them. I also would gladly support a mod for better english subs. I don't know what wannabe edgelord did the translation here but the english script is brutal to sit through.

I honestly have little to no complaints of the game otherwise. I enjoy the action RPG gameplay, the presentation is stellar but then, you expect that from square. The story is also pretty good so far thank you years of kurosawa, kamen rider, and anime for giving me a mild grasp of japanese. I honestly don't think I could make it through the dub hearing actors actually try to make that material work.

[yusuku13]

Publicado originalmente por Sononeo:

I'm torn about this to be honest. Had I not read it here, I wouldn't have thought that it was English first, though I had an inkling just from how different the subs are from the JP dialogue.

I feel like they should have at least maybe done a adjusted version of the English subs to better fit the JP dialogue, there are other games that do it and even make mention that the subs for the JP dialogue will differ from English voices (Yakuza Infinite notes this in selection).

But considering how big it is and their recent publications of not meeting profit expectations maybe that was a conscious decision?

I understand a good amount of the JP dialogue that I feel like I'm almost hearing two different accounts of the story at times, generally I have subs on to fill gaps in where my JP language knowledge lacks. Which is nice for learning, except for this case where most of the time it's so different.

Also I wouldn't go so far as to call it a fake FF, but there is a feeling about it that's not so FF like previous entries. It's odd.

FF7 Remake feels very much like a Final Fantasy game, so I can get why maybe some people would say it, though I can't put my finger on why.

The dub defenders try to milk that fact so hard it makes me wonder how many are marketing accounts. every post defending it uses the same wording which is not natural.

But that don't mean bugger all because the english script was still translated from the japanese one. and translated poorly. very poorly. "Sheeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiift"? First time I saw that achievement I did a virus scan to make sure my pc wasn't suffering from some kind of malware.