Translation Differences: Zelda 4
By The Avardancer
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK'S AWAKENING" Japanese version and
American version. V.2.0
BY THE AVARDANCER
Reason for text file: For those who want to know, if Nintendo
left anything out of one of the best Gameboy games ever. And
because I was bored and felt like doing this. And it gave me
something to do while waiting for Zelda 64. And because I enjoy
run-on sentences. I will first list differences and then give a
comparasion between the two versions.
Why this text file is important: With Zelda 5 on the horizon for
the North American markets; I can see that there is ample cause
to ask Nintendo not to CENSOR Zelda 5. I want an uncensored Zelda
game over here. I would also like to see "Legend of Zelda:
Special Edition" and "SD Zelda: Secret of the
BloodStones." (That one has Zelda as the main character in a
SFAM game.) You see the story goes together; BUT the American
transalations messed up the story.
Intro: I can barely read Japanese. I used the Mario Paint manual
to translate. The game also has a rather nasty use of Japlish;
making it a little difficult at times to read. (Japlish is a
mixture of the Three Japanese writing systems, with American
slang.) Also a little bit of text is vertical, not horizontal.
(Ouch!) Once I finish listing the differences, I will say which
one is better. (A Pros and Cons thing.) The text is different in
the game,but VERY few names were changed.
1.The Japanese Intro sequence has pine trees instead of palm
trees. (Changed because it's tacky and there are no pine trees in
the game!)
2. The Moblin Boss has a face-mask covering his mouth in Japanese
Version. American Version shows his teeth. (OOOH! SCARY!!)
3. The Thwomps in Level 4 do not follow you with thier eyes in
Japanese version, they sure do in the American version!
4. Japanese version has some very annoying sound effects for
walking in certain areas.
5. The owl does not make that hooting sound in the Japanese
Version. Instead the owl says "hoshihou" twice before
he starts his dialogues. (Sometimes he says these at the end or
middle of his dialogue; instead of at the beginning of his
dialogue.) I think that "hoshihou" means
"Hoot". (Who knows.)
6. Japanese packageing is prettier. It has a nice full color
picture of Link holding a sword and shield with Tarin and Marin
behind him. The Egg is in the background as well. Then there's
the Owl.
7. Some cracks in the wall are not visible in the Japanese
version; but are visible in the American version!
8. Tracy does not raise her prices like she does in the American
Version.
9. The monkeys that fix the bridge have very visible butts.
(Censorship?)
10. The hippo in the animal village has a cloak and
"possibly silicon" er... um, "extras". When
you come in the door she is standing and then she hides in her
cloak. (It's a long cloak.) Go talk to her and she says (Rough
transalation) "Iya-SO!". I think "Iya-SO!" is
like an exclamation or something. (It's funnier than the American
version where she has a skirt and a hairbow and just sits down
and tells you to go away.) I thought it was a great gag. But, it
could get some of the more conservative consumers a little
steamed. (Still, it's funny!) This little difference surprised
me; and I still crack up over it. I think it's just as funny as
Dregan's arm falling off (Mace: The Dark Age for N64), or the
Ganbare Geoman games. (Geoman smacks his enemies with a pipe.
Maybe it's glass.) It's just an interesting bit of hilarious
Japanese humour that got lost in transalation. (It reminds me of
the hilarious FMV in Mischief Makers or the humour in Sailor Moon
and Dragon Ball Z.) I wish Nintendo transalator Dan Owsen hadn't
screwed up this really great sight gag.
11. Manbo the Sun Fish does not do that cool eye spin thing in
the Japanese version.
12. Some very cool sound effects are absent in the Japanese
version.
13. The Japanese version is easier. (Bosses take less hits.)
14. The Mermaid in the bay lost her bra, not a necklace. ; ) It's
funny! Wonder if that would sit well with the more
"conservative" people? {Actually, I was not very
inclined to give it back.} This is another great gag that got
cut.
15. The Slime Eel in level five does not stutter, or lisp. (BOO!
BOO!)
16. Boomerang flies faster, and not as far in the Japanese
version. (Fast = Good. Short = Bad.)
17. On the map you pull up with the select button the "Wind
Fish's Egg" is called in Japanese:
"Seinarutamako". (Just a language difference. Not sure
of actual English Transalation.)
18. Hmmm. I noticed that in the Face Shrine, The boss of the Face
Shrine says something in Japanese that looks like this
"XXXXka" The "Ka" at the end is a
transalation of the end character. The "x"'s are not a
Japanese character I recognize. And they are not selectable to
spell your name with. This leads me to believe that this was an
attempt to make it look like the Face Shrine Boss is cussing. And
that it was just tastfully "XXXX"ed out.
19. I just beat the game. The ending is the same. Albeit shorter.
The reason for it being shorter is that they show more credits at
the end of the US version. Where as the Japanese version owes no
gratitude to Dan Owsen, etc.
20. The last bosses are really dramatic. Remember at the end when
the Shadow says: "Our....world is
disappearing....Our......World." The Japanese version is a
lot more dramatic. He really slows down his words. It's something
like:
"Our..........world...is....disappearing............Our...........World."
PROS AND CONS!!
This is a basic run-through of the list above that states which
version got the better deal between the differences.
1. US wins here by placing appropiate Palm Trees and giving the
games intro more of an island feel.
2. Japan wins here, because the Moblin is supposed to be an
asassin or thief. (Hence the mask is appropiate. Besides the
teeth are cheesy.)
3. US wins here because the Thwomps eyes following you is so
cool!!
4. US wins here for leaving out those annoying sounds.
5. I hated the owls hooting noise. Point goes to the Japanese
version for leaving this sound effect out.
6. Japan wins here because the package is way cooler than
thatbrown US package. (BTW, the package is brown in Europe as
well.)
7. Point goes to the Japanese version for not having obvious
cracks in the walls. (The cracks defeat the challenge of finding
secret places.
8. Cheaper potion gives Japan my devotion!
9. Point goes to Japan for a great sight gag!
10. Another point goes to Japan for a great sight gag!
11. I miss the eye spin thing. Point goes to the US for making
Manbo groove.
12. Kudos to the US for putting in awsome Sound FX!
13. Harder puzzles easier enemies. I give the point to the US for
making the enemies meaner.
14. That joke is funny. You should have seen the look on the
fishermans face when he pulled in the size D. (Great gag that was
too funny to get cut.) Japan wins another point.
15. Point goes to the US version for making the Slime Eel talk
like my lawyer.
16. Faster Boomerang good. Farther Boomerang good too. TIE. (Why
couldn't the boomerang fly fast and far?)
17. When I figure that one out I'll get back to you....
18. The Face Shrine should watch it's mouth. Point goes to the US
version.
19. Longer credits equals longer game music. Point to the US.
20. A little extra drama never hurt. Point to the Japanese
version. They even let Marin say more to you in the Mountain
sequence and the beach sequence.
USA: 10 points.
END:
The US version leaves stuff out. but puts stuff in as well. If I had my way. I would release a Super Gameboy Version with the best stuff from both versions. I would also add the Shadow of Link, Zelda, The Owl, and a giant Keese to the last boss. (Imagine a better and harder Nightmare...) I would also add a little voice near the end. (We are the Nightmares, we made the WindFish sleep endlessly.....) (Or maybe the Faires could say "hello."?) (Naw, I want to hear Bow Wow bark.) (CHICKEN VOICES! Maybe not.)
TEXT FILE BEING MADE BY wwesley@internetland.net
P.S. If any one knows Japanese affluently. I'll send them a ROM of the Japanese version. (Remember to erase it when done..) {Though I doubt you will.} Legend of Zelda 4 is a Link tat is Awakening.
