Advance Wars Days of Ruin/Dark Conflict US/EU Script Comparison: Chapter 1

Uploaded mostly as a test for a potential future series, but also partly for a University assignment on translation I've doing. This game is very unique from a translation perspective because it has two separare English versions: America and Europe translated it independantly. And while the basic gist of most lines is the same, it's clear the EU version is a more literal translation while the US version tries to "spice it up" with Woolseyisms. Not many people have actually compared the versions though, so I thought I'd try to fill the void.

The US version has a title drop in the chapter name, while the EU version doesn't. Interesting note: while both English versions have different titles, NEITHER is close to the original Japanese title of the game. In Japan, the game's subtitle is "Lost Light".

The biggest difference here is around 6:20 and 9:16, Brenner/O'Brian's conversation with the enemy. EU goes with "price" while the US goes with "duty", resulting in two very different speeches.

As for characters, The Beast got the most changes in the US version by far. It seems their translations likes to spice up minor villains to make them a bit more entertaining. Everyone else is pretty similar (though we'll see Lin get VERY different in the US version later)

[Kriken_]

Just found out about the script differences today. As a player of the UK version, I was curious to see what the US script was like - especially because I heard it's a lot better.

Based on this though I think I'd have to disagree. The UK script is tight whereas they try a bit too hard to be hip in the US version. Honestly, quite a few lines in the US script sounded like a fanfic/poor fans translation ("Yes, sir, captain."). Maybe it gets better later on though.

Just my opinion though. If Americans prefer their version then I guess the localisation did its job well. I do like the idea of a snarkier Lin, but I prefer the UK version's more dignified O'Brien/Brenner.

[thebravegallade]

My favorite OC is catlea. No downsides just a small boost to everything. AND her theme is cute.

After playing this, playing Dual strike OCs are like, whoh.

[MongoIndyleo]

Oh, some more Advance Wars in the future? Cool, I really enjoyed your AW2 playthrough so more AW would be cool.

You can really tell which one is American and which one is European. The US one is a lot more brash.

[thebravegallade]

Yeah its intresting that there actually are TWO seperate versions. Wouldn't it cost twice as much to do so?
I actually got DoR in america as a souvineer from my friend who went to europe in summer break^^

One fun fact about reigions: apparently DSI only titles are all reigion locked even if they are phisical versions.

[luigi]

Is there any more of these? Localisation is a hugely interesting topic for me and so I'd love to see the rest of the game side by side like this.

[thebravegallade]

Ah. I forgot about that fourth wall breaking war room in the first chapter.
Yeah the main idea is the same but the minor details are VERY different. I see. How do they compare to the original?

I suggest you play DoR because more people have seen DD, so more people might be interested in it.

[MongoIndyleo]

Sick again, BigKlingy? Or did uni just hit you like a ton of bricks with a workload? Possibly both?

[thebravegallade]

Reasctions to FE12:
What is it with supports between avatarxmain lord and baths?
I got gordin's bow... when i actually HAVE him on my army...

[bravescholarlys]

Is your FEA playthrough coming next or the latest famitsu scan discussion? Unless your busy.

[himanimbob]

In my opinion the us translation is much more competent

[marks]

Oh hey Days of Ruin. Yeah, tbh, started playing this game and it feels very weird to play (and in a good way). Must be because of the AI being a lot more competent in this game.

[montanarandall]

is it me or the USA music is louder? 
So far I think the EU intro scene is better, But I seem to prefer the USA for everything else. That might be because I grew up playing the USA versoin and I have a bias

[patrickbateman]

Localization is a cancer, what else is new. Good on the European branch of Nintendo for doing this right.