Japanese voice option video games

Japanese video games are often altered before being released to countries outside of Japan. The transition comprises various factors from censorship differences, gameplay 'tweaks' and perhaps the most important and time consuming factor, language translation. As with any translation process many nuances are lost in the process. Other media which make the journey from Japan to Western audiences, such as animation (anime) and some live action films, often provide the option to either listen to a over (usually English) voice or to consume the content in the original language with subtitles to interpret what is said. Video game media rarely includes the same option.

Why is it anime and films are treated differently to video games? The most obvious answer is the view that video games are consumed by children while film and anime is consumed by a more mature audience who desire a product that is as close to the original as possible. media into another language is often done by second parties that have little connection to the original creators of the product. Even in the best of circumstances when the creators are involved in the process the transition from one language to another creates glaring gaps in the pacing and meaning of audio visual media. For example a one word sentence in Japanese may translate into a several word sentence in a Western language.

The same process occurred when Japanese animation (or anime as it is more generally known) was first brought to Western countries. Animation was primarily thought to be a children's media. Disney was the primary producer of animation in this period and their target audience were preteen children. success in this field cemented the image that animation was a media for children and thus childish. This view slowly but surely began to change with the increasing consumption of mature anime content by foreign fans. Eventually, due to the demands of said consumer, the standards governing anime distribution changed and subtitles were included as a standard option. In terms of consumer audience, video games have followed a similar trend. They were first produced for children but the target audience for video games has changed dramatically and rapidly.

Any media product that is deemed by its distributor as being aimed at children does not deserve to be subtitled. Proof of this mentality are the few examples of anime where there is no option for subtitles to be displayed and the audience has no choice but to listen to an English . These titles are aimed at children and usually are shown on free to air television. The lack of any option, even in the DVD release, to view these 'cartoons' in their original Japanese language places them firmly in the realm of children's media. On a side note (but perhaps a telling one), this trend also seems slightly conspiratorial in the sense that the Western television companies that purchase this media do not wish to promote the fact that they had nothing to do with the creation of the product and are merely 'onsellers'. By only offering an English voice actor they hope to take further ownership of the product and create an impression to any casual Western consumer that it is a Western product.

While the number of video games that make the trip from Japan to Western shores with their original Japanese voice intact is small at the moment, it is inevitable that just as anime and foreign films that make that same trip today have a subtitle option included as an almost universal standard, video games will follow the same trend.
Video games are not products designed merely for children. One look at the top ten lists of video game sales will demonstrate that. is most definitely not aimed at children and it is only the most obvious of examples, one only needs to scratch the surface of the video game market to find others (many of them Japanese) that demonstrate this point. If video games are not products primarily aimed at children then why are there so few examples of them that make the transition from one of the most prolific producers of the media, Japan, that include their original voice actors with a subtitle option? Latency is the most obvious answer. Fans will demand the option just as they demanded it for films and anime. With the speed of information dissemination provided by the internet, and therefore the speed at which such fans can mobilise and demonstrate their displeasure at such omissions, such changes will most likely happen much faster than in the past, as the distributors of media products continue in their never ending chase to meet with the demands of the consumer.

In the interim, a list of video games that have a Japanese voice over will be provided. At the moment, Japan is the only prolific non English speaking producer of video games, thus the focus on Japanese video games in particular.

Game List

* Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Gust Publisher: Koei, Nippon Ichi Genre: Sprite RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Gust Publisher: Koei, Nippon Ichi Genre: Sprite RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: A sprite driven, classic RPG. Smatterings of dialogue throughout the game, mainly during story crucial cut scenes. There are also fight quotes when you enter battle. A fairly small amount of voiced dialogue. Translation is not great only passable.

* Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Gust Publisher: Koei, Nippon Ichi Genre: Sprite RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: Similar to previous incarnations, a classic sprite driven RPG. Only has speech in story critical sections, some incidental stuff like the introduction still has an English voice over. Some obvious changes have been made between what is said and what is subtitled.

* Blue Dragon
Platform: Xbox 360 Developer: Mistwalker, Artoon Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Genre: Anime RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: The North American version features a choice between the English dub and the original Japanese voice track with English subtitles as well as a French dub.

* Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Platform: PlayStation Portable Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: Atlus, Koei Genre: Tactical RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: A remake of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness from PS2 released on the PSP. Has new voiced content in the newly added story branches.

* Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: Nippon Ichi Genre: Tactical RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - No

* Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: Atlus, KOEI Genre: Tactical RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Dimps Publisher: Atari, Bandai Genre: Fighting
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: PAL Collector's Edition and Platinum Version included the Japanese voice option. North American NTSC release had this option with its 'Greatest Hits' re-release, there was a mistake with the game and the option was omitted from some game disks despite the instruction booklet and game box saying there was one. Go to the game page for more details.
A very comprehensive Japanese voice option, with original voice actors and original anime music. Lots and lots of dialogue. Anyone who liked the original anime will almost certainly enjoy this translation since you can hear all the common expressions done by the original anime voice actors.

* Enchanted Arms
Platform: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 Developer: From Software Publisher: Ubisoft Genre: RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Unknown

* Eternal Sonata
Platform: Xbox 360 Developer: tri-Crescendo Publisher: Namco Bandai Genre: RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Game Republic Publisher: SCE Genre: Hack and slash
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: The characters speak Japanese automatically with English subtitles. There is no English voice over?

* GrimGrimoire
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Vanillaware Publisher: Nippon Ichi Genre: Tactical RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Unknown

* .hack// All four games in first series: 1/ .hack//Infection 2/ .hack//Mutation 3/ .hack//Outbreak 4/ .hack//Quarantine
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: CyberConnect2 Publisher: Bandai Genre: Action RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: Although present in all versions, in the European release, a 'Game' has to be beaten once before the option is unlocked for that 'Game', and it will stay unlocked if the 'Save Data' is transferred to the next game.
There was a B-side joke Japanese voice over in the original Japanese game but that was scrapped from the Western release.
The second .hack game series, , does not include a Japanese voice over option.

* Lost Odyssey
Platform: Xbox 360 Developer: Mistwalker, Feelplus Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Genre: RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Unknown

Translation Notes: Although designed by a Japanese game development team, the game characters lip sync to the English dub. The original Japanese game was released with both Japanese and English voices. These two factors cloud which dub should be considered the "original"...

*
Platform: Xbox Developer: Team Ninja Publisher: Tecmo Genre: Action-Adventure
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Unknown

* Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Platform: Xbox 360 Developer: Ubisoft Montreal Publisher: Ubisoft Genre: Anime Fighting RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: This is a strange inclusion as it is a game developed outside of Japan. As the game was based on a world created by the popular 'Naruto' anime created in Japan, a downloadable patch was provided for fans who wish to listen to the original Japanese anime's voice actors play the parts of their respective characters in game.

* Odin Sphere
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Atlus, Vanillaware Publisher: Atlus, Square Enix Genre: Action RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Onimusha: Warlords
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Genre: Action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - No

* Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Genre: Action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - No

Translation Notes: The Japanese original game also has the option to display English subtitles with the Japanese voice over. Gameplay was changed from the original Japanese release.

* Project Justice
Platform: Dreamcast Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Genre: Fighting
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: Sequel to Rival Schools on PSX. Gameplay was altered dramatically from the original version. A custom fighter creator was omitted.
Like its predecessor there is no Japanese voice option, it just comes with Japanese voices, no English ones. The translation is apparently a little better but not greatly.
Many translations of the Japanese menus can be found on the net demonstrating fan displeasure at the local releases.

* Rival Schools: United by Fate
Platform: PlayStation Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Genre: Fighting
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: Many gameplay and translation changes from the original Japanese version. The game has been heavily censored and changed in the transition from Japan. There is no 'Japanese voice option' per se, the only voices provided are Japanese, there are no English voices.

* Riviera: the Promised Land
Platform: PlayStation Portable Developer: Sting Publisher: Atlus Genre: RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: This game started as a GBA game and got ported to the PSP. There is only a small amount of voiced dialogue.

* Shenmue II
Platform: Dreamcast Developer: Sega-AM2 Publisher: Sega Genre: Adventure game
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes
* Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Publisher: SCEE Genre: Stealth action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Not released European - Yes

Translation Notes: Large amounts of Japanese dialogue. Plus a lot of incidental quotes from enemies during play.

* Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Publisher: SCEE Genre: Stealth action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Not released European - Yes

Translation Notes: Large amounts of Japanese dialogue. Plus a lot of incidental quotes from enemies during play.

* SkyGunner
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: PixelArts Publisher: Atlus Genre: Flight Combat
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Not released?

* Sonic Adventure / Sonic Adventure DX
Platform: Dreamcast, GameCube Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega Genre: Platformer
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: There is a Japanese VA option as well as a separate Japanese Text Mode, Proven in European PAL.

* Sonic Adventure 2 / Sonic Adventure 2 : Battle
Platform: Dreamcast, GameCube Developer: Sonic Team USA Publisher: Sega Genre: Platformer
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes?

Translation Notes If you choose Japanese audio there are no subtitles included?

* Soulcalibur 3
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Namco Publisher: Namco Genre: Fighting
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: There is a lot of voiced dialogue, lots of fight quotes, and all can be replayed in a character viewing mode. The subtitles are not 100% accurate but are quite good. A quality translation job all in all.

* Soul Nomad & the World Eaters
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: Nippon Ichi Genre: Tactical RPG
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes?

* Tenchu: Fatal Shadows
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: K2 LLC Publisher: Sega Genre: Stealth action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Platform: PlayStation Developer: Publisher: Activision Genre: Stealth action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

Translation Notes: The Japanese audio is only available via debug mode? It is only for characters in game, no intros etcetera. Debug mode: Pause games, hold L1 + R2 and then press in order - up, triangle, down, x, left, square, right, circle, then release L1 + R2 and press L1, R1, L2, R2, then wait, press Start, L2 + R2.

* Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: K2 LLC Publisher: Activision Genre: Stealth action
Regional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes

* Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: tri-Ace Publisher: Square Enix Genre: RPGRegional Translation Status: North American - Yes European - Yes?

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