The original games, those translations that made people cry and laugh, and make people cry and laugh, were both helpless due to lack of information and full of interesting misunderstandings caused by cultural differences.
Casual translation and misreading
In the early days, information flow was not smooth, and translations were often understood based on their literal meaning. The original name of the Japanese version of "Final Fantasy" did not mean "space". Just because the cover of the first generation work had an airship, it was translated into "Space Warrior" in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In fact, most of the works in this series have nothing to do with space. The plot of the fourth generation work involving the moon is just a special example. Such a translation is purely a beautiful mistake.
Another typical work is "Red Shadow Warrior". Its Japanese version title "KAGE" means "shadow", but because the protagonist uses red and blue colors, and the first level scene is on a boat, it was simply named "Water Contra". This translation method, which was tied to the well-known game "Contra" at that time, was very common at that time, and the purpose was to quickly attract the attention of players.
Metamorphosis under cultural barriers
When games flowed from the East to the West, the deformation of the translation became more intense. European and American players were unfamiliar with Asian history, resulting in the background being completely transformed. For example, the title of the European and American version of the game "", which was set in the Warring States Period in Japan, was changed to "". The story was completely separated from the historical framework of the original work, and was changed to the dark rule of the fictional country "Third Floor".
Similarly, an arcade game called "Swallowing Heaven and Earth" that originated from the long history of China's Three Kingdoms has been modified in Europe and the United States. In the game, the names of famous generals such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, etc. have all been replaced with other titles. Cao Cao has been transformed into another title, thus completely blurring the original historical and cultural background.
Considerations to avoid sensitive words
Publishers often take the initiative to modify sensitive words due to market review and acceptance. The action game "Contra", whose English name means "counterrevolution" in Spanish, may cause controversy in certain areas. Such a potential risk requires publishers to be extra cautious when promoting.
The "Mega Man" series caused a more serious translation controversy in the early days of Europe and the United States. The name of the American version had indecent connotations in the slang category, and the character image was changed from the hot-blooded boy of the Japanese version to a rugged muscular man. This in turn caused dissatisfaction among players. It was not until the third generation that the image and translation strategy gradually moved closer to the direction of the Japanese version.
Active choice of market strategy
There are often situations where a name change falls within the realm of a clear business strategy. The purpose is to make the work more "international". Take "Ninja Gaiden" as an example. Its European and American version titles have been simplified and simplified to a specific form. In the process, the Japanese kendo elements have been weakened, while "ninja", a cultural symbol that is popular around the world, has become more prominent, in order to fit in with the mainstream aesthetics of the European and American action game markets and meet their corresponding needs.
The horror game is called The Evil Within, and the name it was originally used as the version name in Japan means "psychopath." For the European and American versions, adopting another name can more clearly reflect the theme of "possessed by evil spirits". The differences between the names of horror games in different regions can be seen as an adjustment to the horror cultural preferences of the local market, with the aim of conveying the atmosphere of the game more accurately.
direct impact of censorship
Europe has a strict censorship system, which has led to content changes. When the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" animation was broadcast in the UK, the nunchuck weapon used by the character Michelangelo was completely deleted because of concerns that imitating it would cause violence, and was then replaced with a grappling hook weapon. This is a typical case of censorship agencies interfering with the content of children's programs.
Similarly, in some regions of Europe, the word "Ninja" is considered to be difficult for children to understand, so the title of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is sometimes changed to the more generic "Ninja Turtles", which shows the compromise made by the publisher in order to pass the censorship and enter the market.
Collective memory and reverse cultural output
These "wrong" translations themselves have become the unique memories of a generation of players. Many players came into contact with "Red Shadow Warrior" through the name "Water Contra". The mistranslation has become a booster for the spread of the game, creating a folk memory parallel to the official records.
Even the official sometimes accepts this history in a humorous way. For example, in games such as "Manga Heroes VS Capcom", Capcom introduced the American version of Rock Man with rough characteristics as an Easter egg character, and even produced related figures. However, this operation actually transformed the former "black history" into a brand cultural asset.
Have you ever recalled a game whose strange translation made you remember it so deeply that you even played it because of it? Welcome to share your experience in the comment area. If you find it interesting, don't forget to like and share it.
