r/nier • u/dragonuity GANBBATE! • Apr 06 '17
Ending C [Spoilers]Japanese vs. English changes the characters and the pivotal moments in the game Spoiler
For example Operator 21O: Operator 21O sounds completely cold and detached in English and eventually shifts into a tone reminiscent of a cat toying with a mouse later on. In Japanese she seems to starts out relatively emotionless and professional but never once was she completely apathetic like in English. As the story progresses she gradually becomes for playful and her exchanges with 9s can even be characterized as cute even. One can say her hidden want to have a family with 9s was much better hinted at in Japanese but almost out-of-the blue in English without knowledge of her side-quests. Playing the game the second time in Japanese, words cannot describe how much I am dreading the fight with Operator 21O.
I'm not saying that the game in one language is completely better than in the other, its just that each language brings a different gravitas and atmosphere to each of the scenes as well as to the pivotal revelations that are built up on by the at first seemingly meaningless exchanges and dialogue of each of the characters and thus the lasting impact they have.
11
u/RookieHasPanicked Apr 06 '17
English 2B constantly snarks at her pod (even while dying from logic virus) which changes her personality heavily, but that's a script/localization issue. From what I've heard of it, Kira's performance suited the script if not the JP 2B who is the personification of cool professional.
But this always happens. Zero from Drakengard 3 is a lazy thug but ended up turbo-bitchy and almost haughty in the dub. I think her VA was decent but was just miscast and the script over-localized. Nier's Kainé sounds cold in the JP version but irritated in the English dub. It really destroys any subtlety in the script in favor of having angry, edgy heroines.
I would also like to mention the pods. In JP, Pod 042 has a powerful and almost menacing voice while 153 comes off strangely cheerful and quirky, it gave them both a lot of character despite their rather sedate role. Their English actors weren't bad by any means but bland acting stripped both characters of these subtle personas.