Are japanese language tracks really that much better?

[Allnatural]

In most any game review these days, the reviewers complain about the english dub. They say, "the voice acting is terrible, I wish they had left in the japanese track with subtitles."

I wonder if the japanese reviewers say, "the voice acting is terrible, I wish they had put in an english track...with subtitles."

 

[ScottJC]

Well when you hear patheticly done voices.. you don't like it

Like an event happens in the game they are like "Oh no" with no emotion in it whatsoever, a good example off the top of my head is Sonic Adventure 1

So yeah, if they're going to not even try then I think the original tracks are better... Unless they're also badly done.

 

[Allnatural]

So yeah, if they're going to not even try then I think the original tracks are better... Unless they're also badly done.

I just find it odd that (what I presume are) non-japanese speakers assume the jap track is better (better tone, inflection, etc.). Do we really know what a good jap track should sound like? I'm concerned that all of Japan is laughing at us.

 

[dukenukem]

Well i might say that i would prefer the japanese sound track rather then the english dubbing in ninja wars,the voices were horrible but funny to hear.

 

[Stezo2k]

I prefer listening to english, I don't really like reading

 

[Doomulation]

Japanese sounds cooler though
Always been a fan of the japanese sound tracks! If there are any...

 

[Clements]

Japanese tracks are always super cheesy and make me laugh. :happy:

 

[mezkal]

I dunno Clem....I played Shenmue on my DC in English and then got the Euro release of Shenmue II - it has Japanese soundtrack subtitles. I then got Shenmue II XBOX which has full english dialogue.

After comparing all three games i would have to say that the Japanese soundtrack made a lot more sense. Most of the character nuances just got lost in the "transliteration". The idiomatics were all but obliterated.

I realise that mnay poeple won't be interested in reading subtitles, but then would you go see Ran, The Seventh Samurai or any number of foreign movies with an overdubbed english sountrack?

I wouldn't.

 

[-Shadow-]

That's why I prefer English dubs before Subtitles :happy: Shaved to death...

 

[Doomulation]

Remember that usually the japanese soundtrack is the original - and the original is ALWAYS the best! Okay, almost always... the swedish dub of the old zelda series for tv were actually better...
And english dubs for anime simply S-U-C-K-S :evil:

 

[blizz]

A lot of this is to do with personal preference.

Some dubs I like (NGE and the old Streamline Akira dub) but some which are supposed to be good I can't stand (Cowboy Bebop).

Most game dubs are absolutely bloody awful.

 

[sheik124]

Inuyasha dubs kinda suck too, watching it in Japanese with subs usually sounds better......and cooler too

EDIT: how could i forget those horrible DBZ dubs?

 

[Eagle]

It depends. Some dubs sound terrible but others sound better than the translations.

For example... In .hack//SIGN they actually kept the same thoughts but changed the wording to make it more english. I remember one specifically where Tsukasa was riding this horse like thing and it walked into a wall. In the Japanese translation, Tsukasa merely says "Stupid" (that is the translation, he said "Baka" which means stupid). However in the english dub they added a little creativity and instead he says "Not too bright, are you?" This sounds more like something someone would say and I prefer it that way. Its not like they changed the idea, just the way he said it. Also the english version of .hack//SIGN uses voices that sound like the attitude of the character. Tsukasa was meant to be a "sad" character that didn't really care about anything and thus his voice sounds very quiet and unexcited. Mimiru was the opposite. I think they did a good job dubbing it.

Other times the voices are either over dramatic not dramatic enough and sound ridiculous. But then sometimes the subs are poorly translated. It all depends on how much time is put into the dub/sub as to which is better.

 

[euphoria]

I'd say definitely the Japanese soundtrack with subtitles in either English or your own language.
The original soundtrack gives the feeling that was intended, there is always something lost in translation.
As a Finnish person i'm used to reading subs since only shows meant for kids that can't read are dubbed. This is of course due to the fact that we are a small nation with no resources to dub every show/movie/game out there. Unlike Spain, Germany, UK etc. I really can't understand why some countries dub all foreign tv-series. Sometimes one middle-aged man does all the voices on roles from 8-year old girl to 70-year old grandpa. THAT is ridiculous!