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NEWS: Fire Emblem Fates' Western Release Won't Include Japanese Audio

Didn't realize this would be such a huge thing for so many people. I can't say I really understand it, but I guess everyone has to decide for themselves if this is really worth skipping the game altogether for. There's not even that much voice work in the game outside of the battle quotes.

Personally I don't think English voices really hurt Awakening, so I'm at least willing to give the dub a chance. Even so, I'd doubt I'd ever skip the game altogether for something that doesn't really affect the story or gameplay.

BadNewsBlues wrote:

It's only sub-par if you're either a sub only fanboy or don't like certain actors in english dubs.....funny thing is half the people insisting upon Fates dub being bad haven't played much of the english version of the game.

Actually, I completely disagree with that. There is plenty of opportunity for there to be horrible English dubs that have nothing to do with being a sub purist. I, personally, have only ever played FE:Awakening with English audio because the dub was good.

From what I've heard of Fates' dub so far, the effort put into it is nowhere near what Awakening's had, and just doesn't sound as good. It's definitely not Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn bad, for sure, but it's not Awakening level good either. Sure, it's not the whole game and they could definitely be a lot better in the grand scheme of things, but the characters they've let us hear are some of the ones with the most voiced dialogue, so it's genuinely worrisome about the quality of the overall dub if these scenes just don't sound well.

That doesn't mean I, or all others who dislike the lack of dual audio, hate dubs, or have to hate some of the voice actors involved. Plenty of times VAs I don't like, Japanese or English, give great performances under the right circumstances. VAs I like can give bad performances as well. So that's completely unfair to be grouping all those who dislike the dub as sub purists or haters of the voice cast. Many of us are willing to judge a dub based upon its own merits, and they don't always pan out.

I don't it's as unfair as you're painting it considering how melodramatic many people can be about dubs.

This game is localized by Treehouse who is generally considered a subpar localization team. But the comment on the cut content may be valid too. Sort of like how you cant put the Japanese audio over an edited 4kids or Funimation dub because it wouldn't lineup with the visuals. Another possibility is the English localization apparently changed a lot of character personalities and overall tone of the game. So the Japanese voices might not fit. There are a lot more Henrys this time around it seems

So far I can only remember them censoring two things- the supposed "gay conversion" support and the face petting. Both were just modified, not entirely removed. Hilariously enough, way before these announcements there were people claiming they were going to boycott the game because it had both features.

Rederoin wrote:

I'm not sure anyone who can't see change as a chance to grow the potential audience for their obsession should call themself a hardcore fan.

Why would that matter? The game content is more important to most fans.

Honestly though, the removal probably has something to do with the songs in the game. Japan's frequently feisty about music being available dual audio, which is probably why most Tales games had only the instrumental and not the lyrics for the longest while. It reminds me of how Symphogear has struggled to be released here in North America due to that same reason.

Reverse importing, that would be the only "logical" reason to not include the Japanese language is if the game eventually becomes a fraction of the cost in the not too distant future.

Furthermore, having been a part of and seen the "hardcore" FE fans this is the conclusion I've come to: that they're really not worth the headaches to please. Seriously, it rivals the Zelda fandom in terms of petty arguments and bizarre logic. Plus considering how that fandom also nearly killed the series, putting into a downward slide sales-wise, it was all for the better that Nintendo took the series in a new direction and expanded beyond them. Keep listening to the "hardcore" fans and you'll eventually implode.

So here is my prediction for FE: Fates going by history: it'll be fine. It'll sell around the same amount as Awakening did worldwide, it'll be reviewed well, and we'll all look back on these "controversies" and rightfully laugh at them. Though admittedly they'll just come back when #FE starts getting hyped and we'll be back to this silly, predictable circus all over again.

I do hope that this game is the odd man out, and they're a little pickier about contracts in the future, though.

The way I see it, however, is that a fandom that has a broken base is a healthy fandom, because it's big enough to have dissenting voices passionate enough to make themselves heard. I have been part of fandoms so small, they cannot afford to have dissent. Everyone has to support each other for continued survival of what they're fans of, and they have to accept everything because to not do so guarantees their doom. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Glad I am not a fan of this series, cause it looks like they are sterilizing it for the main stream audience. Sort of like what was done to the Tenjho Tenge manga.

It's not healthy at all to have voices calling for censorship, and even then I very much doubt a significant minority of the FE fanbase wanted the removal of content.

I wonder... Just how is the English translation of Fire Emblem Fates, anyhow? Was there any abnormal text present (incorrect grammar, forced memes, etc.)

Meanwhile, Digimon, which has had a god awful dub and terrible handling of the franchise in America for years just got Cyber Sleuth which kept all the fan service and gay jokes and anime stuff in it. Only thing that sucks is they use the American Digimon names but thankfully most of them are the same as Japan unlike Pokemon/Yokai Watch/YGO. Plus you can rename Digimon so it's all moot. Change Creepymon back to Demon and youre good to go.