[PSP] Lunar: Harmony of the Silver Star

Originally Posted by Gechmir

I'm not too optimistic. Working Designs made the two games absolute gold given the dialogue choice :V Even if they re-use the same voice actors, the humor would probably be missing entirely.

I have to wonder why you assume that any other company than Working Designs would fail at localising the game well. So it might be different. We all know that WD were pretty creative at rewriting the script of the games they work on, but... just because it's different it would have to be bad?

Personally I never finished the game. It looked interesting to me, and I was enjoying it up to a point, but I got distracted. As a result I'm interested in this new version, but I have no emotional ties to the old version. I felt the same about the Dragon Quest games which were remade for the DS. I know a few people who are horrified because things like spell names have been changed... but for me, approaching the game relatively fresh, having never completed a DQ game before, I'm enjoying the DS versions.

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Originally Posted by Gechmir

Even if they fuck with it much, I guarantee you that given the fan-base, a re-dub (to WD) and a text swap (with the PS1 version) probably wouldn't be ruled out.

In that case, why even play the remake at all? I mean, it's easy enough to get PS1 games running on a PSP. If you can run a version of the remake which has been hacked up with all these alterations, you can just as easily run the original game. It doesn't seem likely that the remake would be so exact that a one-to-one text swap and redub would be possible. It seems far more likely at least to me that they'll take the time to add in some new content, like they did when the game jumped platforms before.

If that did happen, you'd have this weird mishmash of old content with old text and voices, and new content with new text and voices. It wouldn't exactly be harmonious. I understand your love for the original version, although... I can't claim to share it. I just can't help but think that it's better to just stick to the original if you want Working Designs' unique touches, and play the new version for whatever take on it that game can offer.

It's not like the requirement for buying the new game is to hand over your old copy of the game to be incinerated or anything.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Blue Falcon

You have to admit, WD's work is at least...unique. It would be unlikely for another company to both attempt and capture a similar style and be successful with it. There's no telling if it would be good or bad at this early point, but in the case of some nostalgia faggots, different already is bad, so.

Oh yeah I admit that completely. If someone tried for the same style, it would be a terrible failure. I'd far rather see someone else do it in their own style, if possible by a team who had never seen the original WD localization.

I just refuse to countenance the idea that different is bad in this instance.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by GB

It also doesn't help that Lunar has a ho-hum storyline (like every other jrpg, amirite) and characters whose personalities are hardly passable-- that is, if you take away their Working Designs-inspired dialogue. Ireland may have butchered it, but he made it more colorful than it would have been otherwise.

I don't know that for sure, but I'm willing to admit the possiblity. Without being intimately familiar with the original version, it's hard to say. It is always possible people have been giving Working Designs more credit than they are due. I won't say Victor Ireland, if only because I don't know exactly how much personal input he had on every project in his company. Could be a lot, could be a little, I just don't know.

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Working Designs and their translations are a prickly issue with Soluzar, as I recall. His post was originally two sentences.

If you must know, Working Designs fanboys are the prickly issue. You were the one who used the term 'butchered', whereas I did not and would not. I don't agree with their style in some ways, but on the other hand it's a perfectly serviceable script and somewhat better than many you might find from the same era.

I just don't comprehend the adulation this company gets. I really don't see it. Sure they brought over some great games, our collective videogaming memories wouldn't be the same without 'em, but what really bugs me is the concept that nobody else could deliver a reasonable localisation for Lunar other than Working Designs. Gech pretty much wrote it off already, and so did you.

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Originally Posted by Gechmir

As GB put it, the original game was rather "meh" before WD fiddled with the dialogue.

How do you know this? Why do I get the suspicion that the main reason is because Vic Ireland told you so? If there's a reason to believe this other than WD propaganda, then sure... I'll accept it, but even so... you don't think that (for example...) NIS America could punch up the dialogue a little? Atlus? Third rate hacks by comparison to WD the both of them, I'm sure.

You should understand, my basic position here in this thread is that the new version could be awesome. That's not because I loathe and detest Vic Ireland and his band of men, it's because I think the new version could be awesome. I don't hate (or even dislike) the Working Designs version that much, I just don't think it's the 8th wonder of the world. Maybe I would if I finished the game, but I doubt it.

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Anyhow, Soluzar (spoiler-free paraphrasing here), the PSX and Sega CD games are top-notch to me, but the PSX took a liberty or two that I did not prefer and deviated a tad from the original.

Since this looks to base itself off the PSX version from what I saw (same cutscenes and pictures of sorts), it'll probably follow it just the same.

It's interesting to hear that. I read your spoilers because hey... I wanted to know more than I want the unplayed remnant Lunar to remain unspoiled for me. I can see why you'd prefer the SCD version of events

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I'll look in to it also because, well, there might be more added content. A few more dungeons or mini-games of sorts.

I assume so. It seems to always happen.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by GB

For the record, I have no real opinion on Working Designs' localization, nor do I hold any loyalty to their games. I just know Lunar was boring-ass shit like every other contemporary.

I apologise for any offence caused by my presumption. However, in light of your recent edit... why exactly do you like playing PS1 RPGs? =P

If you want to turn the question back on me, I'll tell you right now that my main interest is in the variations on the battle systems. A good story can compensate for a boring battle system, and vice-versa. That's why I like a lot of RPGs many people really don't like. Although... God alone knows why I enjoyed Eternal Sonata.

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Wait, what? I understand the position of people who don't like Working Designs' liberal approach to localization, but how do you get this passionate about this garbage without even knowing Victor Ireland's role in it? Isn't it worth researching?

I don't care that much about localisation companies. They turn games into English, that's very nice of them. I tend to buy the product of that labour, and my interest in them ends there. It's not just Working Designs, I couldn't tell you anything about Atlus, NIS America or any other such company. If you hadn't mentioned Vic Ireland by name I wouldn't have known that name. I'm sure I've heard it a time or two, but... eh, hardly important.

I don't even have such strong feelings about Working Designs, I just refuse to believe they were as wonderful as many people seem to think. That seems to give entirely the wrong impression. I'm writing lots in response to this thread primarily because I have the (perhaps mistaken) impression that some people are writing off the new localization even before it is written. Well... that doesn't sit well with me.

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The only difference between you and Gech right now is that you've gone and swung in the opposite direction of his statement. You've written me off despite the fact that I said none of those things, and in reality all I said is that the game needs to be spruced up to be entertaining and unique.

In that case, I must apologise. It was never my intention to misrepresent you. It would appear that I have simply assumed that you would play into my preconceived role of the Working Designs fan, and reacted accordingly.

For that I do apologise, again.

I am however sincerely curious as to the statement that the game would require to be 'spruced up' in order to be entertaining. I'm willing to accept the statement on face value, in order to further a discussion. I just want to know exactly how you're aware of this? I'm personally not familiar with any version of the game other than the Working Designs version, and only the first.... I dunno, say 40% of it at that.

I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm asking you how you know what was the content of the script prior to the involvement of Working Designs.

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If Alexander O. Smith wants to take a stab at it, fuck yeah, hand the man the goddamn script. I'd go for some olde english in my Lunar, just for kicks.

I admit that I had to look up the name, since as previously stated I take absolutely zero interest in the personalities involved in localisation. The only thing I find important is the final product. With that said, I've enjoyed his work, and I certainly agree that he's one example of a localisation producer (if that is the term) who could probably bring a whole new and interesting take on the game.

I don't mean to seem so... what was it...? Batshit Insane. :P

I'm just frustrated by the prejudice of nostalgia.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by GB

Batshit loco, actually! I removed it (and only that) since I was choosing to antagonize you while simultaneously telling you it'd be better to chill out. I apologize.

Eh. I don't mind. If there's any subject about which I've got a sense of humour it's myself.

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I'm a big importer-- or rather, I was one back in the day. My Japanese was good enough to have a preeetty decent understanding of everything going on in the game, and it was... straightforward.

That's all I wanted to know. You've got first-hand knowledge, which is at least something I'm willing to believe. If it was just 'what they say' or from some interview with Vic Ireland, I'd be a bit more skeptical.

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I also happen to have a strong distaste for Working Designs worship, but I also think they made some interesting contributions to the localization process.

Without question. It's also a fact that a lot of the games they brought over would never have been touched otherwise. I still don't know why they neglected to give use the first Growlanser game, though...

When I refer to NIS America as "the new Working Designs" it is by way of acknowledging all the qualities, both good and bad that the two share.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by GB

That stuff never changed, but the game is remembered fondly for its quotability and unusual sense of humor-- something not in the original (believe me, I'd remember the thespian/lesbian joke if I saw it).

This isn't strictly speaking intended as a criticism of Working Designs, but... I think I must be the only person who doesn't find their work funny. I see jokes, I'm not blind... it's just they don't tickle my funnybone. That probably is the main reason why I don't see them as something special.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

This should be interesting then. Unlike so many who are great fans of the series, I'm not going to condemn it before trying it. Some say that any script other than the Working Designs script would be dull, but I can't entirely accept that without seeing the offering from XSEED. There's always the chance that they can surprise us all...

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by AcerBandit

If you really really want the Working Designs script you might as well just play the PSX version. It would be better to see XSEED's own take. I mean just imagine, they might have talented writers of their very own. Gasp.

Well exactly. It's not like it's hard to emulate, copy, download, whatever the PS1 version.

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