Norn9: Var Commons (2014)

I was so excited that this was being updated and brought to Switch, because one of the main points on all the ads for it was the "updated translation."

Not sure what they updated, because the main problem I had with the Vita version was the terrible translation of and inconsistency with the ways that characters address each other. I started this up a few days ago, and they didn't fix any of it. So disappointed.

I'm really excited for the Switch re-release of this, and of the fandisc for the first time! It looks like it's being updated and they're cleaning up the translation, which is fantastic news.

The premise was super cool, but I only ever completed like two routes on Vita because I could not get past the localization. If you have an even basic knowledge of Japanese honorifics, seeing the inconsistency with how they were translated based on what you could clearly hear annoyed the shit out of me. (Ex. Hearing MC address a character as XX-kun and seeing it translated as Mr. XX, XX-san as just XX, etc. Just didn't make sense and was also inconsistent across characters and didn't portray relationships correctly when they got closer and you could hear it change.) So as I played, I kept wondering what else was possibly just absolutely incorrect, not being portrayed as intended, etc. I know that seems nitpicky considering translations adopt "Mr." or "Miss" all the time, but I tend to find they're consistent in other VNs at least. And when a game is all about relationships, seeing that progression accurately is just important to me. (Also, I feel like most of the people playing otome games probably have some background with anime/manga and would be just fine with seeing XX-kun, XX-chan, etc., in the dialogue???)

I know there were a slew of other issues that it's known for, so I'm just really happy it's getting a cleaned-up re-release. I hope that's one aspect that is fixed. I've wanted to get through this game for years.

I haven't had a lot of time the past few days, so I'm still on the first route. (I did play two routes around this time two years ago, but I don't remember enough to skip over them.)

One thing that is bothering me is the way characters address each other, or rather, how it's been translated into the text versus what you can actually hear in the spoken dialogue. If you're playing otome games, I think it's safe to assume you have some knowledge of Japanese honorifics. Even if you don't, though, there are still translation choices in this game that don't make any sense.

Example: Yuiga Kakeru. Koharu verbally says Kakeru-kun. I can pick up on the names, at least, even without knowing a ton of Japanese. THAT BEING SAID, the actual text always says Yuiga (last name) when she refers to/speaks to him. Characters like Masamune and Senri (first names) are both shown as Mr. Masamune and Mr. Senri, even though she actually says Masamune-san and Senri-kun. Why would both be translated into "Mr." when one is given the -san honorific, and the other -kun? And why is Kakeru written as Yuiga and not Kakeru-kun, as she says it?? Why would they make him--the person she's closest to--the one where they decide to use his last name in the text for no reason??

I know it seems like a kind of nitpicky thing, but it indicates different levels of familiarity from what the characters actually have. I don't like it. PLUS, there's a scene where Heishi is complaining about being called Heishi-kun but says Koharu refers to Kakeru as Yuiga. No, she doesn't?? Just the dumb translation does, and so this is obviously another liberty being taken and not what Heishi is actually saying?? But also while he's saying all this, you can hear that he's actually talking about other characters, because I can pick out their names but I don't know what else he's saying. Aaaaagghhhhh.

It makes me wonder what else isn't being translated correctly. This is just such a dumb thing to get wrong, and I don't understand why they did it this way.

Changed my mind and decided I'd play through Norn9 first before replaying the first Code: Realize and then the sequels.

Was looking everywhere for the cartridge because it wasn't with all of the others in my Vita case. Looked on my game shelf and didn't see a game case for it. Losing my mind?! Decided to check my other memory card. Forgot it's the only otome game that I got digitally.

Whew.