Subtle Difference with VC Rondo of Blood

[offsidewing]

Ok, I just downloaded Rondo of Blood from the Wii Virtual Console.  A quick download and 250 blocks of memory later, I was playing it.  Now, the only version I've played is the PCE version.  I immediately noticed the difference in the German Narrators voice in the beginning scene (I also speak auf Deutsch).  Is that maybe from another version of the game or new for das Wii?  haha, FLIEGE MAUS!

[ParanoiaDragon]

That is from the PSP version, I really don't know why they replaced it, but, nothing else!?  IIRC, I think I heard that the original track wasn't the best example of German, so that might be one reason why they replaced it in the PSP version, but, I thought this was supposed to be unadulterated from the original version.  I'd love the option to have the game atleast with english subtitles.

[Dark Fact]

So the original German was disposed of and replaced with the PSP German?

What about the in-game text? Is it still in Japanese or is it now translated?

[TheClash603]

So the original German was disposed of and replaced with the PSP German?

Reverse video game holocaust?

[ParanoiaDragon]

So far, it seems like everything else was left alone.

[Dark Fact]

I'm guessing they re-did the German because Konami or Nintendo was afraid that the broken German would've been too offensive for natural German people.  It's not like in Japan where nobody cares just as long as it is a foreign tongue and sounds cool.

[theoakwoody]

I'm really enjoying playing through this game again as I have my TG16 packed up at my parents house.  What's funny is that I'm breezing through some of the later bosses but struggling with the frickin' werewolf.  I guess I just have to shake off the rust and get right back into it.  I haven't noticed any glitches or slowdown in the emulation so so far so good.

[ParanoiaDragon]

What's also cool, is that the last time I checked, this game is #5 on the popular downloads for the VC!  It was #8 before that, looks like this game is making a dent in the VC for the Turbo!

[esteban]

What's also cool, is that the last time I checked, this game is #5 on the popular downloads for the VC!  It was #8 before that, looks like this game is making a dent in the VC for the Turbo!

Forgive my ignorance, but where can I view the Popular Downloads chart? I'm curious...

[ParanoiaDragon]

On the Wii, when you go into the VC game menu, you have an option to check out the titles by system, new releases, or popular downloads(might be a couple other options).

[esteban]

On the Wii, when you go into the VC game menu, you have an option to check out the titles by system, new releases, or popular downloads(might be a couple other options).

Thanks! You can tell how often I use VC

[offsidewing]

On the Wii, when you go into the VC game menu, you have an option to check out the titles by system, new releases, or popular downloads(might be a couple other options).

Thanks! You can tell how often I use VC

Don't worry, you're not missing much.  The Wii Virtual console is the blow up doll for the TG-16/PCE crowd.  The end result is the same, it just feels different while you're doing it...

[RoyVegas]

The end result is the same, it just feels different while you're doing it...

[mongler]

Yeah, I hated the PSP overdub or redub.  Sounded not as awesome as the PC engine version.

[CDJ]

I'm guessing they re-did the German because Konami or Nintendo was afraid that the broken German would've been too offensive for natural German people.  It's not like in Japan where nobody cares just as long as it is a foreign tongue and sounds cool.

As a native german speaker, I actually thought the PCE opening narration was surprisingly well done for a JP only title. And it was definitly not broken german. (As the original narrator was german as well.)

And I've heard the japanese VC release retains the original voice over.

If that's true, my only guess as to why they've used the new voice over in the US and PAL regions is that in the original opening the narrator mentions how Dracula feasts on the blood of young women, while in the new opening narration it was changed to the blood of humans.

[offsidewing]

Fliege Maus!!!

[farankoshan]

^ isn't it Fledermaus? As in "bat"?

[esteban]

Mikimaus?

[DragonmasterDan]

I vaguely recall something regarding the PCE German audio having been sampled from something else which is why the international release didn't include it.

[grahf]

....waiting for tatsujin to comment on it...

[kazekirifx]

If that's true, my only guess as to why they've used the new voice over in the US and PAL regions is that in the original opening the narrator mentions how Dracula feasts on the blood of young women, while in the new opening narration it was changed to the blood of humans.

This is the answer right here. They censored it because they thought the original dialog sounded too violent.

[CrackTiger]

If that's true, my only guess as to why they've used the new voice over in the US and PAL regions is that in the original opening the narrator mentions how Dracula feasts on the blood of young women, while in the new opening narration it was changed to the blood of humans.

This is the answer right here. They censored it because they thought the original dialog sounded too violent.

When I translated the text from the manual online, when translation tools were still kinda new, it came out as "young virgins". I don't know if it was an accurate interpretation, but anything related to sex is much worse than violence when it comes to censorship in America.

[ClodBusted]

I was surprised to read that the opening narration was changed for the VC release, which is the only version I've played so far.

This is my impression from being German:

Some minutes ago I watched the original narration on Youtube. I found it to be without any language errors and it may have even been spoken by a native German from my guess. But to me it sounds rather amateurish, like somebody in a small playhouse speaking to the audience. The narrator makes a feared impression, but also a bit bored. The spoken text is not that exciting and makes it seem like being translated too close from a Japanese text. Still, a surprisingly good effort that puts many games of the recent years to shame where I'm accustomed to bad German voice acting and thus prefer playing the English or Japanese voiced versions.

The VC version's narration sounds more professional to me. He speaks eloquent, and the translation has gone through a major overhaul, making more sense in my opinion - even if it omits some details. This time, it's not the narrator that gets goosebumps out of fear, but the player itself. I like it.


The new narrator is voiced by Klaus-Dieter Klebsch, who did the German voice of Dr Gregory House.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus-Dieter_Klebsch

[Gentlegamer]

There's part of the original narration where it sounds like he is part of the satanic ritual and is almost chanting. Seems to fit the cutscene.

[Gredler]

Is this game available on the Wii U Virtual Console, or do I need to get it on my Wii Account?

[esadajr]

Is this game available on the Wii U Virtual Console, or do I need to get it on my Wii Account?

As of today, no Obey is available on the WiiU virtual console.

[Tatsujin]

I'm guessing they re-did the German because Konami or Nintendo was afraid that the broken German would've been too offensive for natural German people.  It's not like in Japan where nobody cares just as long as it is a foreign tongue and sounds cool.

the german in the original version was just 101% OK.

[Tatsujin]

but yeah, I also think it's just audible censorship.

[NightWolve]

I'm guessing they re-did the German because Konami or Nintendo was afraid that the broken German would've been too offensive for natural German people.  It's not like in Japan where nobody cares just as long as it is a foreign tongue and sounds cool.

the german in the original version was just 101% OK.

I agree.

Yeah, when I used the English fan translation patch for Dracula X, I found that the opening German narration changed - the PSP version was swapped in... I really don't like it compared to the original, but the fan translation team was deliberately trying to convert it to the PSP version as much as possible, including forcing a renaming to the localized title of "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood," dropping the 'X', so that meant going even as far as breaking/eliminating the drawing of the 'X' animation which REALLY surprised me that Bonknuts talents were put to use this way...

That was one of the best things, the slash animation when the 'X' is drawn and a fan translation patch actually eliminates part of what makes it a classic... Really a surprising decision... I mean, you don't have to go by that localization choice when it comes to the PSP version - you had more history, you could go by what EVERYBODY in the US already had known it by when it was localized on the SNES: Castlevania: Dracula X

http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/castlevania_dracula_x_snes

That was an officially localized US title and should've carried consideration. If all that was done was taking the English voice acting from the PSP version, and nothing else was changed, I don't think that warranted such an effort to retitle and eliminate the 'X' animation... /random rant

Anyway, that would be interesting if the decision on the German opening narration was due to a desire to eliminate a sexist portrayal of Dracula, his preference to feast on the blood of young women/virgins... ;)

[esteban]

 

[NightWolve]

Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

[GreatBlue Swirlof99]

Wow how did the devs miss that?

[LostFlunky]

Yup.

[johnnykonami]

The German in Drac X makes that opening cinema awesome.  The only good way to have localized it would have been to add subtitles and keep the audio as is.  I feel like changing the audio to English is scrubbing too much of the original product away.

[esteban]

The German in Drac X makes that opening cinema awesome.  The only good way to have localized it would have been to add subtitles and keep the audio as is.  I feel like changing the audio to English is scrubbing too much of the original product away.

Absolutely agree.