What is Japaning with these names?
Article by: Niall Cawley
Like me, I'm sure many of you have at one time or another been bermused by a Japanese game's title. They are often very wordy when translated, appearing almost as a series of unconnected words. Like you had asked someone, who's first language was not English, to describe elements of the particular game to you - in English. Sometimes, though, these nonsensical names don't half sound downright cool and you wish they'd just kept the name here in the West.
There a plenty of examples, below are a bunch worthy of note, though.
1. Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
1. Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Known in Japan as: Devil's Castle Dracula X: Nocturne In The Moonlight
I'm not sure what either a Castlevania or a Devil's Castle Dracula X even are, but one thing I do know is that the latter sounds like a game I'd much rather play. It's noticeably punchier and has the stereotypical Japanese naming convention, whereby it's unnecessarily descriptive. A trait you'll often see repeated on this list.
I'm not sure what either a Castlevania or a Devil's Castle Dracula X even are, but one thing I do know is that the latter sounds like a game I'd much rather play. It's noticeably punchier and has the stereotypical Japanese naming convention, whereby it's unnecessarily descriptive. A trait you'll often see repeated on this list.
Castlevania feels ambiguous, where Devil's Castle Dracula lets you know what you're in for. There are going to be all manner of evil creatures and a spooky castle to fight them in.
Not to mention it rolls off the tongue in a satisfying way - Devil's, Castle, Dracula.
images ©: PlayStation, Konami Holdings Corporation
2. Resident Evil: Dead Aim
Known in Japan as: Gun Survivor 4 Biohazard Heroes Never Die
You can tell that Capcom had lost faith in the sales potential of this sub-series. Resident Evil: Dead Aim, the fourth and final Gun Survivor title, seems to have been given the most generic name possible. It's not even connected to said series by name outside of Japan. Whether this was to save the series or to save this game, who's to say?
Gun Survivor 4 Biohazard Heroes Never Die however conjures images of adrenaline-fuelled, blood-filled and poorly dubbed action films from the 1970s. Those ones your mum would never let you watch. It makes you want to just pick up and play, something the fourth entry in a failing spin-off series can often struggle to do.
Luckily names aren't everything and the game is fondly remembered by the few who played it.
images ©: PlayStation, Capcom
3. Streets Of Rage
Known in Japan as: Bare Knuckle Furious Iron First
Now I'm not going to suggest that Streets Of Rage is a bad game title, in fact it's great. Streets Of Rage 2 in particular was a good deal of my early childhood and hearing the name fills me with warm, fuzzy nostalgia.
The Japanese though, one-upped us once again, deciding to instead call their game - Bare Knuckle Furious Iron First. This name, similarly to the last entry, stirs up memories of classic kung fu movies and reminds you how badass their protagonists were.
It was nice to think that we tried to give a game a decent westernised spin, but as we stroll away with out participation medal, we realise it's best that we leave it to the Japanese.
images ©: Sega, Sega AM7, Ancient Corp.
4. The Evil Within
Known in Japan as: Psychobreak
Entry number four has a better name for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's snappier, which is something I thought I'd never say about a Japanese game's title. Secondly, it more appropriately nails the tone of the game. Both reference an inner evil, but it's the Japanese title that better suits the frantic nature of the game.
Psycho Break sounds sadistic, it sounds nasty; it sounds like a horror experience you should be scared of. The Evil Within otherwise sounds like the whimpy modern remake of the once banned, but fondly remembered, Psycho Break.
images ©: PlayStation, Bethesda Softworks, Tango Gameworks
5. Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil
Known in Japan as: Violence Killer: Turok New Generation
The final entry of this list, and my favourite, is Violence Killer: Turok New Generation. Just read that back to yourself, it's utterly ludicrous. Luckily, they didn't even try to translate it properly, with the malapropism only making it better.
What even is a "Violence Killer" anyway?
Both titles announce it as a sequel so both do their job.
We in the West got swindled with the lackluster Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil name, as we clearly lack the creativity of our Asian brethren. That's unfortunate, as the Japanese is infinitely more entertaining.
images ©: Nintendo, Acclaim Entertainment
thumbnail image ©: Bethesda Softworks, Tango Gameworks
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