John Crawley
I swear I saw SNK using "Crowley" once or twice, but now I can't find it so I just have to go with a noticeably worse romanization.
Fighter title
| My translation | Arcade translation | Home translation |
|---|---|---|
| The Ex-Sonic Boom Reaper | The Shell-Shocked Psycho | The Supersonic Psycho Flyboy |
Arcade sourced from The Arcade Flyer Archive, maunal sourced from Rage Quitter 87. Thank you!
"Speed-of-sound God of Death" or similar. I went with "Sonic Boom Reaper" for obvious reasons. It's weird, because if anything, in-game he's 'The Blue Gale'. Then the arcade English just makes something up. "Shell-shock" is more-or-less the WWI term for PTSD, which hung around in lay parlance for a long time after the medical community switched over. For the home version, it does have "psycho" from the arcade, but adds "supersonic" from the Japanese version. Very interesting. It's very hard to tell which came out when, but it feels like the person that did the home versions and the person that did the arcade saw each other's work. Which is neat.
Interview
What do you treasure?
My beloved airplane, Fire Boy.
Who's your rival?
Mr. Big.
What's been on your mind recently?
Nothing, really.
Finally, give us a word about your participation in the current tournament.
It's been awhile since I was on active duty, so I'm a little concerned about my stamina, but my arm's as strong as ever. Take a good long look at The Blue Gale's full abilities.
Intro vs Yuri
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| If a young lady like you keeps doing this sort of thing, she's never gonna get a boyfriend. | Hey, girls who fight can't get boyfriends. |
| If that's what you're worried about, don't! Ah, beauty is a sin... | That's OK! With boys like you, I don't need one! |
Well. John's line is just heavily cut down, but Yuri's changes a bit. In Japanese she's so confident about her looks that she knows she can get a boyfriend anyway, in English she disses John and says she doesn't need a boyfriend. (Robert's sobs can be heard in the distance)
Both are cute and fit Yuri pretty well, so it's kind of a toss-up. The English version sounds very American, and the sort of thing I'd expect from a mid-90s cartoon or something. It's good.
Intro vs Eiji
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Do me the honor of demonstrating your so-called Japanese "nin-ja" techniques. | I've heard the ninja are very clever. |
| Hmph. As you wish! Prepare yourself, I come! | Yup. Oh, look, your shoe is untied! |
Kishi and I put our heads together for John's line.
...whelp.
So this just got completely rewritten for one joke and it's not even that good. SNK giveth, SNK taketh away.
Intro vs Jack
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Oh look, the perfect test target for my new move showed up. | Oh boy, a victim to try my new move on. |
| Don't make me laugh. A navy wash-out like you shouldn't be strutting around with his nose in the air. | Don't make me laugh. The new army is old hat. |
John's line is pretty straight.
Jack's line is half straight, half...hm. In Japanese he's pretty clearly ragging on John for getting kicked out of the military. I feel like I've heard the term "the new army" before, but I can't track it down to anything but the New Model Army and I really doubt anyone associated with AoF2 would make a reference to the English Civil War, in or out of universe. It might just be a way to lead into the "old hat" part, but working backwards like that feels like a real stretch. I have no idea.
Also John's navy, not army. Judging from the rest of the route the editor knew this, too. That's what makes me think it has to be a reference to something, if I just knew what. ...then again they're not super-consistent about which branch of the military John was in so you know.
Intro vs Lee
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| I've seen more jungle monkeys than I can count, but this kind of monkey's a new one. | I've seen too many jungle monkies. I hate monkies. Die! |
| Ho ho ho, know now the true terror of monkeys. | Hyo hyo hyo! I am going to show you the terror of monkey rage! |
So despite the fact that most of the time words ending in y go to ie in the plural form (sky -> skies, puppy -> puppies, etc), monkey is an exception. Why? It's English, it's gotta have an exception. Anyway, behold the terror of the days before spellcheck, immortalized in video game form.
John's line starts off straight, then takes a sharp left turn into monkey hatred. I guess it's playing off John's general "Nam vet" background. Even a pilots can hate monkeys...
Lee's line has a slight change in nuance from a general "terror of monkeys" to a more-specific "terror of monkey rage". He's not really mad about John in Japanese, is what I'm saying.
Intro vs Robert
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| What's wrong, kid? Nervous about facing a master like me? That's pretty understandable. | What's wrong, sonny. Corporal got your tongue? |
| Quit kidding around, old man. Something like that's not gonna unsettle superstar Robert Garcia. | Don't be silly. Hey, are those sunglasses expensive! |
...what?
No seriously, what?
So the Japanese is pretty coherent, if dull. I have no idea what the English is doing. "Corporal got your tongue" doesn't make sense as a rephrasing of "cat got your tongue", and Robert's line about John's sunglasses comes out of nowhere and doesn't fit with anything except possibly a reference back to his route? I'm so confused.
Intro vs John
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| The hell you think you're doing, punk? One John Crawley's enough! | One John Crawley is enough in this crazy world. |
| This ain't a place for imitators. Get out, mook! | Hey, one is the loneliest number that you'll ever know, pal. |
1P John's line loses questioning what 2P thinks he's doing, but I appreciate "in this crazy world".
2P John's line is more playing off the first than an actual translation. The Japanese line is just more SNK fooling around with the imitator concept, though points for specifically calling 1P John a jobber/mook. The English is a pretty basic reference to One by Harry Nilsson. The line's not in the more famous Three Dog Night version, but it is in the original. And since the song came out in 1969, it's actually possible for 2P John to be making the reference in 1979.
Intro vs King
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Huh? Now that I take a good look...you're a woman! What's a woman doing here? Go home! | Hey. You're a woman! Go back to the kitchen, babe! |
| You changed your tune the second you realized. Next you'll be trying to ask me out. Hmhm~ | Face it, seaboy. You're in love with me, right? Kiss, kiss. |
Kishi helped out and fixed King's line
John's line is cut down and loses the nuance that he's met King before but only in passing. The English line makes it sound like this is the first time they've met.
King's line is...changed. It's another one of those lines that feels like they got one key word from the Japanese and built an entirely new line around it. (In this case, "date") It also loses the implication that King and John have met before, similar to the previous line.
The big takeaway from King's line is that yes the localizer knew John was navy. This is important later.
Intro vs Takuma
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| You look like a pretty tough guy, but you're no match for me. | You're good. But you're not in my league. |
| Believing in yourself is all well and good, but confidence is nothing without true strength. | That's right! I gave up the bush league years ago. |
Ahahaha.
John's line is pretty straight. Takuma's line gets rewritten but it's really good and I never know how to handle those occasions.
So for reference, "the bush league" is an American idiom that means whatever's being talked about is inferior or unprofessional. It apparently comes from baseball. Basically, Takuma's saying that John is small potatoes compared to him. It's a nice little play off John's line.
...it's also not really what he's saying in Japanese at all. Oh well?
Intro vs Temjin
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| If you don't fear this Blue Gale, then bring- hey, pay attention! | If you fear not this Blue Blaze of Terror, attack and burn! |
| Hm? Oh no, I'm very sorry, I didn't get enough sleep. | Whoops! Dozed off again. Could you repeat that once again. |
When you don't afraid any sunshine...come on baby.
So yeah, John's Japanese line is a very clear reference to Haran Bajou's famous catchphrase from Daitarn 3: "If you don't fear the shine of this sun, then bring it on!" It's combined with his nickname (?) of "Blue Gale" that might be a reference to Xabungle. I'm not entirely sure about the latter, but Xabungle's theme song does have "Blue Gale" in it...in English, but someone might've been able to translate it back into Japanese. And they're both Tomino shows, so there's some connection.
What I'm saying is: SNK was a bunch of nerds. This isn't the only time they make this particular Daitarn reference either, one of Shingo's intro quotes in 2000 is a direct version, which he customizes in the next game.
It's hard to say if the localizer missed the reference or not, since Daitarn 3 never got officially translated. (I'm going off the common fan translation.) The line is there in spirit, even if it cuts off the main joke of John interrupting himself. "Blue Blaze of Terror" is a hell of a punch up, though.
Temjin's line is...pretty much the same.
Intro vs Ryo
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| So you're Ryo. Get ready for a lesson in real martial arts. | I'm going to teach you the true terrors of physical contact. |
| I'm grateful. In return, I'll teach you about the strongest martial art! | Thanks, seaboy. I should always keep up on my studies. |
Once again leading with a straight translation...well, okay, "true terrors of physical contact" is kind of out there. Saucy.
Ryo's line is pretty changed, with the return of "seaboy" and strangely, a straighter expression of gratitude. Weird.
Intro vs Mickey
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Quick footwork, and your muscles are looking good too. | Nice footwork and a fine build. Marry me, you fool. |
| Knock off the useless chatter already. Come on, let's get going! | Oooh. Yuch. I'm gonna bust you up good. |
I, um...hm.
In Japanese the exchange is straightforward, if kind of pointless. John compliments Mickey's training (?), Mickey tells him to shut up and fight. Standard stuff.
Then it gets punched up in English. I'm not sure why, but that sure is a joke that wouldn't fly nowadays.
Intro vs Big
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Looks like I have to beat you up, Big. Sorry 'bout that. | Well, Big, I have to defeat you. Sorry. |
| I don't need your false pity. Defeat your enemy. That's all. | Don't be. I'm not worried because you can't! Hah hah! |
John's line is - say it with me - pretty straight.
Big's line meanwhile, is very changed. In Japanese he's just telling John to get on with it, very manly friendship sort of stuff. In English he just doesn't think John has a chance.
To the Police Commissioner
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Suit: Mr. John Crawley. The commissioner has requested to meet with you. Would you please come with us? | Suit: Mr John Crawley? The police commisioner would like a word with you. Could you walk this way? |
| John: Is that so? Then I guess I'll let you drag me along without complaining too much. | John: Really. Party, dude. Let's go. Can I drive? |
The goon's line was translated by Kishi.
I wasn't entirely sure how to render the Japanese line, but uh...it's not the English line. It sure makes John sound pretty different.
Intro vs Geese
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Geese: Welcome, Captain John Crowley. | Geese: Corporal John Crawley. |
| John: This sure is a fancy welcome party. What's up with the show? | John: Nice digs ya got here. Am I on a hidden camera show? |
| Geese: As expected, perfectly composed. My name is Geese, Geese Howard. You've been trained by the army. Won't you lend me a hand? | Geese: Always the cool one. I am known I am known as Geese Howard. I offer you work in my outfit. How about it? |
| John: I'll say this first... I left the army. That's not up for debate. And one more thing: I'm not lending you the tip of a finger, let alone a hand! | John: Thanks, but I quit the outfit. The blood, pain, cries of the young... we're fun but, it's time for peace, for love... Die! |
Oh boy, here we go. Get ready for a five-paragraph rant about military ranks.
First things first: In the United States, the names of ranks can vary by what branch of the military you're talking about, and they will share names without sharing actual rank. (To wit, a navy Captain is not at all the same thing as an army Captain) This doesn't apply to Japanese (at least not the Japanese ranks we're talking about), and my explanations are going to involve jumping across a couple branches. Therefore, when I list a rank, I'll do it in the following form: branch rank (pay-grade). For example: navy captain (O-6). I'll also link a comparative table of ranks for quick reference.
Right. So the Japanese word Geese uses there is 大佐/taisa, which means navy captain or army colonel (O-6). Captains/Colonels are senior officers, who will have a command that consists of thousands of men. In the navy it means you've either got a ship or an entire wing of planes. They don't fly planes, they fly desks. (okay, they do need a certain number of flight hours, but John's still not a colonel) Since John's background involves flying a navy plane until he gets shot down and then teaching martial arts until he gets busted for funneling weapons to the mob...it doesn't really fit.
What I suspect happened is a mistake on the Japanese side and they meant 大尉/taii. That means navy lieutenant (O-3), and those guys fly planes. Maverick from Top Gun was a navy lieutenant, for example. It's the kind of thing I can see someone slipping up about, especially since the ranks look similar in Japanese. Then again, Char was a Colonel/Captain in the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Was it all just a Gundam reference? I wouldn't put it past SNK. (and Char does spend more time piloting than commanding, but that's because Char is incredibly irresponsible)
Then the translator wrote down "colonel", because they weren't up on the intricacies of which branch gets which ranks and most people looking at 大佐/taisa are going to default to "colonel". I really doubt this is where the mistranslation crept in, because officer ranks are pretty straightforward in Japanese.
But someone (the editor/localizer?) came along later, saw a very senior rank and went "that can't be right" and gave John a demotion down to something that sounds sort of like colonel: corporal. Which is even less appropriate, because corporal is specifically an army rank, and it's not high up at all. An army corporal (E-4) is a non-commissioned officer, a couple ranks above private, and they very much do not get to fly planes. Having John be a corporal makes less sense than anything else. If they were going to demote him, well...it should've been to lieutenant, like I said.
Basically the entire mess could've been solved on either side of the Pacific by someone renting Top Gun, and there are very few problems can be solved by renting Top Gun. (they're good ones, though)
Now, all of this is guesswork. We'll probably never know for sure. All we can say for sure is that the Japanese says navy captain and the English says corporal and those two ranks are not at all equivalent. But I think it makes some amount of sense.
Whew! All that just for one line. Let's take a look at the rest now.
John's first line is a bit off. He's asking why Geese is putting on such a show for him, but in English this gets turned into asking if he's on a hidden camera show. Not quite the same thing.
Geese's English line is mostly notable for the big line break problems it has. The line breaks always seem to go to hell right for Geese's intro, and this route isn't the exception. It also drops the whole "trained by the army" thing, for whatever reason.
John's line is where stuff gets weird. There's a nice joke about "the outfit" referring to the mob vs the army, and then the English line just kind of...goes off and does its own thing. Yeah, I don't know. Clearly on purpose, though, unlike earlier.
Win vs Geese
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| John: Geez, you couldn't even touch me! | John: What a cake walk for me! I've won it all! |
| Geese: Ggh, it seems I wasn't taking you seriously. | Geese: Heh, it's all over. |
| John: Gh...what in the world?! | John: Eh! What the heck...? |
| Suit: This way, Mr. Geese. | Suit: This way, Mr Geese. |
| Geese: Though I lost this time, have no doubt that I'll be back to even the score. Until then, farewell. | Geese: I have lost this time. But I will be back. For now, my farewell. |
| John: Wait, are you running away? You coward! | John: Get back here! You weasel slime! |
The bits that are the same as Ryo's route were translated by Kishi!
...wait, I recognize that last line...that's King's line! Or King has John's line! Whichever! Plus, his second line is also Jack's! And Mickey's, and Eiji's!
Copy-paste error? I suspect so. It's also possible that a pointer got mispointed somewhere along the line, but it's hard to tell without Neo Geo hacking skills. It's not the first time a weird line substitution like this has happened... Geese got a line meant for Sokaku in Fatal Fury 3. Though that was only in English, and this is English and Japanese. Very strange.
Maybe...maybe the home team just didn't care about Mr. Crawley all that much.
Anyway, the rest of it is pretty normal. Or as normal as it gets around here. "Cake walk" is some good use of idiom. That's one of those things I keep having to remember to notice.
Geese Goes to Japan
Since Geese's migration is common to all characters, I put it under Misc.
Ending
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| John: Heh, I knew I'd win. It was a foregone conclusion from the beginning. Hm? | John: Whew! Just as I thought. Hands down. The winner. Hey? |
| John: Admiral! What are you doing here, sir? | John: General Thundertrunks! What are you doin' here? |
| Admiral: John, I've been watching you fight. How about it, won't you consider returning to the service? | General: John, the President's canary is being held hostage in Syria. Only you can save poor Tweeter. How about it? One more time! |
| John: I'm grateful for the offer, sir, but I have no intention of going back. I'm pretty happy with my life as it is now. And besides, I... | John: General, I'm touched. However, the life of warrior-patriot is not for me. It's tempting, but I say no. |
| Girl: John! How long are you going to stand around yapping? Hurry up or I'll leave you behind! | Girl: John! Do I have to wait all day? Hurry up! Hurry up or I'll leave you behind! |
| John: Just a second, honey! Well, if you'll excuse me, sir... | John: Wait, snugglebuns. Sorry, General. Hasta la vista! |
| Admiral: Wait a minute, John! We're not finished talking yet! | General: John! Think of poor Tweeter! Wait! |
....yeah.
Everything is remarkably similar in spirit, at least? The bits that aren't in Japanese are pretty obvious.
The officer John is talking to is never given an official rank, but the way he's addressed is the kind of way you refer to navy admirals or army generals (O-7 through O-10). Again, I went with naval ranks and the official translators went with army/possibly air force. I'd think most people would know the navy has admirals, at very least...but hey. Point is, he's a high muckety-muck.
"Hasta la vista" is one of those things that's heavily associated with The Terminator, so again, good pop culture ref. Now go back to Blockbuster and rent Top Gun.
My real concern is why the heck they're trying to get a guy who was dishonorably discharged for, again, funneling weapons to the mob back into service. I heard things were lax after Vietnam, but this seems extreme.
Win Quotes
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| vs self | |
| I don't know where you managed to learn my moves, but it looks like you can't handle them, huh. | You were quite good, but you lack identity. Nice sunglasses! |
| vs others | |
| That all you've got? That's too bad. | Will the disappointment never end? Wimps all! |
| I've seen hell on the battlefield too many times to ever be scared of fighting you. | I've smelled napalm in the morning. You didn't scare me! |
These were actually pretty easy to sort out. There's a clear connection between the Japanese and the English for both the random quotes. The vs self quote is...kind of weird, yeah. It doesn't even really make sense in itself, going from a put-down to a compliment. And, of course, it doesn't have much to do with the Japanese line.
Meanwhile, the first random win quote is...punched up, to be sure, but in a way that makes sense. "Wimp" is interesting as an SNK insult, in that so far I've only seen it in AoF2. Geese uses it on Ryo's route, King and Robert both use it on his, and even Takuma has it, but not anyone in Fatal Fury...yet. I'll keep my eye on it in the future.
"I've smelled napalm in the morning" is an obvious reference to the famous "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" line from Apocalypse Now. Well, if you're going to make a movie quote out of a "war is hell" line, might as well make it that one.