King
I hate the motion for Double Strike, even if it does just boil down to HCBx2.
Fighter title
| My translation | Arcade translation | Home translation |
|---|---|---|
| The Magnificent Muay Thai Lady | The Ultra-Sophisticated Kick Boxer | The Gorgeous Kick-Boxing Lady |
Sourced from The Arcade Flyer Archive.
These...all seem pretty similar? I'm making allowances for just calling Muay Thai kickboxing, and the arcade flyer drops that King is a girl, but considering the rest of the project these are all remarkably close. I could quibble about "gorgeous" vs "ultra-sophisticated" but I'm pretty tempted to just take the win and move on.
I admit "The Magnificent" is a bit of my own alliteration and you could also translate it as "The Great" or something. But whatever.
Interview
What do you treasure? Perhaps my good looks? (laughs)
Who's your rival? He's not a rival, but the only person I really need to pay back here is Jack!
What's been on your mind recently? If anyone knows of a good doctor, please let me know. I'd be so grateful.
Finally, give us a word about your participation in the current tournament. My apologies to the people I'm going to beat, but they never stood a chance. If you don't want to get your pretty faces to get messed up, you'd better go home.
Intro vs Yuri
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| You want to fight me? Stop being silly. A little girl like you should just go home! | This is no place for a cute thing like you. Go home. |
| Huh? You're telling me to go home? That's mean...boo hoo hoo. | The way this day has been going I'd love to! You are too creepy. |
King's line is pretty straight, if heavily cut down. It does cut out King saying Yuri shouldn't fight her in specific, instead putting in a generic "this is no place for you", presumably referring to the tournament itself. Still, basic thrust is there.
Yuri's line is completely replaced. In Japanese she puts on a (fake?) woe-is-me act, in English she just calls King creepy instead. Rude.
Intro vs Eiji
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| If you don't want to get hurt you'd better scram, ninja boy. | If youse do not wanna get hoit, act like yogurt and flow. |
| What foolishness! Someone like you can't even lay a finger on me. | You are good with words, but your metaphors need help! |
You know, this is a good example of some of the levels of SNK translation. King's line is clearly punched into another dimension: yes it's basically what she's saying, but no one would phrase it like that. Meanwhile, Eiji's is just made up. But without a straight translation right next to it, you'd never know which was which and would probably assume they were both made up out of wholecloth.
Hell, even I assumed King's line was made up until I translated it myself. It's completely bonkers. But no, that's what she's saying...more or less.
Just don't ask me why it got translated like that.
(Eiji's line is pretty clearly playing off King's instead of his Japanese line, which is kind of good, but it also doesn't make a lot of sense. How was the previous line good with words? If your metaphors need help you're not good at words!)
Intro vs Jack
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Ah, the mighty Jack makes his long-awaited appearance. I'll clear away all my regrets from back then right here and now. | Oh, hi Jack. Get it? Hi Jack. Are we going to Cuba or what? Heh,heh |
| Bah. Come at me as many times as you want, the result is always the same, King! | I never got your stupid jokes. Die! Nymph from hell! |
Come on, Jack, even I got that one.
So anyway, both of these are made up. I'm not entirely certain of how I translated King's line, but the basic idea is that she's going to beat Jack and erase the stain of having lost in the past. This gets redone into a weird pun. I don't know why.
As a sidenote, King is speaking more respectfully than usual in the first sentence, presumably to be sarcastic. So I translated to that instead of hyper-literally, please forgive me etc.
Jack's line is also made up, but does play off King's English line and includes more stuff I'd kill to see someone try to get past Nintendo if they'd ever translated the SFC port.
Intro vs Lee
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Oh, it's the creepy old guy. Don't get so close to me now, would you? | What a strange old guy. Don't come to close to me. |
| Hee hee, before I get close my claws'll rip you to shreds. | Hee. Hee. Before I get close to you, my talons will rip you up! |
Wouldn't tearing someone up with the claws on the ends of your hands involve...getting close?
Either way, these are both pretty straight. Sorry Lee.
Intro vs Robert
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Been awhile, huh? But don't expect this to go like the last time. Here I come! | I'm not as weak as I used to be. Come and fight, pony-tale head! |
| Whoa, scary as always. Take it easy on me now, ya hear? | I hate people who take shots at my hair. Die, thou foul thing! |
King's line is pretty much the same. It cuts out the "been awhile", but the rest is about right. Special note for once again harshing on Robert's hair. Man, did the translator/editor just have a thing against dudes with pony-tails or what? Poor Robert and Terry...
Meanwhile Robert's line is completely made up to play off King insulting his hair. I have no idea what's up with "Die, thou foul thing", it's...okay it's not actually weirder than anything else here but I'm not sure what to make of it either way.
Intro vs John
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| You're...John Crowley, right? Why don't you show me the Blue Gale's true strength? | The famous mad seaman. It's shore leave time for you. Come. |
| Whew, it's been awhile since anyone's called me that. Don't get too rough, missy! | If any other lady said that I would be happy--not sick. |
I don't think anyone else has called him the "Blue Gale" ever. Not even in-universe.
Anyway, King's line completely changes in English. I have no idea what "shore leave" is supposed to mean in this context. John was canonically in the navy, though, according to the AoF1 Japanese manual. This got dropped in the US version, and no idea if the AoF2 English manual puts it back or not.
John's English line also changes to play off King's. His "don't get too rough" line is exactly the same as Robert's up there in Japanese, I just tried to vary things up a bit.
Point is, this entire interaction got completely rewritten in English for no reason I can see, and it's actually a bit interesting in Japanese. At least it drops a bit of a hint about John's past and a character that boring needs all the help he can get.
(Incidentally, "Blue Gale" might be a reference to the Xabungle theme song, which has the lyrics "blue gale" in English. It's in Japanese here, but SNK was made of huge nerds....)
Intro vs King
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| I can't believe I've got an imitator. But don't you think you're overdoing it a bit? | Oh boy. Stereo King. But don't you think you're a little loud. |
| That's my line. Stop nitpicking and come on already! | Hey, I don't think you have a right to comment on style! |
I actually like the stereo/you're a little loud joke here. It could use a bit more going over, but it's a solid idea. King's Japanese line is a pretty standard SNK joke about imitators, so the English translation feels cute and original.
English 2P King drops the "that's my line", and pulls out a generic "style" instead of keeping the sound joke going. Too bad.
Intro vs Takuma
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| You have the look of a capable fighter. This'll be my first enjoyable fight in a long time. | You are quite a fighter. Let's get some coffee together. |
| You're pretty confident, but I cannot allow myself to lose so easily. | No thanks. I'm too tense. Not! But first. Let's boogie, toots. |
Well, half of King's line is good. The other half...man, I don't know. Japanese King wants a good fight, English King loves her coffee.
Meanwhile Takuma gets his line completely rewritten, again. His Japanese line is generic, his English line is...a thing.
Yes, it is definitely a thing.
Intro vs Temjin
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| No matter how strong you are, you'll never beat me. Hey, are you listening? | You can't win. Hey, are you listening to me? |
| Huh? Wha? Oh, sorry, I must've nodded off for a second there. | Huh! Sorry, I kind of drifted off there. Oh... Sorry. Go ahead. |
Meanwhile this is just completely straight. Both lines, perfectly reasonable translations without anything weird or interesting about them.
Yep.
Huh.
Intro vs Ryo
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Long time no see. How about you show me the fruits of your training? Come on! | The famous Ryo. Show me what you have been doing all this time |
| That's just what I was hoping to do. Don't expect me to go easy on you because you're a girl! | OK, but I can't show you all the things I've been doing, heh, heh. |
Again, King's line is pretty straight, and the opponent's is just made up. It feels like this has been happening more to her than to other characters, but it's not like I've done the entire game yet or anything. One point is that in Japanese King is clearly meeting Ryo again, while in English it almost sounds like she's heard of him but hasn't met him in person before.
Minor note that her "come on!" is phrased a bit more femininely here than in other lines. That's one of those things that doesn't really come across in English, but it's there.
Anyway Ryo's line is fairly standard in Japanese and innuendo in English. Or at least I think it's innuendo. It reads like innuendo. It probably is?
I've been working on this too long.
Intro vs Mickey
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| It's been a long time, Mickey. Looks like you're working dead-end jobs like usual. | Mickey. It's been a while since I kicked in your teeth. |
| Looks like you've got a smart mouth like usual. I'll beat that attitude out of you! | You're one loud chick. I'm gonna teach you the joys of silence. |
In a stunning reversal, King's line is changed and her opponent's is relatively straight!
"Doing scutwork" or something might be better than "working dead-end jobs" but the connotations didn't feel quite right to me. Point is, Mickey doesn't get good jobs. Meanwhile the English line is just a straight threat, though it does get "it's been awhile" across.
Mickey does specify "woman" in his line, I just optimized on carrying the "like usual" across lines and the official translator/editor didn't, possibly because they edited out the first instance.
Intro vs Big
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Big, I have no intention of working with you ever again. I'm going to beat you and escape the syndicate. | Big! Well, it was fun in the past, but now, I am a free agent. |
| Heheheh, you think you can beat me that easy? Are you sure? | Heh. Heh. No hard feelings,King. I don't care. Not! Die! |
I should be keeping a "not!" counter across all these games.
There's a slight nuance difference in King's line where in Japanese she's just now announcing that she's breaking off from the syndicate and in English it sounds more like she already has. Her English line is also edited down and is generally a lot more peppy.
Meanwhile Big's line is...not really that much the same. Japanese Big doesn't think King can actually beat him, English Big is making weird jokes and keeping Wayne's World alive.
To the Police Commissioner
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Suit: Ms. King. The commissioner has requested to meet with you. Would you please come with us? | Suit: Ah, Mr? Ms? King. The police commisioner would like a word with you. Could you walk this way? |
| King: Well, with such polite escorts, of course I'll come. | King: Why, with such fine escorts, who could refuse? |
The goon's line was translated by Kishi.
The obvious thing here is that there's no gender confusion on the suit's part in Japanese, because -sama is gender-neutral to begin with. I went with Ms because I have foreknowledge about the next line.
King's line is pretty straight.
Intro vs Geese
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Geese: Welcome, Miss King. As lovely as ever. | Geese: King! Enchantee. You are as charming as ever. |
| King: Flirting before giving your name? Getting a little full of ourselves, aren't we? | King: Before you start your woo, tell me your name, slick. |
| Geese: My apologies. My name is Geese, Geese Howard. The reason I invited you here is because I have an interest in your strength. It could be a threat, or...? | Geese: Oh, forgive me. Geese, Geese Howard. I have brought you here to offer you a proposition you can't refuse. |
| King: My, what what a way of asking for a date! But you know, there's nothing I hate more than a pushy guy - like you! | Well, since you put it that way, I guess I should refuse. See ya! Later, wethead. Or better yet... |
Never forget the time King and Geese started flirting with each other.
Look, it was the 70s. Things just sort of happened.
And yes, Geese is literally saying "Miss King" in katakana there. Which means his first line in English is a fairly solid translation, and apparently you can substitute ee for é if you don't have a diacritic, so his French is also passable. King's first line is also good by the standards of this project.
Meanwhile Geese's big line gets cut way, way down in a way that's very noticeable in the game. Look at all that space left in the text boxes! There's some plot information lost as well: Geese sees King's strength as a threat and wants to make sure she's on his side (or is buttering her up, or both), but this isn't in the English at all.
King's reason for refusal is more spelled out in Japanese as well, while the English is more meta-jokey. (though I have to admit, I like the English line) I also have no idea what kind of insult "wethead" is supposed to be.
Win vs Geese
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| King: Is that all you've got, lover-boy? Pathetic. | King: What a breeze! Buzz off, boob! |
| Geese: Ggh, it seems I wasn't taking you seriously. | Geese: Heh, it's all over. |
| King: What? What just happened? | King: What? I don't believe it! |
| 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. |
| King: Wait, are you running away? You coward! | King: Get back here! You weasel slime! |
The bits that are the same as Ryo's route were translated by Kishi!
Yes, she is saying "lover-boy" in Japanese. Or "sexy", or "lady-killer", or "slick"...you know, that sort of thing. "Boob" doesn't quite have the right connotations.
"Weasel slime" is also a hell of a punch up of "coward". It also calls to mind Geese and Franco from FF3, though they just went with "weasel". Missed opportunity.
Geese Goes to Japan
Since Geese's migration is common to all characters, I put it under Misc.
Ending
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Jean: Sis! | Jan: Sis! |
| King: Jean! You...you can walk! How? | Jan! You can walk! Oh, I'm so happy. But how? |
| Jean: I had surgery and now I can walk. See? | Jan: I had an operation. Now I can walk. See! |
| King: But, who in the world paid for the operation? | King: But how did you get the operation? Who? |
| Jean: Those guys did! | Jan: Those two paid for it! |
| King: You guys... | King: What...? |
| Ryo: This is repayment for that time with Yuri. | Ryo: We've paid our debt. Later. |
| Robert: It's our way of thanking the person who rescued Yurikins! | A wise investment! |
| King: Oh...thank you. Really, truly, thank you. | King: Thank you. Oh, I could kiss you both. Oh, maybe not. Thank you. |
| Jean: Sis, you promised. You'd take me somewhere when I got better. | Jan: You promised to take me somewhere when I could walk! |
| King: That's right, I did. Where would you like to go, Jean? | King: You're right! I promised. Where shall we go, Jan? |
| Jean: Hmm, well... |
This is...mostly pretty straight. There are a lot of lines in the official translation that are basically the same as mine. I'd say that these lines are just really simple, but as the rest of these pages show, that never stopped SNK.
It's easy to tell Ryo and Robert apart while they're speaking in Japanese, but in a straight English translation it's harder. The official translation went with making Ryo extra brusque and having Robert talk about money to really make sure the player knew who was saying what. I think that's pretty good.
Jean's final line is cut in the English version and I'm not sure why. It's not very important, but it's also a bit odd to cut it.
Win Quotes
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| vs self | |
| What am I going to do with you? Just stop doing stupid things like trying to imitate me. | The original King lives. Waaoh! |
| vs others | |
| Looks like I got a little too serious. Are you going to be all right? | Whoops! I got a little too enthused. Are you okay? |
| You challenged me with skills like that? What a joke. | I am woman, feel my kick and moan. |
The vs self line is completely changed, though it retains the idea that the CPU is just an imitation. The scolding/advice is lost.
Meanwhile, this is one of the few times I knew exactly which English line went with which Japanese line, because one is a very straight translation. Not much to say about that one.
The other one...hm. Well, it's not what she's saying in Japanese, but most people had probably guessed that already. "I am woman" is a reference to famous 1971 song I am Woman by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton, which makes it roughly period appropriate in-universe. The first line: "I am woman, hear me roar" is very famous and oft-referenced in media and pop culture, including here apparently. "Feel my kick and moan" is...a take on it, certainly. Yep. A take.