Galford
Even more of a goofy foreigner than last time, but now it got him a girlfriend.
Challenges
vs self
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Oh, you want a confrontation. I'm ready for you anytime! | Oh! You also use ninjutsu? OK! Let's fight! |
As you can see, Galford uses a lot more English in his Japanese lines this time. They're in almost all of his win and challenge lines! As usual for English in the Japanese version, I just transcribed it so everyone can see how SNK handled it back in the day.
And in this case...they threw out the Japanese line and made something up. As usual for SamSho2. To be fair, it's not a very exciting line in Japanese; just Galford accepting his double's challenge. The English line at least recognizes they both use ninjutsu...though that's also not all that unusual in this world. Even Texas has a ninja!
vs others
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Surprised to see an American wielding a sword? My eyes are blue, but I have the Japanese spirit! | Hey! Do you like to challenge my American ninjutsu? |
Nearly identical to his line from the last game. The only real difference is that instead of using the kanji for yamato damashii/Japanese spirit, he switches it out for katakana. (大和魂 vs ヤマトダマシイ) As for why...I'm not sure. It's an unusual reading of the kanji, so possibly putting it in katakana made it easier for kids to read...but even if you can't pronounce it, "great Japanese soul" makes the meaning pretty obvious. Or possibly it's just in katakana to make Galford sound like an even bigger goofy foreigner, which would fit in with the rest of his characterization here.
Sadly, the translator didn't pick up on the reference, so it's an entirely new line in English. It doesn't have a lot to do with the Japanese line anyway! Instead of Galford bragging about his understanding of Japan, he just talks about his American ninjutsu - making it sound even less Japanese. The contrast does have a bit of a joke in it, but...it's lacking something.
Win Quotes
vs self
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Get down with yo' badself. Don't lose your way in life! | Even if you are like me, you are only my copy. You can't fight against me. |
Once again, they just made something up. This sounds less like Galford and more like a generic vs 2P win quote, which is extra disappointing.
The Japanese line doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but at least 1P Galford is trying to encourage 2P...I think.
win with killing blow
| My translation |
|---|
| Hate the sin, not the sinner. Poppy and I fight for justice! An all I really want is peace! |
| Everyone need love! Do you know that it's true? Right, Poppy? |
The first one is kind of incoherent, even in Japanese. It works as a general statement of Galford's personality and principles, and I guess that's all you really need.
The second is mostly English to begin with. But I guess Poppy only speaks Japanese.
win otherwise
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| That was a great fight. There's a heaven above you, baby. Peace out! | Well, I was nearly defeated. Eh, Poppy. "Wof wof!" |
They made up all of Galford's win and challenge quotes, for whatever reason. Putting this line down here is kind of arbitrary, but, well...not like it fits in anywhere else.
It might be a little much to translate さらば/saraba/farewell as "Peace out", but I made my choice.
Story
Opening
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Time flowed on after the Shimabara incident, but the storm clouds once more begin to gather... | Time has passed since the last trouble. New battles are going to start, now again. |
| Can you feel that, Poppy? Time for us to head out again! | Let's go and defend the justice, Poppy! |
The first line is the same for everyone. Find details on Haohmaru's page.
Japanese Galford knows he's a returning character. English Galford just wants to defend the justice, which is a pretty Galford thing to do. The Japanese is more vague, but that's a difference in the languages themselves.
Stage 3
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 6
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 8
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Galford: The further we go, the more evil surrounds us! | Galford: The evil air is felt clearer and clearer. |
| Kuroko: It's all right, everything's okay! Believe in yourself and go! | Kuroko: Don't worry, believe you! |
| Galford: Not just nor evil... What a mysterious guy that is. | Galford: What kind of man is he? |
The translation is understandable, if stilted. At least it's not just making things up. It's not good English, but it gets the idea across.
Kuroko's line is standard, temporarily check it out on Hanzo's page.
The English is Galford's second line is weird, because now English speakers are primed to follow "not just" with some sort of hyperbole, but in this case Galford is remarking about how Kuroko isn't good or evil. It is a correct usage of "nor", which is interesting. The English line drops that bit entirely and just has Galford wonder about how mysterious Kuroko is.
Stage 11
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 12
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Galford: Let's go, Poppy! This the final battle! | Galford: Here we go Poppy, time to showdown! |
| Rakiki-useless! Useless!-kikiki! Nkikira-I'll eat you all! | You, impertinent small fry, I'll eat, eat you all! |
| Galford: Don't make me laugh! Let's fight fair and square! | Galford: Taste my sword of justice! |
"[T]ime to showdown!" is a goofy line, but it's accurate. Possibly a reference to the game's title? Kind of cute if so.
Mizuki's line is the same for everyone, so check out Haohmaru's page.
Galford's final line is just generic in both languages, though him demanding a fair fight in Japanese is pretty funny. Galford...you're from the wrong company for a fair boss fight. The English actually makes a bit more sense with the story here, but like I said...it's pretty generic.
Ending
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Galford: We did it, Poppy! | Galford: We made it, Pop! |
| Galford: Over there, that's... | Galford: Who is she? |
| Galford: Nakoruru! | Galford: Nakoruru! |
| Nakoruru: Galford-san... | Nakoruru: Galford... |
| Galford: I was worried about you... Thank goodness you're okay. | Galford: I was worried about you. |
| Nakoruru: Galford-san...I.... | Nakoruru: Galford...I... |
| Nakoruru: ! | Nakoruru: ! |
| Galford: Nakoruru! | Galford: Nakoruru! |
| Nakoruru: It's not over! I must go now... | Nakoruru: Something evil is still destroying nature. I have to go. |
| Galford: Shit! No, don't do it! | Galford: My god! |
| Galford: Nakoruru! | Galford: Nakoruru! |
| Galford: No! | Galford: No! |
| Galford: Don't - stop! | Galford: No! |
| Galford: No!!! | Galford: No! |
| Nakoruru: ....Galford-san...I'm sorry. But this was the only way to save everyone. So...please don't be sad. | Nakoruru: Galford...I'm sorry... I've known you how felt towards me, but there was no choice but this to save them. So please don't mourn. |
| Galford: ....I understand... | Galford: ...O.K, I understand.... |
| Galford: There are still too many bad guys in this world. Let's go, Poppy! | Galford: There are still too many bad guys in the world. Let's go Poppy! |
There's a lot of line in here - the most of any character so far! But most of them are just names and "no", so it's not quite as exciting as it sounds.
The first line is technically fine, though "we made it!" sounds more relived, where the Japanese is more triumphant. And Poppy gets shortened to "Pop", which kind of makes sense but also makes Galford sound like he thinks his dog is his dad.
The second line is a bit confused. The original is pretty Japanese, and you've probably seen it in dozens of anime/manga/video games. I think SNK wanted to make it a bit less vague, but instead makes it sound like Galford doesn't know who Nakoruru is, when the rest of the ending makes it clear they know each other pretty well. "Who's that over there?" might've been better in this context.
Nakoruru adds a -san to Galford's name in Japanese because she is a polite young woman, unlike everyone else in this series. This got dropped in English for obvious reasons.
Galford's relief at Nakoruru being okay is dropped, probably for character limits. The important part is the worrying anyway, so I think that was the right choice.
Nakoruru's reason for leaving is actually expanded in English, which is a nice touch. I'm not sure what is still supposed to be destroying nature, but I'm not sure what was still hanging around in Japanese either.
Obviously, they could not put "shit" in an American arcade game in the 90s. "My god!" has a slightly different flavor, but it gets the idea across (and wouldn't be allowed on Nintendo systems anyway). SNK had a habit of pushing the envelope with language.
Galford tells Nakoruru to stop in Japanese, but in English he just shouts "no" a lot. It's pretty repetitive in English; they could've used something to break that up.
English Nakoruru explicitly says she knew how Galford felt, which isn't in the Japanese at all. I suppose it's more making things explicit, which is good, but why do that so much in Galford's ending specifically? The English also switches out "everyone" for a more vague "them". Her animal pals, maybe? But it's pretty vague either way.
English Galford adds an "O.K", which is anachronistic but a nice touch.
As for the last line...sometimes there's just one obvious translation.