Japanese Mario

07-29-2003, 11:13 AM

I've been looking all over for the translations of the storyline prologues in the Japanese instruction manuals to the Mario games, but alas, to no avail.

The closest I've been able to find is the name changes etc. list on TMK.

Can anyone help me with this? I'm curious as to how the Japanese storylines compare to the English ones.

I'm a Sonic fan myself and you'd be amazed how much there is in the Japanese versions that isn't in the English versions or things that were outright changed, especially in books, comics, cartoons etc.

Also, I fully support the no penguin-dissing movement.

07-29-2003, 12:36 PM

^ Hehe, hello there. Welcome to VGF, a completely penguin-safe environment.

Anyway, about your question, I don't think that there would be much of a difference between the plots/prologues in the Japanese and English versions. It wouldn't make any sense to really modify it. Translators don't always change the original.

- Penguin Man says, "Whaaa?"

07-29-2003, 12:41 PM

In the case of the Sonic games Sega of America didn't bother translating the Japanese versions properly and instead just gave a basic synopsis and them let the publicity side deal with making a new storyline to be used in books, comics and cartoons. Some of this storyline then seeped into the American manuals, such as the name "Mobius" (something that originated from an American Sonic the Hedgehog promotional comic found in comic/magazines such as Disney Adventures and Superman.

The fact that Nintendo of America renamed the characters seems to suggest that they also might have gone the same path that Sega did.

07-29-2003, 01:02 PM

Ah, now I see what you mean. Well, as far as I know, this wasn't the case. There isn't a whole lot of info on it either, since it really isn't that big of a concern to most Mario fans. Storyline really takes a backseat to other aspects of the game. That's why I prefer Mario stuff more. More emphasis on entertaining games and less on drama, which there seems to be a lot of in the Sonic world (especially in the comics).

That doesn't mean I don't like the Sonic games, it's just when I play a platformer, I really don't want extremely complicated RPG-like storylines. I just want to play.

They probably renamed the characters to make a little more sense to the American audience. A kinopio really doesn't make a lot of sense to someone who knows little about the Japanese, which was a lot of people in the 80's.

- Penguin Man says, "Whaaa?"

Ditto McCloaker · 07-31-2003, 11:10 AM

Does Kinopio mean something in Japanese?

Don't forget, Peach was one called simply Princess Toadstool.

Mario was called Jumpman, and Pauline was just called "Girl."

[ July 31, 2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: The Poopsmith ]

07-31-2003, 12:45 PM

Kinopio is Toad's name in Japan.

- Penguin Man says, "But I don't want to go to school..."

Ditto McCloaker · 07-31-2003, 01:12 PM

I knew that. I wondered if it meant anything.

super_smasher · 08-08-2003, 01:37 PM

...........what?

08-08-2003, 01:38 PM

^^ Actually, I think it means "mushroom" in Japanese, but I don't know for sure.

- Penguin Man says, "I'm not crazy. I'M NOT CRAZY!"

[ August 08, 2003, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: PenguinMan's With Busey ]

07-29-2003, 11:13 AM	#1
Crazy Penguin Guest Posts: n/a	I've been looking all over for the translations of the storyline prologues in the Japanese instruction manuals to the Mario games, but alas, to no avail. The closest I've been able to find is the name changes etc. list on TMK. Can anyone help me with this? I'm curious as to how the Japanese storylines compare to the English ones. I'm a Sonic fan myself and you'd be amazed how much there is in the Japanese versions that isn't in the English versions or things that were outright changed, especially in books, comics, cartoons etc. Also, I fully support the no penguin-dissing movement.

07-29-2003, 12:36 PM	#2
PenguinMan26 Guest Posts: n/a	^ Hehe, hello there. Welcome to VGF, a completely penguin-safe environment. Anyway, about your question, I don't think that there would be much of a difference between the plots/prologues in the Japanese and English versions. It wouldn't make any sense to really modify it. Translators don't always change the original. - Penguin Man says, "Whaaa?"

07-29-2003, 12:41 PM	#3
Crazy Penguin Guest Posts: n/a	In the case of the Sonic games Sega of America didn't bother translating the Japanese versions properly and instead just gave a basic synopsis and them let the publicity side deal with making a new storyline to be used in books, comics and cartoons. Some of this storyline then seeped into the American manuals, such as the name "Mobius" (something that originated from an American Sonic the Hedgehog promotional comic found in comic/magazines such as Disney Adventures and Superman. The fact that Nintendo of America renamed the characters seems to suggest that they also might have gone the same path that Sega did.

07-29-2003, 01:02 PM	#4
PenguinMan26 Guest Posts: n/a	Ah, now I see what you mean. Well, as far as I know, this wasn't the case. There isn't a whole lot of info on it either, since it really isn't that big of a concern to most Mario fans. Storyline really takes a backseat to other aspects of the game. That's why I prefer Mario stuff more. More emphasis on entertaining games and less on drama, which there seems to be a lot of in the Sonic world (especially in the comics). That doesn't mean I don't like the Sonic games, it's just when I play a platformer, I really don't want extremely complicated RPG-like storylines. I just want to play. They probably renamed the characters to make a little more sense to the American audience. A kinopio really doesn't make a lot of sense to someone who knows little about the Japanese, which was a lot of people in the 80's. - Penguin Man says, "Whaaa?"

07-31-2003, 11:10 AM	#5
Ditto McCloaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: SimCity Posts: 3,246 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Does Kinopio mean something in Japanese? Don't forget, Peach was one called simply Princess Toadstool. Mario was called Jumpman, and Pauline was just called "Girl." [ July 31, 2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: The Poopsmith ]

07-31-2003, 12:45 PM	#6
PenguinMan26 Guest Posts: n/a	Kinopio is Toad's name in Japan. - Penguin Man says, "But I don't want to go to school..."

07-31-2003, 01:12 PM	#7
Ditto McCloaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: SimCity Posts: 3,246 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I knew that. I wondered if it meant anything.

08-08-2003, 01:37 PM	#8
super_smasher Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: oregon Posts: 507 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	...........what?

08-08-2003, 01:38 PM	#9
PenguinMan26 Guest Posts: n/a	^^ Actually, I think it means "mushroom" in Japanese, but I don't know for sure. - Penguin Man says, "I'm not crazy. I'M NOT CRAZY!" [ August 08, 2003, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: PenguinMan's With Busey ]