Summary
Final Fantasyis a series known for its storytelling chops, which is why a great English translation is important for these games to capture a sizeable market in the West. While the games have stumbled a few times in this regard, the vast majority ofFinal Fantasytitles feature amazing scripts that hammer in the best qualities of the story.
Sometimes, translators take liberties and craft lines that have become memorable in their own right. In other instances, the advent of voice acting has led to performances that are pushed to deliver lines in a certain manner that makes them more flamboyant and iconic than one could imagine.
Final Fantasy 5is one of the best gameplay-driven titles in the series, boasting a job system that’s a ton of fun to mess around with. This meant that the story could take a backseat and embody a humorous tone that shines in the English translation.
The interactions between the main cast are a blast to witness, but it’s the moments when Gilgamesh is on-screen thatthe comedic chops ofFinal Fantasy 5show off their brilliance. Despite being an intimidating villain, every line Gilgamesh utters is iconic and never fails to make players crack a smile throughout this joyous adventure.
Given thatFinal Fantasy 10was the first game in the series to feature voice acting, it was clear that the script needed to be up to the mark for this game to be a hit with fans. Thankfully, despite some hurdles that are mainly attributed to the struggles faced by most early adopters of voice acting in video games, the script inFinal Fantasy 10is a hit.
The voice acting is great to this day and the dialogue can make its emotional moments hit harder. The fact that the only way people lampoon this game’s voice acting is to highlight an out-of-context laughing scene is a testament to how sublimeFinal Fantasy 10’s script was at the time.
The 3D Remake ofFinal Fantasy 4was a great way for DS fans to check out one of the most important JRPGs in the series. It helps that Tom Slattery reworked the English translation from the original game to make for some of the series' best moments.
From Tellah’s “ya spoony bard” to the moments when dialogue flows expertly to make both its comedic and dramatic story beats hit that much harder, it’s easy to see why fans were impressed by the amazing English localization ofFinal Fantasy 4that boasted some great voice acting moments too.
Given thatFinal Fantasy 16was thefirst-ever mainline M-rated titlein the series, it was clear that the script and voice acting needed to nail the mature tone of the story. Most people would agree that the game succeeded in this regard and let players enjoy one of the most emotional and riveting tales in the series.
Each voice actor does a great job of breathing new life into their character courtesy of a stellar script with well-written dialogue. The political intrigue ofFinal Fantasy 16features some of the game’s best writing, and it’s a shame that one of the most riveting aspects of the game’s storyline took a backseat with Ultima’s introduction.
There’s no denying thatFinal Fantasy 15had its fair share of problems, but most people love the game for itscharming open worldand the camaraderie between the main cast. It helps that the game is chock-full of moments where the main cast’s natural banter helps sell their friendship to the player.
While the English voice acting performances can fall flat sometimes, the quality of the script more than makes up for it. Despite its issues,Final Fantasy 15is a memorable adventure with an ending that will make fans cry at the end of a wonderful experience.
Final Fantasy 6is one of the greatest games in the series, with the original translation of the script popularizing the Woolseyisms that fans love in the series. This is courtesy of the translator, Ted Woolsey, who added a ton of character to the dialogue and made for more engaging dialogue, even if it came at the cost of an accurate translation.
Hearing Kefka say"son of a submariner" is one of the most hilarious moments that further cements this jester’s unhinged nature. There’s a reason why one of the most popular mods forFinal Fantasy 6 Pixel Remasterrestores these Woolseyisms to make for an authentic experience for fans of the original SNES release.
There are many reasons whyFinal Fantasy 9is hailed as the best game in the series, and the script certainly helps. Unlike previous games in the series where the localization was acceptable at best,Final Fantasy 9’s English translation is the stuff of legends.
Every characterembodies the spirit of theater in their dialogue, which feels natural given the charming and lighthearted setting of this game. This makes for memorable interactions that embody the true spirit ofFinal Fantasy, ensuring that dramatic reveals and hilarious hijinks are as well-written as can be.
Final Fantasy 12was a huge departure from previous games in the series, abandoning the classic turn-based structure of previous games in the series for a real-time combat system where managing Gambits was important to secure victory. These changes were a mixed bag for most fans, but one area that fans universally loved was the story.
Theensemble cast structureensures that players have a great time navigating this epic story, with the voice performances being flamboyant without going over the top. This makes for a natural fit inFinal Fantasy 12’s setting that hammers in the epic moments of the story with incredible voice performances, reaching heights that later games in the series have failed to reach by a country mile.
