Items of Import: Let's Enroleplaying Games! part 3

Attacking the Language Barrier

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when an import gamer comes across "Attack." Although "tataka-u" (as above) is the most commonly used script for the attack command, it is written in other ways in some cases. Thing is, back in the 8-bit days of yore, videogames as a general rule were something children played, and the old systems could not display the more complex kanji characters. Thus, "attack" was always written this way. However, as time wore on and the children grew up (and the hardware developed) kanji characters could be shown in-game. In other words, the simple hiragana script of "tataka-u" was sometimes written as the more complex kanji script "ko-u-geki.". As the Nintendo DS is a system for all ages, import gamers will find different instances of the word. For example, a series like Dragon Quest has always been played by a variety of age groups, so the franchise always uses the simpler version.

Casting the Bilingual Magic On Our Readers: Equipping You with Japanese

Just as with "attack," these two commands are written differently, depending on the target audience and the type of game. Readers of this column will soon realize that this is the case for a lot of words in Japanese: the differentiation of the simpler hiragana script and the more complex kanji characters. In different scenarios, "maho-o" or "magic" (seen above) can be written with its corresponding kanji characters. Likewise, "so-ubi," (meaning "equip/ment") can be interchanged with its kanji partners, as well.

Words of Import

For those readers who aren't already aware, "item" and "save" (seen on the second page) are written in katakana, a script used for imported words, and these types of words are not interchanged with complex kanji. They are pronounced fairly similarly to the original word. Thus "item" is pronounced "i-temu" and "save" is "se-e-bu."

Closing Off

This is simply the beginning of your journey through import gaming. It takes months and years to have a full grasp of playing a Japanese title. Be sure to take a look at Items of Import, as it will not only be the place for in-depth previews and reviews of games way ahead of localization, but it may also teach you a thing or two along the way.

Items of Import is a weekly column dedicated to titles only out in Japan. With in-depth impressions of games long before localization and knowledgeable language how-tos, it attempts to bridge the gap between the import savvy and import fearing. Come on, now! You, too, can make that giant leap! Yokoso!