In the previous article, we shared some examples of improper translations or translation mistakes in the game translation process. From these, we can feel that without wonderful translations, the player experience will be greatly diminished. This article will introduce excellent translations from three games, showing you what kind of experience wonderful translations can bring to players!
Genshin Impact, a phenomenon-level game popular around the world, has demonstrated outstanding translation standards, setting an example for the dissemination of game culture. The line "曲高未必人不識(shí)，自有知音和清詞" from the Peking Opera-style interlude "神女劈觀" (The Divine Damsel of Devastation) presented a huge challenge to the translation team. What is mentioned here, that "曲高未必人不識(shí)”, and “知音", draws on a very famous ancient Chinese allusion known as "高山流水(A bosom friend)". However, an allusion as culturally profound as "高山流水(A bosom friend)" in Chinese has no direct equivalent in English. However, relying on their profound language skills and a deep understanding of culture, the translators ingeniously rendered it as "From the world she seems apart, but there are those who know her heart". This translation not only maintains the same rhythm as the original text, making the song still catchy when sung, but more importantly, successfully conveys the artistic conception of the original sentence, that is, although it's difficult to find a bosom friend, they will eventually meet, to foreign players. When foreign players listen to this song, even if they are not familiar with the traditional Chinese allusion of "high mountains and flowing waters", they can still feel the emotional world deep inside the character through the translated lyrics, as well as the Chinese culture's cherishing and longing for bosom friends, thus better appreciating the charm of Chinese culture presented in Genshin Impact.
In League of Legends, the line "Press the assault!" of the champion Xin Zhao is translated as "陷陣之志，有死無生". This translation is truly inspired. It is not just a simple word-for-word translation but a precise interpretation of the character positioning of Xin Zhao. In the game, Xin Zhao is deeply loved by players for his brave and fearless image of charging into the enemy lines. The Chinese translation "陷陣之志，有死無生" vividly showcases Xin Zhao's resolute determination to charge into the enemy's rear without hesitation and face danger directly, perfectly matching his skill characteristics and combat style. Whenever players control Xin Zhao in the game and hear this line, a sense of excitement and the courage to move forward surges within them, as if they have truly transformed into this heroic warrior, leading their teammates to charge into battle. This translation method not only retains the essence of the original text but also endows the character with new vitality through clever language conversion, allowing players in different language environments to deeply appreciate the charm of the game character.
In the grand game world of World of Warcraft, the line "You are not prepared" was ingeniously translated by Chinese server translators as "你們這是自尋死路". It breaks free from the shackles of the original text's surface meaning (你們還沒有準(zhǔn)備好) and creates a more exciting and passionate gaming experience for players with its highly impactful language style. This is by no means a simple literal translation but a deep exploration of the game situation and the character's aura. The battle scenes in the game are intense and exciting, and players need a strong sense of immersion to stimulate their fighting spirit. This translation accurately captures the domineering and intimidating power of the character during battles, perfectly fitting the battle atmosphere. When players hear this line, they can almost see the character looking at the enemy with blazing eyes and majestic presence, declaring a challenge, and their blood boils instantly.
Game translation is not just a simple replacement of words but also a transmission and integration of cultures. In the translation process, it is necessary to accurately grasp the language meaning of the original text and deeply understand the cultural connotations behind it. Then, by using localization strategies, these contents are ingeniously rewritten into expressions that conform to the cultural background and language habits of the target audience. We are well aware that the translation success of these games is not accidental. It embodies the hard work and professional wisdom of the translation teams. Game translations, in their hands, become solid bridges, allowing the wonderfulness of games to shine globally.
About Glodom:
Glodom is a Global Top 100 Language Service Provider. It has accumulated profound professional knowledge in the field of game localization and has reached long-term and stable cooperation with many well-known game companies around the world. Glodom has more than 300 full-time employees, and its service network covers over 40 countries worldwide, supporting more than 150 languages. We always attach equal importance to innovation and service. With advanced technology and rich project management experience, we have successfully helped numerous enterprises achieve their global strategic layouts. Whether in the accuracy of localized translation or the efficiency of multilingual processing, Glodom has always been at the forefront of the industry.
