Dear Reader:
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Japanese to English translation differences
Whenever a game gets localized, there’s always going to be a few cuts here and there. Just what is cut doesn’t usually get seen, unless some diehard fans take the time to pour through both versions of the game. That’s exactly what’s going on here, where we get to see the differences in scripts and dialog in Zelda II. For example, check out the English and Japanese intro scrolls below.
English version
AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED, IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY WITH THE POWER OF NO.3 TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE SEAL,CRYSTALS MUST BE PLACED IN STATUES IN 6 WELL GUARDED PALACES. LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET…
Japanese version
SEVERAL YEARS AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED,LINK LEARNS FROM IMPA ABOUT THE ANOTHER SLEEPING PRINCESS ZELDA. HE IS TOLD SHE CAN ONLY AWAKEN WITH THE NO.3 TRY-FORCE SEALED IN THE GREAT SANCTUARY AT DISVALLEY. TO REMOVE THE SEAL, CRYSTALS
MUST BE EMBEDDED INTO A STONE STATUE STANDING IN 6 SANCTUARIES. LINK SETS OUT ON AN ADVENTUROUS QUEST…