Why do speed-runners use the Japanese version of games?

2012-02-20 10:46:15 am

I've been following this site off and on for awhile now, but I've just started realizing that a ton of English speaking runners use the Japanese version of the game. Why is that?

Thread title:

Trekhaak

2012-02-20 10:49:05 am

Everybody's favorite monster

its faster.

Shiden

2012-02-20 10:57:22 am

In the case of Ys Origin, there isn't an official English release. I'm still planning/attemping my run though! Smiley

But as Trekhaak says, Japanese text usually scrolls faster than English letters. An example would be that the JP version of Soul Blazer gave Reaif a 10 minute lead over his English run! That's huge! Grin

VorpalEdge

2012-02-20 11:02:15 am

welcome to the machine

Text often scrolls faster (which would not obsolete a run by itself, but people like having lower times and not sitting through it all every attempt), and sometimes there are more/different glitches.

Worn_Traveler

2012-02-20 11:02:47 am

Formerly known as Skullboy

Depending on the game, Japanese versions also have tricks and glitches that can't be done on other region carts/discs. A Link to the Past is a prime example with the Hammer Dash. Difficulties can also vary between the different regions as well. The Japanese version of Dynamite Headdy has shorter (except for Twin Freaks) boss fights since bosses have less energy/you do more damage while in the American and European version, bosses take more hits to be defeated.

TheOthin

2012-02-20 11:09:17 am

Quote from VorpalEdge:

Text often scrolls faster (which would not obsolete a run by itself, but people like having lower times and not sitting through it all every attempt), and sometimes there are more/different glitches.

Huh, now I have to see if this is true for the Golden Sun games. Could save a lot of text time if it is...

Exo

Edit history:

Exo: 2012-02-20 11:13:49 am

Exo: 2012-02-20 11:12:55 am

2012-02-20 11:11:43 am

Sandbagging

Quote from TheOthin:

Quote from VorpalEdge:

Text often scrolls faster (which would not obsolete a run by itself, but people like having lower times and not sitting through it all every attempt), and sometimes there are more/different glitches.

Huh, now I have to see if this is true for the Golden Sun games. Could save a lot of text time if it is...

Japanese text is faster in 100% of the cases due to the combination of kanji, hiragana and katakana which results in a much lower characters per sentence ratio.
(This is of course based on the assumption that the text scrolling speed is the same)

TheOthin

2012-02-20 11:44:41 am

Quote from Exo:

Quote from TheOthin:

Quote from VorpalEdge:

Text often scrolls faster (which would not obsolete a run by itself, but people like having lower times and not sitting through it all every attempt), and sometimes there are more/different glitches.

Huh, now I have to see if this is true for the Golden Sun games. Could save a lot of text time if it is...

Japanese text is faster in 100% of the cases due to the combination of kanji, hiragana and katakana which results in a much lower characters per sentence ratio.

It seems to indeed be faster, looking at videos. And the potential for more glitches... delicious. I'll have to give it a try.

Paraxade

2012-02-20 12:24:18 pm

I gotta get a JP copy of Skyward Sword.

AxonZin

2012-02-20 02:13:35 pm

I am encyclopedia

Quote from Exo:

Japanese text is faster in 100% of the cases due to the combination of kanji, hiragana and katakana which results in a much lower characters per sentence ratio.
(This is of course based on the assumption that the text scrolling speed is the same)

Yeah, in SM64-J the text actually scrolls slower, giving the US version a small advantage on text, making the US version actually slightly faster for 70 star.

Joshkaz

2012-02-20 02:16:00 pm

King Wabasami

Thought text in SM64 in japanese was faster giving a 2.7 advantage? According to sig's faq it does anyways.

AxonZin

2012-02-20 02:19:53 pm

I am encyclopedia

The intro is 2.7 seconds faster in Japanese because Peach doesn't talk at the start. The text scrolling is faster in the English version. There's a pastebin somewhere that shows all of the text differences and the time saved/lost in each route, I remember seeing it awhile back.

Japanese is faster for 120 star but that's that's due to different star positions and stuff, as well as the cutscene for Eyerock being significantly shorter.

Marche_Fighter_Paladin

2012-02-20 02:53:15 pm

Claimh Happy

Quote from Exo:

Japanese text is faster in 100% of the cases due to the combination of kanji, hiragana and katakana which results in a much lower characters per sentence ratio.
(This is of course based on the assumption that the text scrolling speed is the same)

This also assumes the english text is an accurate translation, and not summarized or otherwise altered.

Greenalink

2012-02-20 02:53:51 pm

DS Dictator

* The JP version of SM64 has 1 less star box to break, and the 2.7 faster intro doesn't really affect much on this site as it only starts once Mario gains control.

Carcinogen

2012-02-20 06:05:36 pm

Also, difficulty changes. A lot of Capcom and Konami games, for example, had different damage values on the Japanese versions. Final Fantasy IV had an Easy Type cartridge, monsters in Biohazard 2 (RE2) took less damage, US Devil May Cry 3's Normal mode was the Japanese version's Hard mode, and Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation had only one difficulty before an international version was released that contained Extreme difficulty.

Usually at SDA, the Japanese version runs are separated from the US version runs.

MAS8705

2012-02-20 06:46:42 pm

SDA Apprentice -- (3-1)

I like to think that it is because it comes out early in jap. Than Eng. Just look at xiii-2, game just came out but someone is already running it on the jap version as it has been out just a bit longer...

AniMeowzerz

2012-02-21 01:44:01 am

I don't know about any of you but some of the time I'll buy the J version of a game I want to run just because it's cheaper than the U version Tongue

But yes, various text speeds/character amounts and J exclusive glitches are a big factor for me as well

LJDuckfield

2012-02-21 02:43:21 am

The speed records should be Region based to stop any advantage one may gain from this exploit.

AniMeowzerz

2012-02-21 02:45:40 am

Quote from LJDuckfield:

The speed records should be Region based to stop any advantage one may gain from this exploit.

They already are.

Caracarn

2012-02-21 11:01:06 am

If the differences are large enough to warrant it, then yes, they are separate categories.

Melodia

2012-02-21 11:16:56 am

Which isn't always the case -- in a few cases like Super Metroid they are litteraly the same rom.

dunnius

2012-02-21 01:05:57 pm

Intruding N313 and F014

Quote from AniMeowzerz:

I don't know about any of you but some of the time I'll buy the J version of a game I want to run just because it's cheaper than the U version Tongue

I know. I was surprised how cheap the J versions of Final Fantasy 4,5,6 with box were! I am glad to have them.

ZenicReverie

2012-02-21 08:36:38 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Quote from dunnius:

Quote from AniMeowzerz:

I don't know about any of you but some of the time I'll buy the J version of a game I want to run just because it's cheaper than the U version Tongue

I know. I was surprised how cheap the J versions of Final Fantasy 4,5,6 with box were! I am glad to have them.

Yeah, just look at the price of Panzer Dragoon Saga... it's insane.

AxonZin

2012-02-21 10:57:39 pm

I am encyclopedia

Quote from LJDuckfield:

The speed records should be Region based to stop any advantage one may gain from this exploit.

I wouldn't really call them exploits, but yes, if the difference is large enough, the different regions will be considered different categories of the game.

For example, see the Resident Evil 2 page.

andrewg

2012-02-22 12:06:26 pm

To make people think you're Japanese