kantopia

FE6/7: Complete Character Poll Results and Comment Translations (2004)

Advertisements

Over the past several weeks (and months), I took a look at an old character poll conducted around 2003-2004 for the Elibe games (FE7 Blazing Blade and FE6 Binding Blade) for Japanese players. The results for the top 30 characters of each game were published online with Japanese player comments. The rest of the results (and some more comments) were published in the Character Book. As such, the data presented here is consolidated between the two sources.

While this poll was of course known to fans for a long time, the Japanese comments were never translated in full (for good reason, there were quite a few). As such the objective of this post (and project) is to serve as a resource in both presenting the poll data all in one place as well as giving English-speaking fans some insight on what Japanese fans thought of these characters those years ago. It’s become one of my objective to help bring the fandoms together in some way, so this is a part of that.

Lastly, for the sake of comparison, I include data from the Fire Emblem Heroes Choose Your Legends character poll conducted in 2017, just so one can see how 13 years (and a Western audience) made a difference to where the characters ranked. You can see how characters stacked from the Elibe games in a FE6/7 specific analysis I did before, too. The same data will be used throughout the post.

Altogether this was 49 pages of data on word that I translated on my free time during the last few weeks, so if you’re feeling generous consider donating to help support me continue to build an archive of Fire Emblem (and other) resources here on this blog! (I’ll do it anyway regardless of the donations, of course!)

Onward to the content!


Formatting/Explanation:

Blazing Blade (FE7)

Overall stats:

#1 Nino

(5/39)
7% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (72.5%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (27.5%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.8

Because…

*As you can see the above story relies on the Japanese characters, hence why they’re presented this way. 入口 read from the spring would look like 口入、and if indeed peeling the right way, would look like ニノ (sides of the “box” on the left fallen off, and one of the strokes for the right also missing).

#2 Eliwood

(4/36)
6% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  4/5 (64.5%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (35.5%)
Average Age of Voter: 15.6

Because…

*”Player” would be somewhat more accurate to what the commenter meant, but not completely. Basically, someone who is good at “putting the moves on” someone.

#3 Hector

(2/6)
6% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  3/5 (55.8%)
Approval Rating (F): 3/5 (44.2%)
Average Age of Voter: 18.2

Because…

#4 Raven

(12/128)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  4/5 (64.2%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (35.8%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.2

Because…

#5 Matthew

(8/81)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  3/5 (49.7%)
Approval Rating (F): 3/5 (50.3%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.6

Because…

*To better contextualize, it’s written as マシュー (mashuu) in Japanese, which helps one see how the nickname could have come from many Japanese names.

#6 Lyn

(1/1)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  4/5 (78.5%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (21.5%)
Average Age of Voter: 18.1

Because…

#7 Lloyd

(18/165)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  4/5 (70.3%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (29.7%)
Average Age of Voter: 17.3

Because…

#8 Lucius

(13/132)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  2/5 (36.3%)
Approval Rating (F): 4/5 (63.7%)
Average Age of Voter: 17.4

Because…

#9 Canas

(10/113)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M):  3/5 (52.2%)
Approval Rating (F): 3/5 (47.8%)
Average Age of Voter: 17.4

Because…

#10 Rebecca

(11/117)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (77.9%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (22.1%)
Average Age of Voter: 18.5

Because…

Everyone Else (53%)

#11 Jaffar

(7/73)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#12 Karel

(29/279)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#13 Guy

(17/146)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

*I quoted the equivalent line from localization they were referring to, but this is a slight mistranslation in the localization, as he said “swordsman” specifically.

#14 Legault

(24/212)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

*In Japanese, the equivalent line in Dragon’s Gate was:  いーよ別に (ii yo betsuni) . It’s more fluttery in its tone than in ENG, so I’d translate it more like: “It’s allll good!”

#15 Florina

(6/71)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#16 Rath

(19/174)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#17 Ninian

(9/100)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#18 Wil

(26/238)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#19 Serra

(14/133)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

*The localized script doesn’t translate Serra’s signature reaffirmation ねぇ (neh) into anything in particular, but the commenter used it here, translated as “y’know.”

#20 Priscilla

(21/192)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#21 Erk

(16/143)
Approval Rating (M):2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#22 Ursula

(20/176)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#23 Fiora

(23/202)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#24 Sain

(15/139)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#25 Heath

(28/254)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

*In the Japanese commercial for Blazing Blade, it shows Heath’s death and quote (at about 0:19). It seems to have left an impression on some people and became a bit of a joke.

#26 Karla

(35/307)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#27 Pent

(22/195)
Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#28 Farina

(31/287)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#29 Kent

(27/243)
Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#30 Roland

(NA/NA)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

(The rest below are from the book, and so only have one or two comments to them).

#31 Uther

(NA/NA)

#32 Bramimond

(NA/NA)

#33 Bartre

(50/501)

#34 Nils

(30/285)

#35 Marcus

(42/388)

#36 Leila

(25/225)

#37 Louise

(34/306)

#38 Lowen

(44/410)

#39 Oswin

(36/325)

#40 Merlinus

(30/425)

#41 Anna

(NA/NA – Not polled for FE6/7 specifically)

#42 Limstella

(32/295)

#43 Harken

(46/437)

#44 Wallace

(41/374)

#45 Murdok

(NA/NA)

#46 Hawkeye

(40/371)

#47 Guinivere

(43/405)

#48 Athos

(37/326)

#49 Uhai

(NA/NA)

#50 Linus

(47/447)

#51 Vaida

(53/601)

#52 Renault

(52/570)

#53 Fargus

(NA/NA)

#54 Elbert

(NA/NA)

#55 Dart

(39/363)

#56 Kishuna

(NA/NA)

#57 Zephiel

(54/627)

#58 Ephidel

(45/435)

#59 Jasmine

(NA/NA)

#60 Geitz

(51/511)

#61 Dorcas

(3/21)

#62 Paul

(NA/NA)

#63 Brendan

(NA/NA)

#64 Erik

(NA/NA)

#65 Sonia

(33/304)

#66 Isadora

(48/456)

#67 Nergal
(49/467)

#68 Hannah

(NA/NA)

#69 Durban

(NA/NA)

Binding Blade (FE6)

Overall stats:

#1 Roy

(1/5)
11% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (80.7%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (19.3%)
Average Age of Voters: 14.9

Because…

*This is his victory quote from Smash Bros. Melee: 守るべきもののために、負けられない (mamoru beki mono no tameni, makerarenai)

#2 Rutger

(5/124)
8% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (74.7%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (25.3%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.4

Because…

#3 Lilina

(2/49)
5% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (72.8%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (27.2%)
Average Age of Voter: 17.2

Because…

#4 Raigh

(16/248)
5% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 2/5 (31.2%)
Approval Rating (F): 4/5 (68.8%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.8

Because…

#5 Fir

(6/152)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (81.5%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (18.5%)
Average Age of Voter: 18.1

Because…

*They use “doping” to mean utilizing stat boosting items to increase stats (mostly to the max) in case that wasn’t clear.

#6 Shanna

(7/166)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (77.9%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (22.1%)
Average Age of Voter:  17.8

Because…

#7 Lugh

(10/219)
4% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 3/5 (56.9%)
Approval Rating (F): 3/5 (43.1%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.1

Because…

#8 Wolt

(15/245)
3% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 3/5 (43.3%)
Approval Rating (F): 3/5 (56.7%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.5

Because…

#9 Dieck

(9/209)
3% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 4/5 (79.0%)
Approval Rating (F): 2/5 (21.0%)
Average Age of Voter: 16.3

Because…

#10 Sophia

(4/90)
3% of overall vote
Approval Rating (M): 5/5 (87.5%)
Approval Rating (F): 1/5 (12.5%)
Average Age of Voter: 17.3

Because…

Everyone Else (50%)

#11 Hugh

(26/340)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#12 Thea

(20/298)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#13 Fae

(8/194)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

*The book lists these two sentences as two separate comments, the website as one single one. I went with the website.

#14 Clarine

(12/231)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#15 Zeiss

(32/433)
Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#16 Lance

(33/434)
Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#17 Alen

(36/444)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#18 Narcian

(11/226)

Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

*Both are a reference to the line Clarine says:

あなたなんか お兄さまと比べればお月さまとスッポンですわよ!

The fan translation translated it as: “Comparing you and my brother is like comparing a turkey to a peacock!” Not a literal translation, but an equivalent phrase. Literally, it could mean she was comparing the beauty of the moon (her brother) to a turtle (Narcian), but she was also likely referencing an idiom 月とすっぽん, which is used to mean. “like the difference between heaven and hell.”  I went with the fan translation for consistency.

#19 Sue

(24/335)
Approval Rating (M): 3/5
Approval Rating (F): 3/5

Because…

#20 Chad

(27/361)

Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#21 Karel

(40/463)

Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#22 Galle

(38/457)

Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#23 Perceval

(21/301)

Approval Rating (M): 2/5
Approval Rating (F): 4/5

Because…

#24 Cecilia

(13/235)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#25 Ogier

(45/497)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#26 Eliwood

(31/427)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#27 Melady

(25/338)
Approval Rating (M): 4/5
Approval Rating (F): 2/5

Because…

#28 Gwendolyn

(23/310)

Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#29 Zephiel

(18/274)

Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#30 Trec

(48/529)
Approval Rating (M): 5/5
Approval Rating (F): 1/5

Because…

#31 Geese
(41/464)

#32 Saul

(35/443)

#33 Larum

(53/594)

#34 Echidna

(22/305)

#35 Klein

(42/470)

#36 Elen

(50/550)

#37 Brunnya

(37/450)

#38 Marcus

(44/495)

#39 Noah

(28/411)

#40 Sin

(43/492)

#41 Cath

(34/436)

#42 Dorothy

(39/461)

#43 Bartre

(51/555)

#44 Elffin

(57/665)

#45 Hector

(17/271)

#46 Gonzalez

(19/280)

#47 Anna

(NA/NA)

#48 Juno

(56/620)

#49 Murdock

(54/608)

#50 Merlinus

(30/425)

#51 Jahn

(60/708)

#52 Igrene

(29/423)

#53 Bors

(47/521)

#54 Kel

(NA/NA)

#55 Orlo

(NA/NA)

#56 Ein

(NA/NA)

#57 Douglas

(52/562)

#58 Lot

(3/88)

#59 Niime

(49/546)

#60 Yoder

(63/730)

#61 Garret

(62/279)

*Literally, スキンヘッド (skinhead). It’s unlikely they were aiming for the English connotation and thus was translated accordingly.

#62 Barthe

(55/611)

#63 Wade

(58/682)

#64 Zelot

(61/709)

#65 Rose

(NA/NA)

#66 Guinivere

(43/405)

#67 Windham

(NA/NA)

#68 Maggie

(NA/NA)

#69 Leygance

(NA/NA)

#70 Scott

(NA/NA)

#71 Henning

(NA/NA)

#72 Erik

(NA/NA)

#73 Rude

(NA/NA)

#74 Raith

(NA/NA)

#75 Astolfo

(59/700)

#76 Sigune

(NA/NA)

#77 Monke

(NA/NA)

#78 Damas

(NA/NA)

#79 Slater

(NA/NA)

#80 Ohtz

(NA/NA)


General Notes:


And that’s that! Several weeks of work and 49 pages in MS Word to make this post. I hope this serves as a fun reference for fans, and I hope to continue to do things in the future to better show Japanese fan opinions among other things!

What are some of your favorite comments? I’d love to hear!

It also shows how far Lot and Dorcas really came probably thanks to western fans, huh?

Advertisements

Advertisements