Macstorm said:That's exactly my point. The element most people cared for was the charm of the localization. I agree with that exactly, but those upset that Vic isn't involved seem to automatically assume that XSEED couldn't do the same quality of work. That's where I have a problem; people assuming that only Victor Ireland can do Lunar. I'd like to give XSEED the benefit of the doubt and at least see what they have to offer before I write it off or get disinterested.
I'm not assuming that XSEED can't do a quality job; I don't hate XSEED. In fact, I just took a look at my collection spreadsheet, and I see that I have seven games that they've localized. I think that's a pretty good portion of their body of work. I passed on Avalon Code and Populous due to poor reviews, and I have no interest in the shitty Valhalla Knights games so I'm definitely not getting those... but I've purchased Shadow Hearts 3, all three of the XSEED Wild ARMs games (4, 5, XF), Retro Game Challenge, Brave Story, and Little King's Story (which they translated internally, and I think they did a great job on). And looking at their upcoming portfolio, I'm also planning on getting Arc Rise Fantasia and Fragile. So clearly I don't hate them, nor am I boycotting them or anything like that.
But I don't think they deserve some sort of benefit of the doubt here, and an increased amount of disinterest is natural and expected. As I said previously: if this remake offered the upgraded graphics that it is offering combined with a touched-up translation based on the original or a new translation by the guy who did the original and made it a classic, it'd be a day-one-no-hesitation buy from me because I wouldn't have any doubts -- it'd retain all that I liked about the original plus some improvements. Now, though, what we're getting is an RPG with okay gameplay (not a huge selling point) and upgraded graphics (not a huge selling point) and a new translation that may be as good as the first. But I don't know if it will be (it's a fairly high bar), so it might as well be any other random new game rather than anything I'm purchasing based on affection for the original... so now XSEED has to sell me on a game that they otherwise wouldn't have had to sell me on. And unless they do deliver a translation easily the equal of (if not surpassing) the original, that'll be a tough sell. Not saying they can't do it, but I'm going to wait and see.