User blog comment:Mckrongs/Monster Hunter 4 for the Nintendo 3DS/@comment-6050823-20130224233523/@comment-5489419-20130225085157

I respect the Japanese language and all who can speak and write it fluently. English is more accessible for me, being a native English speaker born in the U.S. Disclaimer aside, Gore Magala sounds totally brutal, probably because of the Gore in it.

When it comes to localizing, changing or altering names, you need to come at it with an open mind--and I mean really open. You have to take the thought of the, in this case, Japanese name and put it outside for a little bit while you comprehend the new name.


 * Goa Magara | <--- That's the closed window. Goa Magara is outside the house, peering at you and wanting in, but it just peed on your rug and it needs to stay out there for a while.

Gore Magala is here now. Remember, Goa Magara is out of the picture for now. At face value, without anything to compare it to, Gore Magala doesn't sound half as bad as anything. The same could be said for Nibelsnarf when Hapurubokka is outside with Goa Magara. With nothing to compare it to, Nibelsnarf is a cute little name for a sand fish with a colorful belly. It's not a name that's supposed to strike fear; I don't even think it was intended to strike fear into you, despite what I hear about Nibelsnarf being a nightmare to fight.

Sigh. I think I should just vent it here that I really dislike it when people constantly criticize these names. Gore Magala isn't even a Western-localized name and yet people pick it apart like it was going to be canon. It isn't even that bad and yet it's just DREADFUL for us, the people who hardly get any Monster Hunter titles. Can't we be thankful for what we get? Can't we be kind and reassuring to our Eastern brethren instead of intimidating? They, Capcom, want to please us with all of their localizations, and look what they get in response to their hard work and dedication: "Nibelsnarf is a terrible name, change it!" "Oh my god, why did you name it Nibelsnarf? I'm just going to call it Hapurubokka from now on." "Thanks, Capcom, for giving the monster a stupid name."

Honestly, despite how much work I hypothetically would have put into releasing it to other countries, I would've just dumped all progress on the localization and wrote something close to this to the "fans." To me, it's just shameful and picky.

I suppose this is more than two cents, so, here's a dollar.