Original post
I have really enjoyed this video series on differences between the Japanese and English version of Final Fantasy VII, although it’s not tremendously helpful at learning Japanese.
Slightly more helpful (at least for a beginner like me) was Tim Teaches Jason Japanese: CHRONO TRIGGER where the same guy teaches an absolute beginner some Japanese basics while playing the Japanese version of Chrono Trigger. Unfortunately there’s only 3 parts.
Also I found this youtube channel of ClydeMandelin, a professional translator who does comparisons, but it’s not really aimed at (beginner) language learners, as there is from what I have seen next to no grammar explanations. He more goes through the script and tells the audience in English what’s different in the original version.Do you by chance know similar resources where a JRPG, preferrably from the SNES era, is lenghtily dissected for grammar and kanji? Please do share.
The following is a list of video resources about Japanese-language video games that aim to be instructive to a Japanese-learning viewer. Sorted by 'scientific criteria for utility` personal preference.
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GameGengo’s channel
Less on the gaming and more on the learning side. The main format is showing a short sequence of the Final Fantasy 7 remake , then lenghily dissecting every sentence for vocabulary and grammar points, then a short recap of what was just learned, and then a small quiz. It’s still ongoing. For more advanced learners, there are trailers and gameplay sequences of CyberPunk2077, Ghost of Tsushima, and others which get the same treatment.
FF7R: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT12i1gB38HG1olutL08nID8gaGWHZS4v
Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsXJuG5tSNRr9IwfjMbNvqQ -
GameGrammar’s channel
A really great channel, that is actually two channels because the guy doing the videos changed at one point. The older content is more edited clips (of Pokemon games) that dissect sentences whereas the newer content is unedited streams of playing a game while explaining sentence structure along the way. Detailed grammar instructions are separated in their own videos. Among the games played in this way are Undertale, AceAttourney, PaperMario(TOK), Mario Oddyssey, Ni No Kuni, Okami.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8UqIZlupjIQ3vxcAOEoNug
https://twitch.tv/gamegrammar -
Naoto(尚人)'s Learn Japanese With Manga channel
Albeit branded as learning with manga, there are a few video game videos here as well, namely Mother2 (known as Earthbound in the West) and SuperMarioRPG. It’s both fully read aloud in Japanese with vocabulary/key phrases displayed alongside. Unnecessary parts are edited out. These videos are generally aimed at intermediate learners as the content is Japanese-only, no English.
Mother2 ongoing: Earthbound/MOTHER2 Let's Play & Learn Japanese (N3〜) #1 - YouTube
SMRPG playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-lkYVkDs9DFLdh2x-ela7kMQinqZbju8 -
Japanese Quest’s channel
A guy (and his cat) playing through XenoBlade2, Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild and some other titles while translating and pointing out common words to learn, collecting them in Excel sheets. Focused mainly on vocabulary.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJ7Isbbol88_s24SAqi6WA -
Tim reaches Jason Japanese
Unfortunately discontinued series in which a guy teaches Japanese to a colleague while playing Chrono Trigger. There’s only three parts.
Tim Teaches Jason Japanese: CHRONO TRIGGER (#01) - YouTube -
A slow translation of FF7
Somewhat instructive but mainly comedic and heavily edited series. It’s more of a rollercoaster-ride than a study resource.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsiJPoHlPqEEA07AKMQ2Hm2oRLiGkR_uJ -
Japanese Study with Persona 5
A play-through of Persona 5 with translations and links to the full transcripts with English/Japanese side by side
Japanese Study with Persona 5 - Part 1 - YouTube
DocFirebird's Pastebin - Pastebin.com -
Clyde Mandelin’s channel,
A professional translator, goes through the script of several games, and tells the audience in English what’s different in the original version. Not helpful for beginner to intermediate learners in terms of language acquisition, but interesting still. Mostly features older games from the 8bit era, such as FF6, Earthbound, Zelda. Hours upon hours of content.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ClydeMandelin
