History ValuesDissonance / Videogames

Just like in [[ValuesDissonance/AnimeAndManga Anime & Manga]], there's plenty of stuff intended for Japanese audiences that might baffle western sensibilities. The reverse is also true.

*** On the stairs in the Shinra HQ, Tifa casually insults Barret's intelligence by calling him a "retard", as the word was commonplace at the time the game was produced. Nowadays, the word is considered an extremely offensive and discriminatory slur, and totally unacceptable for usage in conversation. It especially jumps out because, in the rest of the game, [[OutOfCharacterMoment Tifa is the exact kind of person who'd be horrified at someone using a slur like that]].

*** In Fourside, The (underage) protagonists can walk into a building labeled "Bar" in the Japanese version. Kids aren't allowed in bars in the states, so this was changed to "Cafe" in the English localization. Interestingly enough, the sprites for an NPC with a slightly pink face and who is holding what is clearly a glass of beer (though the dialogue ''[[BlatantLies insists]]'' that it's coffee) was unchanged, making him drunk on FrothyMugsOfWater.

* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' has humor dissonance thanks to its decade of DevelopmentHell. The previous games of the early nineties were considered funny and the eponymous character was a fresh take on a video game protagonist rather than being a [[ASpaceMarineIsYou faceless, voiceless space marine]]. However, when ''Forever'' came out, Duke's dialogue, humor, and the overall tone of the game [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece felt wildly out of date]], since the things that once made the franchise, the gameplay, and the title character seem so outrageous and innovative had become [[OnceOriginalNowCommon commonplace and unsurprising]], and things that seemed hilarious in the [=90s=] were considered unfunny at best and [[UnfortunateImplications unpleasant]] at worst.

*** Any mention of [[WouldHurtAChild inflicting corporal punishment to children]] was changed for the English localization. When Aloysius spanks Porky and Picky off-screen for sneaking out late at night, the sound effect is changed to a synthesized yell (though many players still caught on to what really happened). Porky's line about his butt hurting was also changed to him complaining about not getting any desert for the rest of the decade. Likewise, Tony's warning that Jeff will get spanked if he gets caught sneaking out of boarding school was changed to a generic claim that he'll "get punished big time." While there are many adults that still believe in corporal punishment, it's rarely portrayed positively or for laughs anymore due to the implications of child abuse.
*** In Fourside, The (underage) protagonists can walk into a building labeled "Bar" in the Japanese version. Kids aren't allowed in bars in the states, so this was changed to "Cafe" in the English localization. Interestingly enough, the sprites for an NPC with a slightly pink face and who is holding what is clearly a glass of beer (though the dialogue ''[[BlatantLies insists]]'' that it's coffee) was unchanged, making him DrunkOnMilk.

** TheCasino is a rather common trope in video games - however sometimes it's merely a [[CasinoPark setting]] that focuses on aesthetics and occasional gimmicks. Other games, however, may have actual casino games such as Slot machines, Table games[[labelnote:*]]These include games like Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat, Roulette, craps.[[/labelnote]], mahjong, and sometimes betting on races. Games that can be used to accrue in-game rewards such as currency or usable items. North America and Japan don't care so much about them as long as no real-life money can be used to play these minigames, they are entirely optional, and players do not receive any monetary benefit outside said game. This is not the case in other parts of the world which are much stricter on gambling. This has caused actual changes made to the games (See the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' entry below), or for certain regions to give games a higher age-rating (Such as ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni'' being given the Korean-equivalent of an "18" rating) as even ''simulated'' gambling can be seen as illegal.

** Yukari Takeba's [[AmericansHateTingle sizeable Western hatedom]] stems predominantly from her having the unfortunate combination of this trope and a ScrappyMechanic. In a game that depends on you [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 mastering Social Links]], and with the ability to [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust Reverse and Break Social Links]], Yukari's Social Link depends ''heavily'' on [[ItMakesSenseInContext understanding a Japanese perception about personal strength, responsibility and maturity]]. These are so contrary to typical Western perceptions that she is the absolute easiest character in the game to accidentally mess up with. Of particular note is one case in which you can Reverse her Social Link by choosing to hug her when she's at a low point. As mentioned elsewhere, hugging is a highly intimate act in Japan, but one that many Westerners wouldn't think much of since hugging a friend who is feeling down is considered socially acceptable, at least as long as the person being hugged feels close enough relationship-wise. At the point that the hug comes up, many Western players felt it was appropriate to do so given the connection developed by that point, when in truth Yukari is not quite there yet with the player. In ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'', the Reverse-triggering dialogue option is to say you stepped in because Yukari's a girl, a comment that comes off as sexist.

** Whenever a new system is released, it's ''strongly'' marketed in PAL and NA territories as the successor to the previous system. Retailers start reducing shelf and floor space for the previous gen systems once the new system comes out. This sometimes causes developers and publishers to be a little wary about releasing "major" games on previous systems, with some games being rumoured to have started life on the previous generation and then been quickly moved to the next gen out of fear people would overlook them. This is ''completely'' different in Japan -- in which several "major" games sometimes release on the platform near when the successor came out, or even ''after'' the successor came out, and people may even still buy them. Japan's almost always the last one to discontinue a console, if it's created by Nintendo or Sony. (The Xbox [[AmericansHateTingle historically hasn't done well in Japan]], despite a small boost in the late 2000s)

* ''VideoGame/AstralChain'' is a game in which you play as a heroically portrayed SuperCop fighting alien monsters, and therefore has a largely rose-tinted treatment of law enforcement. While it would go by without comment in Japan, where public attitudes towards the police are still largely positive, the game's themes received a divided response in America, where highly-publicized instances of PoliceBrutality, especially against minorities, had resulted in several protests against the police, [[https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2019/6/17/18682365/astral-chain-nintendo-switch-e3-2019-platinumgames-interview-nier-automata something director Takahisa Taura acknowledged in an interview]].

* The ''Mother'' series gets hit with this in several moments:

* ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'': Bombo is a ''very'' poor depiction of a Saudi Arabian, having a stereotypical accent, scorched {{red|is violent}} skin, and most unfortunately of all, [[MiddleEasternTerrorists being specialized in bombing]]. The ''[[VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy Reignited Trilogy]]'' attempts to alleviate this by having him be renamed to [[{{Bowdlerise}} Bob]], removing the accent, and redesigning him to look more like a [[JackassGenie genie]], but he regrettably still retains his proficiency in bombing.

** 2019's ''VideoGame/StoryOfSeasonsFriendsOfMineralTown'' reintroduces the "Best Friend" system as a GayOption in all-but-name. The player can "befriend" any bachelor or bachelorette of the same gender. This has been met with criticism by non-Japanese fans because it seems too close to HideYourLesbians, especially compared to similar games like ''VideoGame/StardewValley'' which have gay marriage. Xseed's localization into English removes the separation of terms and uses the same phrasing for all marriage candidates (also removing the extra step the original requires for displaying hearts for same-gender relationships), which has been supported by the original developers.

* ''VideoGame/TheTowerOfDruaga''. The game boasts a 60-dungeon floor with many treasures to uncover, many of which are required or else the game becomes much harder at best and UnwinnableByDesign at worst. The treasures often have [[GuideDangIt absolutely obtuse requirements for revealing them]], and just to make matters worse, some treasures actually ''hinder'' the player despite their obscure requirements. The game was a hit in its native Japan, but failed to find an audience in western market tests, and was never officially exported as a result. Part of the reason it succeeded in Japan is that Japanese gaming communities tend to be more communal; players at arcades will often exchange strategies to help benefit each other, and some arcades will have guestbooks for customers to write in, often to discuss these strategies. By watching others play, one could learn how to unlock each floor's respective treasure without having to commit a lot of TrialAndErrorGameplay; in the '80s, well before the age of the Internet as an affordable service, discussing with and watching other players at the arcade was the only way to finish the game if you didn't subscribe to magazines or the like. The idea of arcades being places where players socialize is somewhat lost on Westerners, and especially would've been back in the '80s. In the current day, "barcades" are becoming increasingly common, and some parts of the U.S. (such as Seattle, in particular) have embraced more sociable arcades, but it's not a widespread attitude save for scattered pockets of FightingGame players, RhythmGame players, and {{pinball}} players. On top of that, there is the commonly-Western [[StopHavingFunGuys idea that using guides and others' playthroughs to facilitate one's own progress in a video game is a sign of weakness]], or at the very least [[RevenueEnhancingDevices extortionary]].

** ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves'' has one job in Episode 3 where the Cooper Gang steals an Indian ruby from the temple the ArcVillain is hiding in and sells it to the black market, in exchange for a bomb for the heist. In the current decade, it would be impossible to depict the selling of a cultural artifact on the black market in a remotely positive light, especially for buying explosives.

** Actually, the ones rated A were all games before 5, that is 1-4 and D2, including all remasters, even the newest ones. Meanwhile, 5 is rated B (12+), 6 and 7 are rated C (15+).

** Actually, the ones rated A were all games before 5, that is 1-4 and D2, including all remasters, even the newest ones. 5 is rated B (12+), 6 and 7 are rated C (15+).

** Actually, the ones rated A were all games before 5, that is 1-4 and D2, including all remasters, even the newest ones. 5 is rated B (12+), 6 and 7 are rated C (15+), which is the same rating games like VideoGame/Persona and VideoGame/Neptunia usually have.

*** The TeacherStudentRomance aspect between Byleth and their students, while not seen as completely uncomfortable in Japan, is more divisive among the Western fans due to the age gap and power difference, [[spoiler:even after the 5 year time skip where they're not students anymore]].

** Yukari Takeba's [[AmericansHateTingle sizeable Western hatedom]] stems predominantly from her having the unfortunate combination of this trope and a ScrappyMechanic. In a game that depends on you [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 mastering Social Links]], and with the ability to [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust Reverse and Break Social Links]], Yukari's Social Link depends ''heavily'' on [[ItMakesSenseInContext understanding a Japanese perception about personal strength, responsibility and maturity]]. These are so contrary to typical Western perceptions that she is the absolute easiest character in the game to accidentally mess up with. Of particular note is one case in which you can Reverse her Social Link by choosing to hug her when she's at a low point. As mentioned elsewhere, hugging is a highly intimate act in Japan, but one that many Westerners wouldn't think much of since hugging a friend who is feeling down is considered socially acceptable, at least as long as the person being hugged feels close enough relationship-wise. At the point that the hug comes up, many Western players felt it was appropriate to do so given the connection developed by that point, when in truth Yukari is not quite there yet with the player.

*** Additionally, the fact that ''Fates'' features a bisexual protagonist with two same-sex options was seen as quaint (and in some cases, not good enough) by Western gamers, since same-sex romance options are a fairly common feature of franchises like ''Franchise/MassEffect'' and ''Franchise/DragonAge''. However, this was indeed ''quite'' progressive...in Japan, which is actually ''not'' as LGBT friendly as [[YaoiFangirl some people]] like to believe. Meanwhile, Forrest is mocked in the west for his [[DudeLooksLikeALady appearance]], even though ''that'' isn't seen as controversial in Japan.

*** Rise has a similar situation with ironically the opposite outcome, whilst at an extreme low point on her route that has brought her to tears, choosing to hug Rise immediately initiates a relationship. In Japan, this is an obvious and expected outcome of giving a ''very'' intimate gesture, while by staying back you're simply being a friend to her. Americans are far more used to platonic hugging and so they tend to see it the other way around; by hugging her, you're being a supportive friend, and standing back and watching as she has a breakdown comes off as [[NoSympathy really]] [[LackOfEmpathy cold]].

* ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'': Given that this is a series about members of highly traditional and conservative Japanese organizations, some culture clash, even with contemporary Japanese culture (let alone Western culture) is all but given.
** A ''big'' one that comes up several times in ''VideoGame/Yakuza1'' is corporeal punishment in regards to children, with two young girls getting slapped by their respective father figures for what essentially amounts to backtalk. To Western audiences, this should have been enough to send both characters careening past the MoralEventHorizon, but in Japan, where corporeal punishment is much less of a deal and disrespecting your elders ''much'' more of one, it passed without comment.
** Majima's introductory scene in ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' contains another prime example. A brutish man who turns out to be a high-powered executive, gropes a hostess, full on hand-in-bra, and assaults two staff members who attempt to stop him. However, as he is being carted off to the police, Majima maneuvers him into agreeing to paying for drinks for the club instead, stating that he does not wish to see a customer made a criminal, and also pays a bonus to the hostess. To a Westerner, the only thing in this scene that is comprehensible is Majima's desire to make money, which he inevitably will, given that the club is drinking on someone else's dime. However, that someone who attacked multiple employees would be allowed to just walk... simply wouldn't happen. Japan, however, has a significantly higher tolerance for drunken stupidity (according to legend, it is completely acceptable to punch your boss, provided you are drunk enough to forget it in the morning and apologize when someone tells you) and a much lower tolerance for police involvement. A man at that social level who was arrested, let alone tried and convicted, would be fired immediately to preserve the company's reputation, and be unemployable as anything other than a menial. Meanwhile, a hostess is very emphatically not a prostitute, and those kinds of services are not for sale, but being groped by a customer who is drunk and handsy is one of the risks of the job, and receiving monetary compensation from your employer for it would be considered quite generous.
** In ''VideoGame/Yakuza2'', the police chief casually mentions that no civilian, even an ex-cop PrivateDetective like Date, has any business owning and carrying a firearm. An attitude like that would be political suicide [[EveryoneHasStandards even in the most left-leaning parts]] of the US, and a bit excessive in most of the rest of the world.
*** Also in ''Yakuza 2'', Kiryu and Ryuji choose to duke it out once and for all at the end. This is in spite of both of them suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the building being set to blow, and Kaoru pleading for them to not go through with it. To honor-bound Japanese men who believe they are running out of time, wanting to die at the hands of a WorthyOpponent makes perfect sense, but to the rest of the world it comes across as both men being willing to die for the sake of [[HonorBeforeReason completely worthless and unnecessary macho posturing]].
*** Yet another example is the character of Jiro "Killer" Kawara, a CowboyCop with a reputation for gunning down suspects and a preference for going after foreigners in general and Koreans in particular. He has his reasons, but even with them, he still comes across as [[PoliceBrutality a raging]] [[BigotWithABadge racist douchebag]] to a modern Western audience. The narrative, on the other hand, treats him [[DesignatedHero as a clear-cut hero]] (for a given value of "hero", at least; this is a ''Yakuza''-game).
** ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'': The whole orphanage subplot was heavily disliked by most western audiences, who saw it as needless filler in their [[MemeticMutation serious crime drama]]. In Japan, however, where families and families' status are ''extremely'' important and orphans are heavily discriminated against, the ways and differences in how the kids, Kiryu and the BigBad deal with their respective orphan status and the social stigma that follows with it is considered one of the most important themes in the game.
** A cutscene in ''VideoGame/Yakuza4'' shows a flashback of Goro Majima giving a watermelon as a gift. In Japan, watermelons are extremely expensive, so this is a significant gesture. For people in countries where they can be bought at any supermarket, this looked [[{{Narm}} goofy enough]] to [[MemeticMutation become a meme]].
** ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'': Several {{Idol Singer}}s are forced to abandon their singing careers for reasons like [[HalfBreedDiscrimination being half-Korean]], [[SlutShaming being sexually active]], or [[SinsOfOurFathers having familial connections]] [[MafiaPrincess to organized crime]]. In the Western world, where it is not unknown for people with multiple criminal convictions to maintain careers in entertainment, most of these things would be ignored, decried for rampant hypocrisy (given how deep the yakuza's ties to the Japanese music world are), or at worst raise a minor stink until the tabloids move on to the next juicy tidbit. However, the idol scene takes ContractualPurity to an extreme degree, and girls who are found in any way less than the pinnacle of virginal Japanese womanhood will quickly find themselves replaced by [[WeHaveReserves the next batch of hopefuls]].
** ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'': Masato Arakawa's self-loathing is quite strange to many people in the world. Granted, being wheelchair-bound is not something anyone would want, and IJustWantToBeNormal is a common and powerful enough motivation to be its own trope. Still, the sheer depths of his self-hatred and resentment, and the lengths he is willing to go to in order to get out of his wheelchair, are staggering to most of the world. In Japan, where people with physical disabilities were considered perfectly acceptable targets for public ridicule well into the 2010s (and, as of 2021, still are to an appalling extent), and that Japan didn't ratify the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_the_Rights_of_Persons_with_Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] until 2014, it becomes a lot more both understandable and poignant.
** Behind the scenes, Tanimura's voice actor Hiroki Narimiya was [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor fired from the series]], and the character was quietly written out after Narimiya was accused of having used cocaine. Narimiya was tried and acquitted of all charges against him (something which, in the Japanese legal system, simply does not happen), but in Japan, the fact that the accusation had been made at all was enough that he needed to be fired in order to [[SlaveToPR preserve the company's reputation]]. In most of the world, a drug charge might be serious enough to get an actor fired, but a mere accusation would just be laughed out of the building. History repeated itself with ''VideoGame/{{Judgment}}'', where Pierre Taki's arrest for possession and use of cocaine led to the game being recalled so Sega could replace his character's voice and [[InkSuitActor appearance]]. While [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor changing the actor for future games]] would be understandable, doing this with a product that was already released comes across as extreme from a Western perspective.

* ''VideoGame/TheLongestJourney'' was made in 1999 and 2000, and it was rated "M". [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny Playing it today]], you would actually be ''wondering'' why it is rated "M", as any violence, gore, and innuendo is what the ESRB actually allows in a game rated "T" today.

* ''VideoGame/NightTrap'' was very controversial when it came out and was partly responsible for the creation of the ESRB (though much of this was due to misinformation about the game). [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny Nowadays, it looks downright tame]], and very {{Narm}}y. The re-release made of it made 25 years later only got a T rating, and was released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch despite then-president of Nintendo of America Howard Lincoln testifying before Congress that the game would never appear on a Nintendo console.