"The Last Story" is an action role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and Artoon, and published by Nintendo for the Wii console. Released in 2011, the game follows the story of Zael, a young mercenary who becomes embroiled in a conflict between various factions in the world of Lazulis.
While Nintendo of Europe delivered a highly distinct, charming British-cast localization for The Last Story , many JRPG enthusiasts prefer the original voice actors (Seiyuu). The Japanese voice track features acclaimed voice talent who deliver performances specifically tuned to Sakaguchi's cinematic timing and facial animations. An undub offers the best of both worlds:
The Last Story (Undub Edition) is a fan-modified version of the 2011 Wii JRPG that restores the original Japanese voice acting while retaining English subtitles and interface. Developed by Mistwalker and directed by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, the game is celebrated for its innovative real-time tactical combat and cinematic scope.
An "undubbed" version of a game typically refers to a version that has not been altered to include dubbing or voice acting in a different language. In the case of "The Last Story", the undubbed ISO likely refers to the original Japanese version of the game, which features the original voice acting and script.
Whether you're playing on a real Wii or Dolphin, you may encounter a few issues: The Last Story Wii Iso Undub Fates
hears himself shouting in English during battle but whispering strategy in Japanese during save points. Calista speaks formally in English but prays in ancient Japanese dialect. The villain Zangurak cycles between two motivations—one tragic, one pure evil—depending on which audio layer is active.
An "Undub" is a fan-made modification of the game ISO. It essentially performs audio surgery: it strips the English voice files out of the Western version of the game and replaces them with the original Japanese audio files from the Asian release. The result is a game that plays in English (menus, subtitles, and text) but sounds Japanese, preserving the director's original intent for character voices.
In the world of emulation and modding, an "undub" refers to a game that has been unofficially patched to replace localized audio with the original spoken language. For The Last Story , this means:
Common pitfalls and fixes
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| Feature | Standard Undub | The Last Story Wii ISO Undub Fates | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Japanese (swapped) | Japanese, with higher bitrate encoding | | Lip Flap Syncing | Usually broken (English flaps with Japanese audio) | Re-animated lip sync via hex-editing | | BGM/Soundtrack | Unchanged | Restored Japanese composition levels (Western release had quieter battle music) | | Menu Text | Unchanged | Optional "Names patch" to use Japanese spellings (e.g., "Jirugaa" vs "Zilqu") | | Censorship | Present (nudity/alcohol references removed) | Fully restored JP visual assets | | Stability | Standard | Bug fixes for the infamous "Chapter 18 freeze" on Dolphin emulator |
While the English voice acting was generally considered competent—avoiding some of the cringe-worthy pitfalls of earlier eras—it inevitably changed the tone of the characters. Zael, the protagonist, sounded different; the banter between the mercenary group lost a specific cadence present in the Japanese track.
These versions are typically distributed as ISO files, which are digital 1:1 copies of the game disc used for play on original hardware (via homebrew) or the Dolphin Emulator . Why Fans Seek the "Undub" "The Last Story" is an action role-playing game
: Some users reported that trimmed ISOs built using this method could fail to launch. Therefore, for maximum reliability, the full 7.91 GB ISO on a USB drive or SD card is the preferred method for playing on a modded Wii.
The "Fates" moniker is poetic. It suggests that this version—the one with correct translation, original voices, and restored difficulty—is the intended fate of the game, free from the constraints of 2012 localization budgets and disc space.
An "Undub" is a fan-modified game file where localized voice files are completely replaced with the original Japanese audio tracks, while keeping all translated text intact. Official Retail Release (US/PAL) Undub Edition ("Fates" Standard) English (often heavily criticized accents) Original Japanese (Star-studded anime cast) Interface & Text English / Multi-language English / Fully Translated Immersion Factor Medium (lip-syncing issues) High (matches cinematic direction) Atmosphere Standard westernized fantasy Authentic theatrical JRPG
However, obtaining an Undub usually requires owning the game and ripping the ISO yourself, or navigating the murky waters of ROM sites. The legality is questionable, but the intent is almost always preservationist. These modders aren't trying to steal the game; they are trying to curate the experience, merging the best of the translation (English text) with the best of the performance (Japanese audio). The Japanese voice track features acclaimed voice talent