First of all, both games are awesome. I played them again and again. And I want to share with you guys a few cultural differences I notice in these 2 games.
1) In the Japanese version, a lot of the cheering is for folks doing cold, hard and honest work. e.g. One episode shows a fresh-grad interviewing for a job. Another one shows a sumo wrestler busting his big bottom to avoid the close-down of his dojo. There is another one about a passionate doctor helping out poor islanders with various problems. It is just not the same in EBA. The dancing girl is the only character that is really doing a cold, hard and honest work. And she definitely needs some cheering-up to make it to Broadway.
2) In EBA, there are a couple of episodes in which the main characters are just trying to get rich fast. One episode shows an ex-oil-tycoon trying to get back his riches through digging. Another one shows a boat captain going for lost treasure undersea. In Ouendan 2, a couple of characters do get rich. But it is only because they achieve a certain level of success in their corresponding cold, hard and honest work/job.
3) Not quite sure if everybody agree with me or not. The Japanese can sometimes need a lot of help in relationship. In Ouendan 2, there is the young boy trying to open up to his crush through some silly acts. There is also the wolfman having trouble hiding his bad side from his dream date. In EBA, love is more direct. Mr. Da Vinci is right to the point in getting to know Miss Mona Lisa in one of the earlier episodes.
4) In EBA, there are episodes in which the main character is cat or dog. I can't find similar episodes in Ouendan 2. I always think the Japanese and Americans are both very pet-friendly. Perhaps, they can add a few more "Cat"/"Dog" episodes in Ouendan 3
5) There a bunch of disasters for the heroes to save the day in EBA. One episode shows a truck driver saving a zombie-infested city with beans. Another shows a baseball player saving a kid from a fire golem. I think Ouendan 2 is more light-hearted in a relative way. The worst that happens is a giant cat roaming free in the city threatening a small factory.
6) The final episode in EBA is to fight off the aliens while the Japanese got to reverse the global warming trend in the last episode in Ouendan 2. May be it is a reflection of the biggest fear for these 2 different groups of people. I think the Japanese are always more concerned with natural disasters while the American are always more concerned to be under attack.
7) Lovely, energetic dancing girls are always a boost to morale no matter what culture you are from.
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