Is the translation for this game better then the one that was included in the Japanese version or is it the same game boxed up in US packaging?
Well onto the game. Unlike the previous tournment game, you actually move a character around and challenge other duelists. The dueling system has a new layout but it functions the same way the other games did. The ability to set the timing of trap or magic cards is the biggest improvement in this version. No more being asked to activate a trap card every step of the duel. A big drawback to this game is that it only has 1000 cards and is lacking some cards that some duelists need for their custom deck configurations.
A list of the cards not in the game (Credit goes to CloudKillax on GameFAQs board):
-Any Card from AST-FET
-Obelisk the Tormentor
-The Winged Dragon of Ra
-Osiris the Sky Dragon
-Spirit Reaper
-Reaper on the Nighmare
-Dark Flare Knight
-Ryu Senshi
-Dark Balter the Terrible
-Fiend Skull Dragon
-Injection Fairy Lily
-Reasoning
-Dramatic Rescue
-Amazoness Spellcaster
-Rite of Spirit
-Necrovalley
-Magic Reflector
-Amazoness Paladin
-Amazoness Tiger
-Amazoness Blowpiper
-Amazoness Chainwielder
-Amazoness Archers
-Valkyrion the Magnet Warrior
-Berserk Gorilla
-Breaker the Magical Warrior
-Butterfly Dagger - Elma
-Magical Marionette
-Royal Magical Library
-Armor EXE
-Apprentice Magician
-Gather Your Mind
-Megaton Magical Cannon (SP?)
-Pitch-Black Power Stone
-Skilled Dark Magician
-Skilled White Magician
-Dark Paladin
-Blade Knight
-Insect Queen
-Spirit Reaper
-Vampire Lord
-Deck Destruction Virus of Death\Crush Card
-Big Shield Guardna
-Dark Sage
-Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth
-Sword Hunter
-Tornado Wall
-Vengeful Bog Spirit
-Backup Soldier
-Solemn Judgment
-Second Coin Toss
-Helpoemer
-Beast of Gilfer
-The Last Warrior from Another Planet
-Lord of D.
-The Flute of Summoning Dragon
-Great Moth
-Mirage of Nightmare
-Drop Off
-Masked Beast Des Guardius
-Embodiment of Opopis
-Dark Necrofear
-Freed the Matchless General
-Scapegoat
-Multiply
-Magic Arm-Shield
-Lava Golem
-Dark Ruler Ha Des
-All the crappy commons that no one cares about
If you're a YuGiOh fan you're probably already hunting this game down, but the repetition will turn off other gamers that are not fans of the card game.