If you appreciate the work done within the wiki, please consider supporting The Cutting Room Floor on Patreon. Thanks for all your support!
The Final Fantasy Legend/Translation Differences
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This is a sub-page of The Final Fantasy Legend.
 | To do: There are probably more dialogue changes. |
Due to the Japanese writing system being able to contain more information in a single glyph than the Latin alphabet, the translations of many items as well as many sets of dialogue were truncated or arbitrarily altered to fit into the small ROMs that were available during the era. There are also many cases where religious references were censored (standard Nintendo policy at the time) and even some misspellings.
For example, the key item Sphere was originally referenced as クリスタル (Crystal), and the currency (GP, standing for "Gold Piece") was originally called ケロ (Kero). The latter change may also have been done to make it similar to the currency present in the Final Fantasy series games.
On the other hand, the North American release introduced eight text icons to show what type some items are. This was done in order to better describe the nature of the items in the limited, 7-character namespace.
| Icon | Item Type |
|---|---|
|
Torso Armor |
|
Shield |
|
Gauntlet |
|
Shoe |
|
Sword |
|
Helmet |
|
Gun (unused) |
|
Book |
(Text Dump: Tower Reversed)
Contents
Miscellaneous
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Final Fantasy Legend | 魔界塔士 Sa・Ga | Warrior of the Spirit World Tower Sa・Ga | Not much to say, except the Japanese title describes the game's ambiance more precisely. |
Now, |
そして いま またひとリ・・・・ |
Now, there is another... | This is the last sentence of the story intro. It was probably added in order to make the sentence more comprehensible. |
YOU CAN'T USE THE ITEM |
アイテムは つかえません |
You can't use this item. | This message is shown during fights when displaying an empty character ability list. |
He don't leave |
おれは いやだぜ |
I don't wanna. | This message is shown at the Guild when trying to replace a living party member. |
Dialogue
| North American | Japanese | Translation |
|---|---|---|
If you want to advance, choose members at the Guild. |
ここから にげだしたい？ ギルドでなかまを あつめろよ |
You want to escape from here? Gather fellows at the guild. |
Bob started it! |
た たかしくんが やろうって いったんだよ！ |
T- Takashi-kun was the one who said to do it! |
Ashura.... |
アーサー……１１かい １９ー３ー２１ |
Arthur... 11th floor 19-3-21 |
is.... |
くろう……１３かい ５０ー２ー１８ |
Kurou... 13th floor 50-2-18 |
controlled.... |
ハーン……１９かい ７２ー６ー１４ |
Han... 19th floor 72-6-14 |
by.... |
ジーク……６かい ２４ー２ー１２ |
Sieg... 6th floor 24-2-12 |
the.... |
リズ……１２かい ８０ー１ー２８ [Char1]『なんだ このきろくは？ いったいだれが…… |
Liz... 12th floor 80-1-28 [Char1]: What is this record? Who the heck... |
[MainChar]:We cannot read this final word. [Char2]:Who controls Ashura....? |
[MainChar]…… [Char2]『こいつらみたいに とちゅう でやられてたまるか！みてろよ |
[MainChar]: ... [Char2]: We we won't be defeated halfway like the others, just you wait! |
The last six are probably the most fascinating text changes. They concern the row of bookcases on the Tower's 20th floor. All these seem like they're "high scores", a record of those who tried previously and failed, where the player party's entry is still unwritten.
The name くろう is written in a script which denotes Japanese names, while the others are in a script used for foreign names.
Fighting Characters
Monsters
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
FLY |
ハエおとこ |
Fly Man | Probably refers to the monster from the horror fantascientific 1958 film The Fly (or its homonymous 1986 remake). |
HORNET |
ハチおんな |
Wasp Woman | |
CICADA |
セミにんげん |
Human Cicada | |
MANTIS |
マンティスキング |
Mantis King | |
SHARK |
ハンマーへッド |
Hammerhead | |
LEVIATHN |
リバイアサン |
Leviathan | "Leviathan" is a sea creature referenced in the Bible, during the Old Testament. |
CACTUS |
あるくサボテン |
Walking Cactus | |
P-FLOWER |
どくのはな |
Poison Flower | |
GARLIC |
ジャンボにんにく |
Elephant Garlic | Refers to the Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum leek species. |
THORN |
きゅうけつかずら |
Leech Vine | |
F-FLOWER |
ファイアフラワー |
Fire Flower | |
DARKROSE |
ブラックローズ |
Black Rose | |
CLIPPER |
おおハサミむし |
Big Earwig | |
BEETLE |
のこぎりビートル |
Saw Beetle | |
SCORPION |
いじげんサソリ |
Extradimensional Scorpion | |
SHRIMP |
エビル |
Evil Shrimp | Probably a pun: エビ (ebi) means "shrimp", エビル (ebiru) means "evil". |
ATOMCRAB |
げんじがに |
Genjigani | Probably a referential pun: There is a species of crab, the Heikegani Heikeopsis japonica, whose shell resembles a human face and which is named after the losers of a naval battle fought in its natural range. The Genji were the winners of that battle. |
CRAB |
しおまねクィーン |
Fiddler Crab Queen | Probably a pun: しおまねき (shiomaneki) means "fiddler crab", クィーン (ku~īn) means "queen". |
ICE CRAB |
アイスロブスター |
Ice Lobster | |
SABERCAT |
サーべルタイガー |
Saber Tiger | |
FENSWOLF |
フェンリルウルフ |
Fenrir Wolf | Also known as "Fenris" or "Fenrisúlfr", it is a giant wolf creature found in Norse mythology. |
RHINO |
ライノサウルス |
Rhinosaurus | |
CONDOR |
はげたかおとこ |
Condorman | This probably refers to Condorman, a 1981 American superhero film. |
TEN-GU |
からすてんぐ |
Crow Tengu | "Tengu" is a bird-man creature found in Japanese folklore. |
SNAKE |
あおだいしょう |
Japanese Rat Snake | Refers to the Elaphe climacophora snake species. |
SERPENT |
サイドワインダ |
Sidewinder | Also known as ヨコバイガラガラヘビ, and refers to the Crotalus cerastes snake species. |
ANACONDA |
おろち |
Orochi | "Orochi" is an 8-headed, 8-tailed snake or dragon creature found in shintoism mythology. |
JORGANDR |
ヨルムンガンドル |
Jörmungandr | It is a giant snake creature found in Norse mythology. |
OCTOPUS |
おどりダコ |
Dancing Octopus | |
CLAM |
おうむがい |
Nautilus | Refers to the Nautilus belauensis marine mollusk species. |
AMOEBA |
あめふらし |
Sea Hare | |
SQUID |
だいおうイカ |
Giant Squid | Refers to the Architeuthis dux species. |
WORM |
いもむし |
Caterpillar | |
P-WORM |
どくけむし |
Poison Caterpillar | |
GIGAWORM |
アビスウォーム |
Abyss Worm | |
LIZARD |
さんしょううお |
Ezo Salamander | Also known as "Hokkaido salamander", it refers to the Hynobius retardatus salamander species. |
P-FROG |
どくがえる |
Poison Frog | |
GECKO |
コモドドラゴン |
Komodo Dragon | It refers to the Varanus komodoensis large lizard species. |
DINOSAUR |
ステゴザウルス |
Stegosaurus | |
WERERAT |
ねずみおとこ |
Rat Man | Refers to a character in Shigeru Mizuki's Ge-ge-ge no Kitaro comics. |
CATWOMAN |
ねこむすめ |
Cat Girl | Refers to a character in Shigeru Mizuki's Ge-ge-ge no Kitaro comics. Appears to have been changed to remove the reference, as later Japanese releases also replace it with ねこおんな Catwoman. |
MANTCORE |
マンティコア |
Manticore | It is a chimera creature found in Persian mythology. |
WARRIOR |
がいこつせんし |
Skeleton Soldier | |
BONEKING |
デスナイト |
Death Knight | It is a fictional monster in Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop fantasy RPGs. |
SLIME |
グリーンスライム |
Green Slime | |
JELLY |
イエローゼリー |
Yellow Jelly | |
TORORO |
あおとろろ |
Blue Tororo | とろろ (Tororo) is a dish of pureed yams. |
GUMMY |
レッドマシュマロ |
Red Marshmallow | |
PUDDING |
ブラックプリン |
Black Pudding | |
HI-SLIME |
スーパースライム |
Super Slime | |
IMP |
こあくま |
Little Devil | |
DEMOLORD |
グレートデモン |
Great Demon | |
DEMOKING |
デモンロード |
Demon Lord | |
ATHTALOT |
アスタロート |
Astaroth | It is a demon from demonology. The translation was probably misspelled. |
LILITH |
マリリス |
Marilith | Marilith is a fictional creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game; Lilith is a demon found in Jewish mythology. |
MOU-JYA |
もうじゃ |
The Dead | |
REVNANT |
レブナント |
Revenant | |
O-BAKE |
おばけ |
Obake | Could refer either to a type of yōkai, preternatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, distinguished by temporary transformation; or to the ghost of a dead human. |
STONEMAN |
ストーンゴーレム |
Stone Golem | |
IRONMAN |
てつきょじん |
Iron Giant | |
FIREMAN |
ほのおのきょじん |
Flame Giant | |
MAZIN |
だいまじん |
Daimajin | It is a golem-like living statue from Kimiyoshi Yasuda's Daimajin movie trilogy. |
EAGLE |
ダイブイーグル |
Dive Eagle | |
THUNDER |
サンダーバード |
Thunderbird | It is a bird creature found in Native American mythology. |
ROCK |
ロックちょう |
Roc | Also known as "Rukh", it is a legendary giant bird. The translation was probably misspelled. |
DRAGON 1 |
べビードラゴン |
Baby Dragon | |
DRAGON 2 |
ドラゴンキッド |
Dragon Kid | |
DRAGON 3 |
ヤングドラゴン |
Young Dragon | |
DRAGON 4 |
グレートドラゴン |
Great Dragon | |
DRAGON 5 |
ドラゴンプリンス |
Dragon Prince |
Player-Only Classes
| North American | Japanese | Translation |
|---|---|---|
HUMAN M |
にんげん おとこ |
Human Man |
HUMAN F |
にんげん おんな |
Human Woman |
MUTANT M |
エスパーマン |
Esper Man |
MUTANT F |
エスパーギャル |
Esper Girl |
NPC Classes
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
KARATEKA |
ぶとうか |
Grappler | |
WRESTLER |
すもうレスラー |
Sumo Wrestler | |
KELLER |
さつじんき |
Killer | The translation was probably misspelled due to Nintendo's strict censorship policies at the time. |
GANG |
ボンバーズ |
Bombers | |
ASIGARU |
さむらい |
Samurai | Renamed in the North American version for unknown reasons. Ashigaru were the Shogun's personal army in Japan's Muromachi period. |
SAMURAI |
しんせんぐみ |
Shinsengumi | Shinsengumi were special police in the late Shogunate period. |
SOLDIER |
サイコソルジャー |
Psycho Soldier | |
KINGSWRD |
つるぎのおう |
Blade King | |
MAGICIAN |
まじゅつみならい |
Magician Apprentice | |
CONJURER |
まじゅつし |
Magician | |
SORCERER |
まどうし |
Wizard | |
WIZARD |
だいまどうし |
Great Mage | |
VAMPIRE |
きぞく |
Aristocrat | |
STEWARD |
だいじん |
Minister | |
HUNTER |
マンハンター |
Manhunter | |
ROBOT |
２８ごう |
No.28 | A reference to the Tetsujin 28-go Ironman No.28/Gigantor series. It was renamed in the North American version for unknown reasons. |
TROOPER |
きどうほへい |
Mechanized Infantry | |
ARMOR |
モビルスーツ |
Mobile Suit | A reference to the Mobile Suit Gundam anime metaseries. |
MACHINE |
デスマシーン |
Death Machine | |
CREATOR |
かみ |
God | Renamed in the North American version in order to remove religious references. |
Items
Usable Outside Battle
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
XPOTION |
ハイポーション |
Hi-Potion | |
NEEDLE |
きんのはり |
Gold Needle | |
SYMBOL |
じゅうじか |
Crucifix | It was renamed in the North American version in order to remove religious references. |
REVIVE |
いきかえり |
Return to Life | |
ARCANE |
けんじゃのいし |
Philosopher's Stone | |
STRONG |
ちからのもと |
Power Source | |
AGILITY |
すばやさのもと |
Agility Source | |
BLUEKEY |
りゅうのかぎ |
Dragon Key | |
WHITKEY |
とらのかぎ |
Tiger Key | |
BOARD |
アイシーボード |
IC Board | |
ANTDOTE |
どくけし |
Antidote | |
BELL |
めざめのかね |
Waking Bell | |
PAN |
フライパン |
Frying Pan | |
SHOCKER |
マヒどめ |
Anti-Paralysis |
Weapons
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
せいりゅうとう |
Azure Dragon Sword | |
|
ミスリルソード |
Mithril Sword | |
|
オーガキラー |
Ogre Killer | It is not referred to in the Japanese version as a sword. |
|
サンブレード |
Sun Blade | |
|
サンダーアクス |
Thunder Axe | It is actually referred to in the Japanese version as an axe. |
L-SABER |
ライトサーべル |
Lightsaber | |
P-KNIFE |
サイコダガー |
Psycho Knife | |
P-SWORD |
サイコソード |
Psycho Sword | In the North American version, the sword icon was omitted. |
REVENGE |
うらみのつるぎ |
Grudge Sword | In the North American version, the sword icon was omitted. |
|
ブラッドソード |
Blood Sword | |
|
ディフェンダー |
Defender | It is not referred to in the Japanese version as a sword. |
|
ルーンアクス |
Rune Axe | It is actually referred to in the Japanese version as an axe. |
|
エクスカリバー |
Excalibur | |
LONGBOW |
よいちのゆみ |
Yoichi's Bow | Yoichi was an archer in the late Heian period of warlords. |
Gr. BOW |
アポロンのユミ |
Apollo's Bow | |
COLT |
デリンジャー |
Derringer | Derringer is a very tiny short-barrelled pistol, which explains why it has such a low hit rate in the game. |
MUSKET |
ひなわじゅう |
Matchlock | |
MAGNUM |
４４マグナム |
.44 Magnum | |
E-WHIP |
でんげきムチ |
Shock Whip | |
SAW |
チェーンソー |
Chainsaw | |
SMG |
サブマシンガン |
Submachine Gun | |
BALKAN |
バルカンほう |
Vulcan Cannon | It is a type of gatling gun. The translation was almost certainly a mistake. |
N.BOMB |
かくばくだん |
Nuclear Bomb | |
LASER |
ビームライフル |
Beam Rifle | |
HYPER |
はどうほう |
Wave Motion Gun | A reference to the Starblazers/Space Battleship Yamato series. |
Armors
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ミスリルのたて |
Mithril Shield | |
|
イージスのたて |
Aegis Shield | Zeus' shield, according to ancient Greek mythology. |
|
ミスリルかぶと |
Mithril Helmet | |
|
アライのメット |
Arai Helmet | アライ (Arai) is a brand of Japanese motorcycle helmet. |
|
ゾクのはちまき |
Zoku's Headband | |
|
サークレット |
Circlet | |
|
ミスリルメイル |
Mithril Mail | |
|
バトルスーツ |
Battle Suit | |
|
かんうのよろい |
Guan Yu's Armor | かんう (Guan Yu) was a general in China's Three Kingdoms period, and a paragon of strength and virtue. The comparison to King Arthur is therefore appropriate. |
|
ミスリルのこて |
Mithril Gauntlet | |
|
げんじのこて |
Genji's Gauntlet | げんじ (Genji) is the protagonist of the classic work 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji), considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature. |
|
てつげた |
Iron Geta | げた (Geta) are large wooden Japanese sandals. |
|
こうめいのくつ |
Komei's Shoes | こうめい (Kōmei) was the 121st emperor of Japan. |
|
パワードスーツ |
Powered Suit |
Magics
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
ROD |
いやしのつえ |
Healing Wand | |
WAND |
まじゅつのつえ |
Sorcery Wand | |
STAFF |
まどうしのつえ |
Mage Wand | |
BOOK |
ねんぶつのほん |
Book of Buddha | The name was truncated in the North American version in order to remove religious references. |
|
ブリザドのしょ |
Blizzard Book | |
|
サンダーのしょ |
Thunder Book | |
|
クラウダのしょ |
Scourge Book | |
|
ブレイクのしょ |
Break Book |
Martial Arts Techniques
| North American | Japanese | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
BUTT |
さんだんづき |
Triple Strike | |
X-KICK |
とびひざげり |
Jumping Knee Kick | |
JUDO |
ヤマアラシ |
Mountain Storm | It is a shoulder throw in Judo. |
KARATE |
じごくぐるま |
Hell Wheel | It is a Judo throw in which one grabs the opponent, rolls onto their back, and throws. Ryu and Ken use this in the Street Fighter series. |
TEMPTER |
ながしめ |
Seductive Glance | |
COUNTER |
クロスカウンタ |
Cross Counter |
Abilities
| North American | Japanese | Translation |
|---|---|---|
LIGHT |
ひかりあれ |
Fiat Lux |
LEFT |
かみのひだりて |
God's Left Hand |
RIGHT |
かみのみぎて |
God's Right Hand |
CARE |
ちりょう |
Treatment |
HEAD |
ずつき |
Headbutt |
PINCER |
ハサミ |
Scissors |
BASH |
たいあたり |
Body Blow |
2PINCER |
２ほんのハサミ |
Two Scissors |
8LEGS |
しょくしゅ８つ |
8 Tentacles |
4HORNS |
３ぼんのつの |
Three Horns |
2SWORDS |
２とうりゅう |
Two-sworded Style |
6ARMS |
６ぽんのうで |
Six Arms Punch |
POISON |
どくばり |
Stinger |
POISON |
どくのきば |
Poison Fang |
P-FANGS |
マヒづめ |
Poison Claw |
STRICT |
まきつく |
Entangle |
PETRIFY |
せきかくちばし |
Petrifying Beak |
D-FANGS |
デスのきば |
Death Fangs |
SL-GAZE |
ねむたいめ |
Sleep Eye |
SLEEP |
ねむりぐすり |
Sleeping Powder |
FLASH |
フラッシュアイ |
Flash Eye |
GAZE |
のろいのめ |
Cursing Eye |
GAZE |
ゆうわくのめ |
Seductive Eye |
SING |
うたごえ |
Singing Voice |
GAZE |
せきかにらみ |
Stone Glare |
GAZE |
デスにらみ |
Death Glare |
DRAIN |
ちからをうばう |
Power Snatch |
SAND |
すなじごく |
Sand Hell |
BOTHER |
まとわりつく |
Clinging |
TOUCH |
ドレインタッチ |
Drain Touch |
KISS |
ドレインキッス |
Drain Kiss |
GAS |
どくぎり |
Poison Mist |
ACID |
さんせいう |
Acid rain |
D-BEAM |
さつじんビーム |
Killer Beam |
STOP |
デス |
Death |
S-SKIN |
さわるとせきか |
Stone Touch |
P-SKIN |
さわるとマヒ |
Paralysis Touch |
P-SKIN |
さわるとどく |
Poisonous Touch |
BURNING |
さわるとやけど |
Burning Touch |
STONE |
ブレイク |
Break |
SHELL |
かめごうら |
Turtle Shell |
SHELL |
からにはいる |
Retract into Shell |
DRINK |
ちをすう |
Bloodsuck |
CHILL |
つめたいて |
Cold Hand |
POLLEN |
どくかふん |
Poison Pollen |
ROCKET |
ロケットパンチ |
Rocket Punch |
BEAM |
はかいこうせん |
Destruction Beam |
SPHERE |
クリスタル |
Crystal |
MIRROR |
かげぶんしん |
Shadow Clone |
KINESIS |
テレキネシス |
Telekinesis |
P-BLAST |
サイコブラスト |
Psycho Blast |
LEECH |
ライフリーチ |
Life Leech |
UNCURSE |
じょうぶつ |
Enter Nirvana |
ESP |
テレパシー |
Telepathy |
BARRIER |
サイコバリア |
Psycho Barrier |
MIRROR |
サイコミラー |
Psycho Mirror |
POWER |
スーパーパワー |
Super Power |
ARMOR |
ボディアーマー |
Body Armor |
GAZE |
マヒにらみ |
Paralysis Gaze |
STEALTH |
ふいうち |
Surprise Attack |
WARNING |
けいかい |
Vigilance |
FORSEEN |
よちのうりょく |
Precognition |
Removed Credits
| Japanese | Translation |
|---|---|
コンセプト ほしの のぶゆき |
Concept: Nobuyuki Hoshino |
ゲームデザイン かわづ あきとし デべロップ あだち けいたろう プログラム おき たかし |
Game Design: Akitoshi Kawazu
|
システムプログラム おかべ なおき |
System Program: Naoki Okabe |
バトルシステム かわづ あきとし プログラム あだち けいたろう |
Battle System: Akitoshi Kawazu
|
シナリオスタッフ いしい こういち いとう ひろゆき ときた たかし |
Scenario Staff: Koichi Ishii
|
カルトグラフィー いしい こういち いとう ひろゆき |
Cartography: Koichi Ishii
|
グラフィック はいけい たなか りょうこ スプライト ときた たかし |
Graphics:
|
キャラクターデザイン ときた たかし |
Character Design: Takashi Tokita |
サウンド ディレクター うえまつ のぶお プログラム あだち けいたろう |
Sound:
|
エフェクト うえまつ のぶお ときた たかし ほしの＿まさのり |
Effects: Nobuo Uematsu
|
コンポーズ うえまつ のぶお |
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu |
ディレクター シナリオ かわづ あきとし |
Director: Scenario: Akitoshi Kawazu |
せいさく スクウェア |
Producer: Square |
