Lost in Translation...

[Wolf Kanno]

There's also the name changes to the other characters.
Tina became Terra
Mash became Sabin
Biggs became Vicks

I know that Cyan's name was shortened. Cayenne, I believe was the original spelling. Since it's still pronounced the same way, it's not a big deal. I know Cait Sith was one of the espers but I can't remember his english translation. In fact, I believe the magic and espers had the greatest change but Walter pretty much explained why.

I never felt like they really changed Celes' suicide attempt. What was changed?

[silentenigma]

Just about any names or lines that were changed in Woolsey's translation can be attributed to one or more of the following reasons.<ul type="square">[*]Space restrictions (Phoenix Down to Fenix Down, Thundaga to Bolt3, etc.)

"Phoenix Down" can actually fit, strangely.

[Zeromus_X]

I know that the SkyRender translation may have some minor grammar issues that KoShiatar talked about, but is there anything they added in that isn't really canonical (like the Barbariccia/Cain romance nonsense in the J2e translation of FFIV, for example)? Otherwise, is it a straightforward translation?

I haven't had the time to play through the entire thing, you see. Just curious.

[Roto13]

There wasn't anything that was completely ridiculous.

[Zeromus_X]

Oh, that's good to know.

"Oh...you're Cefca aren't you? Are you in good health?"

xD It seems they're a bit literal, here.

And it seems that Blitz is called 'Deathblow' in this, Roto.

[Roto13]

Ah! Yes, that's right. I couldn't remember. It was starting to bug me. And I couldn't be assed to just play the rom. :P

[KoShiatar]

Both examples given are faithful to the original Japanese.
Blitzes were originally called "deathblows" and in the line of dialogue quoted the Imperial soldiers really ask Kefca about his health, as a formality (they were talking crap behind his back when he showed up).
There are no storyline alterations or non-canon things. Actually, their translation tried to be very canon, from what I saw.

[BG-57]

I remember hearing that the river Lethe was translated into Lete river to avoid references to Hades.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

The average person doesn't even know what Lethe is. I think it's much more likely that Woolsey just didn't pick up on the reference.

[KoShiatar]

Like in Ultros / Orthros? (Incidentally, I found Ultros funnier, but that's just me.)

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Yes, and Chupon/Typhon, for that matter.

[Flying Mullet]

I've always wondered, at the mountain where the espers gather, in Woolsey's FFIII you have the line, "Ahh, you can paint Uncle Ulty's picture" or something like that. What is that line in the Japanese version, since he's not Ultros?

[Paul]

Just about any names or lines that were changed in Woolsey's translation can be attributed to one or more of the following reasons.

• Space restrictions (Phoenix Down to Fenix Down, Thundaga to Bolt3, etc.)

i thought bolt was the normal name for lightning spells in the series, until FF8? i thought the idea of fire, fira, firaga rather than fire, fire2, fire3 was all brought in with FF8.

[abrojtm]

The Japanese versions have always had -a -aga spells. Thundaga won't fit in the four character limit for FFI, and Nintendo wanted to keep it consistent.

[Paul]

oic. i prefer the old way to be honest, but i'd rather it be all consistently one thing or the other rather than changing for each game. it's good that the GBA ports are making all the spell names consistent.