First of all, I have already mentioned before that 99 % of the
blue text in the online document online are not being changed again ever. That said, I will answer these (I do appreciate suggestions, it's just that so much of this has already been answered or thought about numerous times, which is why I have stopped taking requests on any of the blue text, which is finalised.):
1
スモーク弾 --> Smoke Bullet --> Smoke Ball --> (Suggestion) "Smoke Bullet" (Why) The attack is actually shoot from a gun, while "Smoke Ball" is also correct, as the shape is "round-ish", there seems to be no benefit to the change.
Smoke ball sounds right. I have never heard of a "Smoke bullet". I will look at it in game though.
2
左キャラ放出 Free Left Character --> Free Left --> (Suggestion) "Release Left Character"
右キャラ放出 Free Right Character --> Free Right --> (Suggestion) "Release Right Character" (Why) Both the translations became too generic. The robot actually grabs the characters, and later releases them. (As far as I can remember, might wanna triple-check)
This move isn't seen in game(?), and I deliberately cut it down in size. It is more a description than a move. I would prob leave it as it is regardless. Free left and free right sound good to me.
3
Head Attack --> Head Charge --> (Suggestion) "Headbutt" (Why) No other attack is called this in FF7; there's also a "Head Attack" in FF9 tho. Head Charge is the literal translation I read...? Maybe not worth changing in the end. I'm also a bit divided on this one.
If it is charge towards a player then charge is correct, if it head butts, then butt is correct. Does it charge? I dn;t recall any enemy butting anyone.
4
Hell Spear --> Spear of Hell --> (Suggestion) "Hell Spear" (Why) The retranslation just sounds more wimpy.
I think it sounds better.
5
Napalm Bomb --> Napalm --> (Suggestion) "Napalm Bomb" (Why) It's accurate with the english and japanese. It's shoot from a canon, and it does go "Boom! like a bomb".
Napalm is by its own admission dropped as a bomb, the word bomb is redundant.
6
Poison Breath --> Bio Breath --> (Suggestion) "Poision Breath" (Why) Avoids confusion as the spells are "Bio" from the materia "Poison", so both are correct, Poison is just more accurate to the original script. Not only that, the other attacks are all Poison-something.
This move has nothing to do with materia.
8
Self-destruct / Suicide --> Suicide Bomber --> (Suggestion) "Self-destruct" (Why) Since it's an attack "Suicide Bomber" doesn't sound completely appropriate, and "Suicide Bomb" just sounds completely lame.
It is literally a suicide bomber. which is also a real thing in life.
9
Sub Artillery --> Reserve Artillery --> (Suggestion) "Artillery Replacement"
It isn't a replacement, it is a reserve.
10
Verbal Attack --> Abuse --> (Suggestion) "Verbal Abuse" \ "Insult" \ "Taunt" \ "Provoke" (Why) "Abuse" is simply too generic and doesn't really describe the action done during the attack.
Insult is used somewhere else, but I agree this probably needs to be verbal abuse or taunt. I will check it in game.
11
W-Shield Throw --> Shields Throw --> (Suggestion) "Double Shield Throw" (Why) More literal JP translation that just sounds too cool not to be used.
It throws both shields I think... but I will check this in game and I tried to avoid keep using "double".
12
Contain --> Forbidden --> (Suggestion) Seal
There is already a seal materia. And Forbidden captures the meaning. "Sealed away"
13
HP<-->MP --> Swap --> (Suggestion) HP/MP Swap (Why) More literal (JP). No information regarding the attack's effect is lost.
I like swap, the description does the rest.
14
Pre-emptive --> Pre-emptive --> (Suggestion) "Pre-emptive Strike"
Not important.
15
Near Death --> Critical --> (Suggestion) "Near Death" (Why) Better describes the situation, Critical is -more- associated with attacks I find and not status conditions.
Critical is what it is called in other games, and near death sounds lame. It was never used in FF7 anyway. The text goes yellow instead.
16
Regen --> Regenerate (Suggestion) "Regen" (Why) For consistency, no other reason, no point changing something just for the sake of changing when it means the same (just abbreviated).
Regen is short for regenerate, and the Japanese uses symbol for regeneration. I liked the full version here, and it also makes the status text look neat.
17
Vegetable Store --> Greengrocer --> (Suggestion) "Vegetable Store" (Why) I've mentioned this one before; this sounds very "non-international english". As a non-native english speaking user, had to check what this was on google before comenting on it.
It remains vegetable store in US text. Not in UK.
18
Honey Bee Inn --> Honeybee Manor --> (Suggestion) "Honeybee Establishment" (Why) Not happy with this translation either, but maybe it helps someone find the right words.
It is a manor. There is no other word that does it justice. Perhaps "House" but even that sounds crap. Establishment sounds verbose.
19
Also, spells using -"a" -"ga" and words that are far too different from the original or japanese ("Figa", "Ko Meteor", "Araise") retranslation don't always work for the best effect.
It all comes down to which Final Fantasy's you've played during your lifetime -"ga" spelles for me automatically reminds me of an AoE\All spell more than anything else, creating instant confusion, as FF11 was probably the one I poured more hours into, followed by FF7.
A decent compromise would be replacing the "1", "2", "3" with "I", "II", "III"...
Most FFs that followed VII did pretty much same as me, and I see no reason to change it. It is fine. It will never be an exact art. What you prefer, someone else will not. I chose a good enough selection
If you want to change it to be something else, feel free to use Wallmarket.
Dan
