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The purpose of this article is to collect and list the spelling errors and/or inconsistencies in the English version of Phantasy Star Universe.
+
As with any work translated from one language to another, the process of translating and localizing will result in a few different interpretations of the material. The purpose of this article is to record these notable discrepancies between the Japanese and English versions of Phantasy Star Universe.
  
−
===Translation errors===
+
==Mistranslations==
 +
These entries are simply and plainly incorrect, and cannot be attributed to simple typos or Japanese language quirks.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Location !! Name !! Correct translation !! Description
+
! English  !! Japanese !! Suggested Correction !! Details
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || Tengohg || Tengoug || All other members of the monster family (Zoalgoug, Onmagoug...) use "goug".
+
| [[Rod]] || ロドウ || Rodou, Rodoh || Applies to all Yohmei [[Rods]] (i.e. Ulrodou, Rayharodou, and so on). [[GRM Rod]], added in Ambition of the Illuminus, is simply Rod (ロッド) in the Japanese version.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || Alterazgohg || Alterazgoug || All other members of the monster family (Zoalgoug, Onmagoug...) use "goug".
+
| [[Lumirus/Kaos Knight]] || ルミラス/カーズナイト || Lumirus / Cursed Knight || "Chaos" (カオス), as the English name would suggest (and misspells, presumably to fit the item's name into the provided space), doesn't really work.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || Go Bajilla || Go Badira || Meant to match the enemy "Badira", as evidenced by the JP version.
+
| [[Formal Set]] || フォマールセット || FOmarl Set || PSO's FOmarl costume. Completely missed the reference, despite getting the names of the other PSO costumes correct.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || De Rol Le || De Rolei || Ironically matching the English PSO name. The JP PSU name had a deliberately minor alteration from the JP PSO name (also see: Dragon & De Ragan).
+
| [[Jao]] || ジャッゴ || Jaggo || rowspan="2" | The names of these room items should match the name of [[Jaggo|the enemy]], as they do in Japanese. Contrast with [[Cushion Jaggo]]. "Jaggo" itself is an intentional alteration of "Chao" (チャオ) from Sonic Adventure. Also see specific notes for [[Chao Staff]] within the [[#Inconsistent_with_Previous_Games|inconsistent translations section]].
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Ank Bico || Ank Pico || A reference to the "Pico Hammer" weapon used by the "Sonic" series character Amy Rose.
+
| [[Relaxing Jao]] || リラックス・ジャッゴ || Relax Jaggo, Relaxing Jaggo
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Assasin || Assassin || Misspelling - is meant to be "Assassin", as shown on the board and mirrored with the Kubara version, Assassic.
+
| [[De Rol Le]] || ヂィ・ロレイ || De Rolei || The Japanese name is a deliberate alteration of the PSO boss De Rol Le (デ・ロル・レ) and does not match. Compare Delsaber and [[Delnadian]].
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Typographical Errors==
 +
These are minor, most likely unintentional spelling errors.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Suggested Correction !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[Ank Bico]] || アンク・ピッコ || Ank Piko, Ank Pico || A reference to the "Piko Piko Hammer" weapon used by the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series character Amy Rose. Similar to Toy Hammer from Phantasy Star Online.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Assasin]] || アサシン || Assassin || The board for this weapon is spelled correctly.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Neddle Cannoc]] || ニードルカノック || Needle Cannoc || The board and [[Needle Cannon|GRM version]] of this weapon are spelled correctly.
 +
|-
 +
| Barada || バラタ || Barata || Prefix for all [[Shotgun]] bullets.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Regrant]] || レグランツ || Regrants || Consistency with technique Grants in previous games.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Nel Soul]] || ネイ・ソウル || Nei Soul || A reference to Nei of Phantasy Star II. Correctly referred to as "Nei Soul" in the trading information screens of [[Desert Arms Shop]].
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Deliberate Changes==
 +
With these entries, the original Japanese has been deliberately set aside. As opposed to a translation error, which is an unintentional mistake, the text is purposefully rewritten with something entirely different, often bearing no resemblance to the original Japanese at all.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Approximate Romanization !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[Fortetecher]] || フォルテクター　|| Fortecher || An extra "te" was added to make this type syllabically consistent with Fortefighter and Fortegunner.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Koltova Gun]] || コルトバズーカ || Koltobazooka, Koltovazooka || The English version chooses to ignore the Japanese's pun entirely.
 +
|-
 +
| [[RCSMs]] || シャドゥーグ || Shadoog || Known as both ranged combat support machines and R-Mags in English, but consistently Shadoog in Japanese.
 +
|-
 +
| [[TCSMs]] || マドゥーグ || Madoog || Known as both TECHNIC combat support machines and TECH-Mags in English, but consistently Madoog in Japanese.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Moon Atomizer X]] || コスモアトマイザー || Cosmo Atomizer || Probably relates to its similar function to regular Moon Atomizers. Creates an inconsistency with [[PhotonChargeCosmo]].
 +
|-
 +
| Grav || グラブター || Gravata || Shortened for the ground elemental bullets of [[Rifles]], [[Laser Cannons]], [[Twin Handguns]], [[Handguns]], and [[Machineguns]].
 +
|-
 +
| Dark || ダークネス || Darkness || Shortened for the dark elemental bullets of [[Rifles]], [[Laser Cannons]], [[Twin Handguns]], [[Handguns]], and [[Machineguns]].
 +
|-
 +
| Shot || シュート || Shoot || The suffix for all [[Rifle]] bullets, "Shoot", was (appropriately) changed to "Shot".
 +
|-
 +
| Fury || フィーバー || Fever || The suffix for all [[Machinegun]] bullets, "Fever", was changed to "Fury".
 +
|-
 +
| [[Shifta]] || アグタール || Agtal || Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with [[Retier]]'s TP boost to create a new TECHNIC called Shifta. Also see notes for [[Agtaride]] in the [[#items|inconsistent translations section]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[Jellen]] || アグディール || Agdeel || Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, a new TECHNIC called Jellen with an added TP lowering effect replaces Agdeel in Phantasy Star Portable 2.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Deband]] || デフバール || Defbal || Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with [[Zodial]] and [[Retier]] (MST boost) to create a new TECHNIC called Deband. Also see notes for [[Defbaride]] in the [[#Items|inconsistent translations section]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[Zalure]] || デフディール || Defdeel || Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with [[Zoldeel]] to create a new TECHNIC called Zalure.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Reverser]] || レジェネ || Regene || Named changed to match the name of a technique in previous games; however, the effect of Reverser in previous games (revival of a fallen party member) does not match, and its Japanese name is actually rather close to a technique present in Phantasy Star IV anyway: Raja's Regen (レジェネス/Regenes).
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Inconsistent Translations==
 +
While many of these entries are technically accurate, they are translated inconsistently within the game itself or against another Phantasy Star game's translation.
 +
 
 +
===Characters===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[Obel Dallgun]] || オーベル・ダルガン || The seventeenth President of the GUARDIANS, his first name is often seen as "Ohbel" instead.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Orson Waber]] || オルソン・ウェーバー || Referred to as "Olson" in earlier story missions, most notably [[Valley of Suspicion 2]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[Bruce Boyde]] || ブルース・ボイド || Hey, it's me, Bruce Boyd! Or was that Boyde?  His last name suffers from inconsistent spelling.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Reyna]] || レイナ || The receptionist at the Ohtoku City GUARDIANS Branch, her name is often seen as "Reina" instead.
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Items===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Alternative !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[Durandal Replica]] || デュランダル・レプカ || Durandal Repca || Inconsistent with [[Agito Repca]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[Hard / Night]] || ハルド/ナイト || Hard / Knight || Part of the "Knight" series of [[Units#Arm_units|arm units]]. This is carried over to the French and German translations as well, where "Nocturne" and "Nacht" are used instead of "Chevalier" and "Ritter" respectively.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Agtaride]] || アグタライド || Shiftaride or similar || Derived from the TECHNIC [[Shifta]], whose Japanese name is "Agtal", which matches in the same way [[Retier]], [[Zodial]] and [[Megistar]] match their item names. Alternately, Shifta could be changed to Agtal. See notes for Shifta in the [[#Deliberate Changes|deliberate changes section]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[Defbaride]] || デフバライド || Debanride or similar || Derived from the TECHNIC [[Deband]], whose Japanese name is "Defbal", which matches in the same way [[Retier]], [[Zodial]] and [[Megistar]] match their item names. Alternately, Deband could be changed to Defbal. See notes for Deband in the [[#Deliberate Changes|deliberate changes section]].
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Equipment Sets====
 +
These items together form a set bonus have matching names in Japanese, but were translated seperately and do not match in English.
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Suggested Corrections
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Halp Serafi || Harp Serafi || Probably meant to be ''Harp Serafi'', however the Japanese uses ''harupu'' as opposed to the more logical ''haapu''.
+
| [[Jitseen]] || ジートシーン || rowspan="2" | "Jitline" or "Zeetseen", or change ''both'' items to "Jitoshin" and "Jitoline"
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Neddle Cannoc || Needle Cannoc || Misspelling - is meant to be "Needle Cannoc", as shown on the non-Kubara board and weapon, Needle Cannon.
+
| [[Zeetline]] || ジートライン
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Rod || Rodoh/Rodou || Is actually meant to be ''Rodoh'' or ''Rodou''. The GRM equivalent in Ambition of the Illuminus is called ''Rod''.
+
| [[Nafli-zashi]] || ナフリザシ || rowspan="2" | "Nafri-zashi" or "Nafli-senba".
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Stag Cutralli|| Stag Cutlery || Typographical error of a weapon from PSO.
+
| [[Nafri-senba]] || ナフリセンバ
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Vullseye || Bullseye || A mistake in the original Japanese.
+
| [[Rayharod]] || レイハロドウ || rowspan="2" | "Reiharod" or "Rayha-senba". Also see entry for Rod in [[#Mistranslations|Mistranslations section]].
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unit || Hard / Night || Hard / Knight || Part of the "Knight" unit series, mistranslated to Night.
+
| [[Reiha-senba]] || レイハセンバ
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Set bonus || Rayharod & Reiha-senba || Rayharaod & Rayha-senba/Reiharod & Reiha-senba || Translated separately and differently. Originally the aligned names provide a clue to the set bonus.
+
| [[Lidra]] || リドルラ || rowspan="2" | "Lidra-senba". "Ridolra" would be a bit difficult to pronounce.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Ridol-senba]] || リドルセンバ
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Enemies===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Set bonus || Nafli-zashi & Nafri-senba || Nafli-zashi & Nafli-senba/Nafri-zasha & Nafri-senba || Translated separately and differently. Originally the aligned names provide a clue to the set bonus.
+
! English  !! Japanese !! Alternative !! Details
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Decoration || BT Lovers || VT Lovers || The "BT" is supposed to stand for "Valentine", and thus should probably have been VT. Also, conjecturally, rendering it "VD" (for "Valentine's Day") would probably have been problematic—"VD" also stands for "venereal disease," an older term for sexually transmitted diseases.
+
| [[Badira]] || バジラ || Bajilla || rowspan="2"| Bajilla would be closer to the original. Alternatively, Go Bajilla could be changed to Go Badira for consistency, but would make both equally more inaccurate.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Decoration || Jao || Chao/Jaggo || The name of the enemy it relates to is "Jaggo", which '''itself''' is a (probably intentional) variation of the Chao they have similarities to.
+
| [[Go Bajilla]] || ゴ・バジラ || Go Badira
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Decoration || Relaxing Jao || Relaxing Chao/Relaxing Jaggo || The name of the enemy it relates to is "Jaggo", which '''itself''' is a (probably intentional) variation of the Chao they have similarities to.
+
| [[Tengohg]] || テンゴウグ || Tengoug || rowspan="4" | Half of this family of monsters uses "gohg", while the other half uses "goug"! To further compound this, mission descriptions, story mission dialogue, and other text are often inconsistent about this as well.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Item || Agtaride || Shiftaride || Emulates the TECHNIC "Shifta", whose JP name is "Agtal", which matches in the same way Retier, Zodial and Megistar match their item names. Alternately Shifta could be corrected to Agtal.
+
| [[Onmagoug]] || オンマゴウグ || Onmagohg
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Item || Defbaride || Debandide/Debanide/Debaride || Emulates the TECHNIC "Deband", whose JP name is "Defbal", which matches in the same way Retier, Zodial and Megistar match their item names. Alternately Deband could be corrected to Defbal.
+
| [[Zoal Goug]] || ゾアル・ゴウグ || Zoal Gohg
 
|-
 
|-
 +
| [[Alterazgohg]] || アルテラツゴウグ || Alterazgoug
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
===Translations inconsistent with earlier games (but not incorrect)===
+
===Inconsistent with Previous Games===
 +
The Japanese names of these items match those of their counterparts in Japanese versions of other Phantasy Star games, but are translated differently in Phantasy Star Universe.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Location !! Name !! Alternative translation !! Description
+
! English  !! Japanese !! Alternatives !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[TECHNICs|TECHNIC]] || テクニック || Technique || Reasoning behind change is unknown, but is similar to other fully capitalized in-game terms such as [[RELICS]], or [[GUARDIANS]].
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || Dark Falz || Dark Force || Dark Force is just an alternative translation of Dark Falz which appears in Phantasy Star II-IV, but the Japanese kana suggests that Falz is the correct name.
+
| [[Bardiche]] || バルディッシュ || Berdysh (PSO) || Phantasy Star Online's original naming is a rather horrible mangling of an actual weapon term for a long poleaxe.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enemy || Jigo Booma || Gigobooma || A throwback to "Gigobooma" of Phantasy Star Online, as evidenced by the JP version matching its JP PSO name.
+
| [[Stag Cutralli]] || スタッグカットラリ || Stag Cutlery (PSO) || A double saber originally from PSO.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Neiclaw]] || ネイクロー || Nei's Claw (PSO) || Known as "Nei's Claw" in English versions of PSO. Neiclaw is actually the most accurate.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Falclaw]] || ファルクロー || Rika's Claw (PSO), Rikaclaw || Known as "Rika's Claw" in the English versions of PSO. "Fal" is the Japanese name of Phantasy Star IV's Rika.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Sonichi]] || ソニチ || Soniti (PSO,PSZ) || A Mag from Phantasy Star Online, now a RCSM. Like PSO, Phantasy Star Zero uses "Soniti".
 +
|-
 +
| [[Chao Staff]] || チャオの杖 || Striker of Chao (PSO) || Known as Striker of Chao in the English versions of PSO. Note that Chao, and ''not'' Jaggo, is correct here and only here.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Shato]] || シャト || Sato (PSO), Chato (PSZ) || A Mag from Phantasy Star Online, now a TCSM. Confusingly, Phantasy Star Zero, released later, uses a third spelling.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Yasminakov 0002|Yasminakov]] || ヤスミノコフ || Yasminkov (PSO), Yasminokov (PSZ) || Reference to the Yasminkov series of weapons from PSO. "Yasminokov" would be the most accurate translation.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Grinna Bete C]] || グリナ・ビートC || Grinna Beat C || rowspan="3" | The names of these machine enemies reference PSO's Sinow Beat (シノワビート), but both "Sinow" and "Beat" are spelled differently in PSU. "Shinowa" is closer to the original Japanese than the more liberal "Sinow", however.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Grinna Bete S]] || グリナ・ビートS || Grinna Beat S
 +
|-
 +
| [[Shinowa Hidoki]] || シノワ・ヒドキ || Sinow Hidoki
 +
|-
 +
| [[Jigo Booma]] || ジゴ・ブーマ || Gigobooma (PSO,PSZ), Gigo Booma || A familiar enemy from the forest area of PSO. "Jigo" is closer to the original Japanese, since the "G" in "Gigo" could be mistaken for a hard G sound (as in "go" or "gravity") instead of the "j" sound (as in "jelly" or "jury") it should be.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dark Falz]] || ダーク・ファルス || Darkfalz (I), Dark Force (II,III,IV), Dark Phallus (Saturn Collection bonus material) || The Japanese name, which is closer to "Falz" than "Force", has been mostly consistent throughout the series' entire history. "Falz" is the most common variation now, even after bundling expanded versions in the series (e.g. Blue Burst, Ambition of the Illuminus) with their originals.
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Miscellany===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! English  !! Japanese !! Alternatives !! Details
 +
|-
 +
| [[Ank Kilik]] || アンク・キリク || Ank Kireek || A reference to PSO NPC Kireek, given the items required in exchange for it; however, the names are slightly inconsistent in the Japanese: キリク for the weapon, キリーク for the character.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Tyrant Spada]] || タイラントスパーダ || Tyrant Sparda || rowspan="2" | Sparda or Spada?
 +
|-
 +
| [[Special Ops (Sparda)]] || 特務兵・スパーダ || Special Ops (Spada)
 +
|-
 +
| [[Bil De Vear]] || ビル・ヂ・ビア || - || Technically accurate, but compare to PSO's Hildebear (ヒルヂベア).
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Japanese Errors==
 +
A mistake made in the original Japanese, usually stemming from incorrect use of Anglicisms—essentially translating English to Japanese and back to English again.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Shato || Sato || A throwback to Phantasy Star Online, however in that game this equipment was called "Sato". The PSO/PSU names matched on the JP version.
+
! English  !! Japanese !! Suggested Correction !! Details
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Sonichi || Soniti || A throwback to Phantasy Star Online, however in that game this was called "Soniti", it references Sonic Team. The PSO/PSU names match on the JP version.
+
| [[Vullseye]] || ヴァルズアイ || Bullseye || V and B are often confused/interchangeable in Japanese. The proper spelling for "bullseye" would be ブルズアイ instead.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Weapon || Yasminakov 0002 || Yasminkov 0002 || Inconsistent, refers to the ''Yasminkov'' series of weapons from ''PSO''. The PSO/PSU names matched on the JP version.
+
| [[BT Lovers]] || BT・ラバーズ || VT Lovers || rowspan="2" | The "BT" is supposed to stand for "Valentine", and thus should probably have been VT. Also, conjecturally, rendering it "VD" (for "Valentine's Day") would probably have been problematic—"VD" also stands for "venereal disease," an older term for sexually transmitted diseases.
 
|-
 
|-
 +
| [[BT Box]] || BT・ボックス || VT Box
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
{{General Info}}
 
{{General Info}}

Latest revision as of 14:16, 5 August 2010

As with any work translated from one language to another, the process of translating and localizing will result in a few different interpretations of the material. The purpose of this article is to record these notable discrepancies between the Japanese and English versions of Phantasy Star Universe.

Mistranslations

These entries are simply and plainly incorrect, and cannot be attributed to simple typos or Japanese language quirks.

English Japanese Suggested Correction Details
Rod ロドウ Rodou, Rodoh Applies to all Yohmei Rods (i.e. Ulrodou, Rayharodou, and so on). GRM Rod, added in Ambition of the Illuminus, is simply Rod (ロッド) in the Japanese version.
Lumirus/Kaos Knight ルミラス/カーズナイト Lumirus / Cursed Knight "Chaos" (カオス), as the English name would suggest (and misspells, presumably to fit the item's name into the provided space), doesn't really work.
Formal Set フォマールセット FOmarl Set PSO's FOmarl costume. Completely missed the reference, despite getting the names of the other PSO costumes correct.
Jao ジャッゴ Jaggo The names of these room items should match the name of the enemy, as they do in Japanese. Contrast with Cushion Jaggo. "Jaggo" itself is an intentional alteration of "Chao" (チャオ) from Sonic Adventure. Also see specific notes for Chao Staff within the inconsistent translations section.
Relaxing Jao リラックス・ジャッゴ Relax Jaggo, Relaxing Jaggo
De Rol Le ヂィ・ロレイ De Rolei The Japanese name is a deliberate alteration of the PSO boss De Rol Le (デ・ロル・レ) and does not match. Compare Delsaber and Delnadian.

Typographical Errors

These are minor, most likely unintentional spelling errors.

English Japanese Suggested Correction Details
Ank Bico アンク・ピッコ Ank Piko, Ank Pico A reference to the "Piko Piko Hammer" weapon used by the Sonic the Hedgehog series character Amy Rose. Similar to Toy Hammer from Phantasy Star Online.
Assasin アサシン Assassin The board for this weapon is spelled correctly.
Neddle Cannoc ニードルカノック Needle Cannoc The board and GRM version of this weapon are spelled correctly.
Barada バラタ Barata Prefix for all Shotgun bullets.
Regrant レグランツ Regrants Consistency with technique Grants in previous games.
Nel Soul ネイ・ソウル Nei Soul A reference to Nei of Phantasy Star II. Correctly referred to as "Nei Soul" in the trading information screens of Desert Arms Shop.

Deliberate Changes

With these entries, the original Japanese has been deliberately set aside. As opposed to a translation error, which is an unintentional mistake, the text is purposefully rewritten with something entirely different, often bearing no resemblance to the original Japanese at all.

English Japanese Approximate Romanization Details
Fortetecher フォルテクター　 Fortecher An extra "te" was added to make this type syllabically consistent with Fortefighter and Fortegunner.
Koltova Gun コルトバズーカ Koltobazooka, Koltovazooka The English version chooses to ignore the Japanese's pun entirely.
RCSMs シャドゥーグ Shadoog Known as both ranged combat support machines and R-Mags in English, but consistently Shadoog in Japanese.
TCSMs マドゥーグ Madoog Known as both TECHNIC combat support machines and TECH-Mags in English, but consistently Madoog in Japanese.
Moon Atomizer X コスモアトマイザー Cosmo Atomizer Probably relates to its similar function to regular Moon Atomizers. Creates an inconsistency with PhotonChargeCosmo.
Grav グラブター Gravata Shortened for the ground elemental bullets of Rifles, Laser Cannons, Twin Handguns, Handguns, and Machineguns.
Dark ダークネス Darkness Shortened for the dark elemental bullets of Rifles, Laser Cannons, Twin Handguns, Handguns, and Machineguns.
Shot シュート Shoot The suffix for all Rifle bullets, "Shoot", was (appropriately) changed to "Shot".
Fury フィーバー Fever The suffix for all Machinegun bullets, "Fever", was changed to "Fury".
Shifta アグタール Agtal Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with Retier's TP boost to create a new TECHNIC called Shifta. Also see notes for Agtaride in the inconsistent translations section.
Jellen アグディール Agdeel Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, a new TECHNIC called Jellen with an added TP lowering effect replaces Agdeel in Phantasy Star Portable 2.
Deband デフバール Defbal Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with Zodial and Retier (MST boost) to create a new TECHNIC called Deband. Also see notes for Defbaride in the inconsistent translations section.
Zalure デフディール Defdeel Name changed to match a similar technique in previous games. Interestingly, in the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2, its effect is merged with Zoldeel to create a new TECHNIC called Zalure.
Reverser レジェネ Regene Named changed to match the name of a technique in previous games; however, the effect of Reverser in previous games (revival of a fallen party member) does not match, and its Japanese name is actually rather close to a technique present in Phantasy Star IV anyway: Raja's Regen (レジェネス/Regenes).

Inconsistent Translations

While many of these entries are technically accurate, they are translated inconsistently within the game itself or against another Phantasy Star game's translation.

Characters

English Japanese Details
Obel Dallgun オーベル・ダルガン The seventeenth President of the GUARDIANS, his first name is often seen as "Ohbel" instead.
Orson Waber オルソン・ウェーバー Referred to as "Olson" in earlier story missions, most notably Valley of Suspicion 2.
Bruce Boyde ブルース・ボイド Hey, it's me, Bruce Boyd! Or was that Boyde? His last name suffers from inconsistent spelling.
Reyna レイナ The receptionist at the Ohtoku City GUARDIANS Branch, her name is often seen as "Reina" instead.

Items

English Japanese Alternative Details
Durandal Replica デュランダル・レプカ Durandal Repca Inconsistent with Agito Repca.
Hard / Night ハルド/ナイト Hard / Knight Part of the "Knight" series of arm units. This is carried over to the French and German translations as well, where "Nocturne" and "Nacht" are used instead of "Chevalier" and "Ritter" respectively.
Agtaride アグタライド Shiftaride or similar Derived from the TECHNIC Shifta, whose Japanese name is "Agtal", which matches in the same way Retier, Zodial and Megistar match their item names. Alternately, Shifta could be changed to Agtal. See notes for Shifta in the deliberate changes section.
Defbaride デフバライド Debanride or similar Derived from the TECHNIC Deband, whose Japanese name is "Defbal", which matches in the same way Retier, Zodial and Megistar match their item names. Alternately, Deband could be changed to Defbal. See notes for Deband in the deliberate changes section.

Equipment Sets

These items together form a set bonus have matching names in Japanese, but were translated seperately and do not match in English.

English Japanese Suggested Corrections
Jitseen ジートシーン "Jitline" or "Zeetseen", or change both items to "Jitoshin" and "Jitoline"
Zeetline ジートライン
Nafli-zashi ナフリザシ "Nafri-zashi" or "Nafli-senba".
Nafri-senba ナフリセンバ
Rayharod レイハロドウ "Reiharod" or "Rayha-senba". Also see entry for Rod in Mistranslations section.
Reiha-senba レイハセンバ
Lidra リドルラ "Lidra-senba". "Ridolra" would be a bit difficult to pronounce.
Ridol-senba リドルセンバ

Enemies

English Japanese Alternative Details
Badira バジラ Bajilla Bajilla would be closer to the original. Alternatively, Go Bajilla could be changed to Go Badira for consistency, but would make both equally more inaccurate.
Go Bajilla ゴ・バジラ Go Badira
Tengohg テンゴウグ Tengoug Half of this family of monsters uses "gohg", while the other half uses "goug"! To further compound this, mission descriptions, story mission dialogue, and other text are often inconsistent about this as well.
Onmagoug オンマゴウグ Onmagohg
Zoal Goug ゾアル・ゴウグ Zoal Gohg
Alterazgohg アルテラツゴウグ Alterazgoug

Inconsistent with Previous Games

The Japanese names of these items match those of their counterparts in Japanese versions of other Phantasy Star games, but are translated differently in Phantasy Star Universe.

English Japanese Alternatives Details
TECHNIC テクニック Technique Reasoning behind change is unknown, but is similar to other fully capitalized in-game terms such as RELICS, or GUARDIANS.
Bardiche バルディッシュ Berdysh (PSO) Phantasy Star Online's original naming is a rather horrible mangling of an actual weapon term for a long poleaxe.
Stag Cutralli スタッグカットラリ Stag Cutlery (PSO) A double saber originally from PSO.
Neiclaw ネイクロー Nei's Claw (PSO) Known as "Nei's Claw" in English versions of PSO. Neiclaw is actually the most accurate.
Falclaw ファルクロー Rika's Claw (PSO), Rikaclaw Known as "Rika's Claw" in the English versions of PSO. "Fal" is the Japanese name of Phantasy Star IV's Rika.
Sonichi ソニチ Soniti (PSO,PSZ) A Mag from Phantasy Star Online, now a RCSM. Like PSO, Phantasy Star Zero uses "Soniti".
Chao Staff チャオの杖 Striker of Chao (PSO) Known as Striker of Chao in the English versions of PSO. Note that Chao, and not Jaggo, is correct here and only here.
Shato シャト Sato (PSO), Chato (PSZ) A Mag from Phantasy Star Online, now a TCSM. Confusingly, Phantasy Star Zero, released later, uses a third spelling.
Yasminakov ヤスミノコフ Yasminkov (PSO), Yasminokov (PSZ) Reference to the Yasminkov series of weapons from PSO. "Yasminokov" would be the most accurate translation.
Grinna Bete C グリナ・ビートC Grinna Beat C The names of these machine enemies reference PSO's Sinow Beat (シノワビート), but both "Sinow" and "Beat" are spelled differently in PSU. "Shinowa" is closer to the original Japanese than the more liberal "Sinow", however.
Grinna Bete S グリナ・ビートS Grinna Beat S
Shinowa Hidoki シノワ・ヒドキ Sinow Hidoki
Jigo Booma ジゴ・ブーマ Gigobooma (PSO,PSZ), Gigo Booma A familiar enemy from the forest area of PSO. "Jigo" is closer to the original Japanese, since the "G" in "Gigo" could be mistaken for a hard G sound (as in "go" or "gravity") instead of the "j" sound (as in "jelly" or "jury") it should be.
Dark Falz ダーク・ファルス Darkfalz (I), Dark Force (II,III,IV), Dark Phallus (Saturn Collection bonus material) The Japanese name, which is closer to "Falz" than "Force", has been mostly consistent throughout the series' entire history. "Falz" is the most common variation now, even after bundling expanded versions in the series (e.g. Blue Burst, Ambition of the Illuminus) with their originals.

Miscellany

English Japanese Alternatives Details
Ank Kilik アンク・キリク Ank Kireek A reference to PSO NPC Kireek, given the items required in exchange for it; however, the names are slightly inconsistent in the Japanese: キリク for the weapon, キリーク for the character.
Tyrant Spada タイラントスパーダ Tyrant Sparda Sparda or Spada?
Special Ops (Sparda) 特務兵・スパーダ Special Ops (Spada)
Bil De Vear ビル・ヂ・ビア - Technically accurate, but compare to PSO's Hildebear (ヒルヂベア).

Japanese Errors

A mistake made in the original Japanese, usually stemming from incorrect use of Anglicisms—essentially translating English to Japanese and back to English again.

English Japanese Suggested Correction Details
Vullseye ヴァルズアイ Bullseye V and B are often confused/interchangeable in Japanese. The proper spelling for "bullseye" would be ブルズアイ instead.
BT Lovers BT・ラバーズ VT Lovers The "BT" is supposed to stand for "Valentine", and thus should probably have been VT. Also, conjecturally, rendering it "VD" (for "Valentine's Day") would probably have been problematic—"VD" also stands for "venereal disease," an older term for sexually transmitted diseases.
BT Box BT・ボックス VT Box


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