## Translation notes

The goal of this translation is to produce a blend between "what the original Japanese version was like" and "what a good localization would have been in 1987".
This means some effort is needed to adapt the intent of the original Japanese more or less literally as needed.
As a result, some of the character dialogue is extended beyond what was in the original Japanese, occasionally adding some hints, sometimes adding some extra style to some of the bare-bones dialogue where we are able to extend things beyond the space restrictions that also limited the Japanese script.

***Spoilers ahead***

Telling you the names of all the things in the game is a kind of spoiler, so don't look here unless you're OK with that.

### Characters
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
アリサ|arisa|ALIS|Alis|Alisa|Transliteration. Later games use "Alis" but the "a" is there in the original.
チョウコオネーサン|choukooneesan|<not present>|<not present>|Choko Oneesan|Transliteration
ダモア|damoa|DAMOR|Damor|Damoa|Transliteration
エスパー|esupaa|ESPAR|Espar|Esper(s)|Transliteration
ゲーマーノ ミキチャン|geemaano mikichan|MIKI|Miki|Gamer Miki-chan|Transliteration
ソウトク (総督)|soutoku|GOVERNOR|Governor|Governor-General|Translation
ラシーク|rashiiku|LASSIC|Lassic|LaShiec|Transliteration. [Fits with later translations.](https://phantasystar.fandom.com/wiki/Lashiec)
ルツ|rutsu|LUTZ|Lutz|Lutz|Transliteration
ルベノ|rubeno|LUVENO|Luveno|Luveno|Transliteration (unchanged)
メデューサ|mede~yuusa|MEDUSA|Medusa|Medusa|Transliteration (unchanged)
ミャウ|myau|MYAU|Myau|Myau|Transliteration (and onomatopoeia) (unchanged)
ネキセ|nekise|NEKISE|Nekise|Nekise|Transliteration (unchanged). Could be "Nekiseh" to imply the correct pronunciation.
ネロ|nero|NERO|Nero|Nero|Transliteration (unchanged)
オテガミ チエチャン|otegami chiechan|<not present>|<not present>|Otegami Chie-chan|Transliteration
スエロ|suero|SUELO|Suelo|Suelo|Transliteration (unchanged)
タジム|tajimu|TAJIM|Tajim|Tajim|Transliteration (unchanged)
タイロン|tairon|ODIN|Odin|Tylon|Transliteration. Controversial - could also be "Tairon", "Tyrone", "Tyron", ...

### Locations
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
アルゴル|arugoru|ALGOL|Algol|Algol|Transliteration (unchanged)
アルチプラノ|aruchipurano|ALTIPLANO|Altiplano|Altiplano|Transliteration (unchanged)
アビオン|abion|ABION|Abion|Avion|Transliteration
バルテボ|barutebo|BORTEVO|Bortevo|Bartevo|Transliteration
バヤ マーレ|baya maare|BAYA MALAY|Baya Malay|Baya Marlay|Transliteration
カミニート|kaminiito|CAMINEET|Camineet|Camineet|Transliteration (unchanged)
カスバ|kasuba|CASBA|Casba|Casba|Transliteration (unchanged)
コロナ|korona|CORONA|Corona|Corona|Transliteration (unchanged)
デゾリス|dezorisu|DEZORIS|Dezoris|Dezoris|Transliteration (unchanged)
ドラスゴー |dorasugoo|DRASGOW|Drasgow|Drasgo|Transliteration
エピ|epi|EPPI|Eppi|Eppi|Transliteration (unchanged)
ガシコ|gashiko|GOTHIC|Gothic|Gothic|Transliteration (unchanged)
グアラン|guaran|GUARON|Guaron|Guaran|Transliteration
イアラ|iara|IALA|Iala|Iala|Transliteration (unchanged)
マハル|maharu|MAHARU|Maharu|Mahal|Transliteration
モタビア|motabia|MOTAVIA|Motavia|Motavia|Transliteration (unchanged)
ナウラ|naura|NAULA|Naula|Naula|Transliteration (unchanged)
パルマ|paruma|PALMA|Palma|Palma|Transliteration (unchanged)
パロリト|parorito|PAROLIT|Parolit|Parolit|Transliteration (unchanged)
パセオ|paseo|PASEO|Paseo|Paseo|Transliteration (unchanged)
シオン|shion|SCION|Shion|Shion|Transliteration
スクレ|sukure|SKURE|Skure|Skray|Transliteration
ソピア|sopia|SOPIA|Sopia|Sopia|Transliteration (unchanged)
トリアダ|toriada|TRIADA|Triada|Triada|Transliteration (unchanged)
ウーゾ|uuzo|UZO|Uzo|Uzo|Transliteration (unchanged)

### Weapons
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
セラミックソード|seramikkusoodo|CRC. SWD|Ceramic Sword|Ceramic Sword|Transliteration (unchanged)
ヒートガン|iitogan|HEAT.GUN|Heat Gun|Heat Gun|Transliteration (unchanged)
アイアンアクス|aianakusu|IRN. AXE|Iron Axe|Iron Axe|Transliteration (unchanged)
アイアンソード|aiansoodo|IRN. SWD|Iron Sword|Iron Sword|Transliteration (unchanged)
ラコニアンアクス|rakonianakusu|LAC. AXE|Laconian Axe|Laconian Axe|Transliteration (unchanged)
ラコニアンソード|rakoniansoodo|LAC. SWD|Laconian Sword|Laconian Sword|Transliteration (unchanged)
レーザーガン|reezaagan|LASR.GUN|Laser Gun|Laser Gun|Transliteration (unchanged)
ライトセイバー|raitoseibaa|LGT.SABR|Light Saber|Light Saber|Transliteration (unchanged)
ニードルガン|niidorugan|NEEDLGUN|Needle Gun|Needle Gun|Transliteration (unchanged)
サイコウォンド|saikowondo|WAND|Wand|Psycho Wand|Transliteration
サーベルクロー|saaberukuroo|SIL.FANG|Silver Fang|Saber Claw|Transliteration. Sega translation changed the meaning.
ショートソード|shootosoodo|SHT. SWD|Short Sword|Short Sword|Transliteration (unchanged)
シルバータスク|shirubaatasuku|IRN.FANG|Iron Fang|Silver Tusk|Transliteration. Sega translation changed the meaning, see also "SIL. FANG".
チタニウムソード|chitaniumusoodo|TIT. SWD|Titanium Sword|Titanium Sword|Transliteration (unchanged)
ウッドケイン|uddokein|WOODCANE|Wood Cane|Wood Cane|Transliteration (unchanged)

### Armour
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
ダイヤノヨロイ (ダイヤの鎧)|daiyanoyoroi|DMD.ARMR|Diamond Armor|Diamond Armor|Transliteration + translation
フラードマント|furaadomanto|FRD.MANT|Frad Mantle|Frad Mantle|Transliteration
アイアンアーマ|aianaama|IRN.ARMR|Iron Armor|Iron Armor|Transliteration (unchanged)
ラコニアアーマ|rakoniaaama|LAC.ARMR|Laconian Armor|Laconian Armor|Transliteration
レザークロス|rezaakurosu|LTH.ARMR|Leather Armor|Leather Clothes|Transliteration
ライトスーツ|raitosuutsu|LGT.SUIT|Light Suit|Light Suit|Transliteration (unchanged)
トゲリスノケガワ (棘栗鼠の毛皮)|togerisunokegawa|THCK.FUR|Thick Fur|Spiky Squirrel Fur|Translation
ホワイトマント|howaitomanto|WHT.MANT|White Mantle|White Mantle|Transliteration (unchanged)
ジルコニアメイル|jirukoniameiru|ZIR.ARMR|Zirconian Armour|Zirconia Mail|Transliteration. Note that zirconia is a cheaper version of diamond.

### Shields
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
アニマルグラブ|animarugurabu|GLOVE|Glove|Animal Glove|Transliteration
ボロンシールド|boronshiirudo|IRN. SLD|Iron Shield|Bronze Shield|Transliteration. Swapped with Iron Shield in Sega translation.
セラミックノタテ (セラミックの盾)|seramikkunotate|CRC. SLD|Ceramic Shield|Ceramic Shield|Transliteration + translation
アイアンシールド|aianshiirudo|BRNZ.SLD|Bronze Shield|Iron Shield|Transliteration. Swapped with Bronze Shield in Sega translation.
ラコニアシールド|rakoniashiirudo|LAC. SLD|Laconian Shield|Laconian Shield|Transliteration
レーザーバリア|reezaabaria|LASR.SLD|Laser Shield|Laser Barrier|Transliteration
レザーシールド|rezaashiirudo|LTH. SLD|Leather Shield|Leather Shield|Transliteration
ペルセウスノタテ (ペルセウスの盾)|peruseusunotate|MIRR.SLD|Mirror Shield|Shield of Perseus|Transliteration + translation

### Vehicles
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
フロームーバー|furoomuubaa|HOVRCRFT|Hovercraft|FlowMover|Transliteration
アイスデッカー|aisudekkaa|ICE DIGR|Ice Digger|IceDecker|Transliteration
ランドマスター|randomasutaa|LANDROVR|Land Rover|LandMaster|Transliteration

### Items
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
エアロプリズム|earopurizumu|PRISM|Prism|Aeroprism|Transliteration
アルシュリン|arushurin|ALSULIN|Alsulin|Alsuline|Transliteration. Not sure if there is some reason for the name.
カーバンクルアイ|kaabankuruai|AMBR EYE|Amber Eye|Carbuncle Eye|Transliteration
コンパス|konpasu|COMPASS|Compass|Compass|Transliteration
ダモアクリスタル|damoakurisutaru|CRYSTAL|Crystal|Damoa's Crystal|Transliteration
ダンジョンキー|danjonkii|DUGN KEY|Dungeon Key|Dungeon Key|Transliteration
イクリプストーチ|ikuripusutoochi|TORCH|Torch|Eclipse Torch|Transliteration
エスケープクロス|esukeepukurosu|ESCAPER|Escaper|Escape Cloth|Transliteration
ガスクリア|gasukuria|GAS. SLD|Gas Shield|GasClear|Transliteration
ソウトクノテガミ (総督の手紙)|soutokunotegami|LETTER|Letter|Governor[-General]'s Letter|Translation
ハプスビー|hapusubii|HAPSBY|Hapsby|Hapsby|Transliteration
ラコニアンポット|rakonianpotto|LAC. POT|Laconian Pot|Laconian Pot|Transliteration
ラエルマベリー|raerumaberii|NUTS|Nuts|Laerma Berries|Transliteration
ライトペンダント|raitopendanto|MAG.LAMP|Magic Lamp|Light Pendant|Transliteration
マジックハット|majikkuhatto|MAGC HAT|Magic Hat|Magic Hat|Transliteration
マスターシステム|masutaashisutemu|M SYSTEM|Master System|Master System|Transliteration
ミラクルキー|mirakurukii|MRCL KEY|Miracle Key|Miracle Key|Transliteration
パスポート|pasupooto|PASSPORT|Passport|Passport|Transliteration
ペロリーメイト|peroriimeito|COLA|Cola|PelorieMate|Transliteration. This is a play on "CalorieMate", a Japanese brand of "energy bar"
ポリメテラール|porimeteraaru|POLYMTRL|Polymeteral|Polymeteral|Transliteration
ロードパス|roodopasu|ROADPASS|Roadpass|Road Pass|Transliteration
ルオギニン|ruoginin|BURGER|Burger|Ruoginin|Transliteration. Similar to PelorieMate, this is a corruption of Arginine V (アルギニンV, aruginin V), a Japanese brand of "energy drink"
サーチライト|saachiraito|FLASH|Flash|Searchlight|Transliteration
ヒミツノモノ (秘密の物)|himitsunomono|SECRETS|Secret|Secret Thing|Translation
ショートケーキ|shootokeeki|CAKE|Cake|Shortcake|Transliteration
スーズフルート|suuzufuruuto|FLUTE|Flute|Soothe Flute|Transliteration
テレパシーボール|terepashiibooru|SPHERE|Sphere|Telepathy Ball|Transliteration
トランカーペット|torankaapetto|TRANSER|Transer|TranCarpet|Transliteration
ジリオン|jirion|ZILLION|Zillion|Zillion|Transliteration

### Spells
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
ビンドワ|bindowa|ROPE|Rope|Bind|"Binds" enemy so it can't attack. Transliteration.
スルト|suruto|EXIT|Exit|Bypass|Exit dungeon. Suruto means something like "and then...". May also come from "するっと", meaning to pass somewhere easily.
フレエリ|fureeri|FIRE|Fire|Fire|Fire attack (-10DP x 2). Transliteration (unchanged).
ヒール|hiiru|HEAL|Heal|Heal|+20HP. Transliteration (unchanged)
ムオーデ|muoode|OPEN|Open|Magic Unseal|Open sealed doors. "Mu" prefix for "magic"; the word "oode" can mean "to open one's arms wide".
ムワーラ|muwaara|PROT|Protect|Magic Waller|Creates a "wall" that blocks attacks and magic. "Mu" prefix for "magic", plus transliteration.
パウマ|pauma|HELP|Help|Power Boost|Boosts AP. "Pow" transliteration.
ラクスタ|rakusuta|BYE|Bye|Quick Dash|Exit a battle. "Raku" means 'comfort, ease', and "sutasuta" is sound-symbolic for 'quickly running'.
リーバス|riibasu|RISE|Rise|Rebirth|Resurrects a dead person to full life. Transliteration.
ドヒール|dohiiru|CURE|Cure|Super Heal|+80HP. "Do" prefix for "super" spells, plus transliteration.
テレパス|telepasu|TELE|Telepathy|Telepathy|Talk to enemies. Transliteration.
テルル|teruru|TERR|Terror|Terror|Decreases enemy DP. Transliteration.
タンドレ|tandore|THUN|Thunder|Thunder|Lightning attack (-30DP to all enemies). Transliteration.
ペヤラク|peyaraku|CHAT|Chat|Transrate|Talk to enemies, but responses are worse than with Telepathy - or the enemy will attack you (if it is stronger than you and cannot talk magically). Might be a play on the words "perapera" ("ぺらぺら", "fluent") and "honyaku" ("翻訳", "translation"), created by taking the word "perayaku" ("ぺら訳", "fluent/perfect translation") and switching the second and third syllables. This word corruption maybe implies the lower quality of the result.
トルーパ|toruupa|FLY|Fly|Troop|Return to last church. Transliteration.
ラプット|raputto|TRAP|Trap|Untrap|Disarms traps. "Raputto" is a jumbled-up "トラップ"/"torappu", which is transliterated.
ワーラ|waara|WALL|Wall|Waller|Creates a "wall" that blocks attacks. Transliteration (unchanged)
ヒューン|hyuun|WIND|Wind|Wind|Wind attack (-10DP x 3). Original is onomatopoeic for a strong gust of wind but there's no good English equivalent.

### Enemies
Japanese|Romaji|Sega original translation (in-game)|Sega original translation (interpretation)|Retranslation|Notes
:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---
モンスターフライ|monsutaafurai|SWORM|Sworm|Monster Fly|Transliteration
グリーンスライム|guriinsuraimu|GR.SLIME|Green Slime|Green Slime|Transliteration
ウイングアイ|uinguai|WING EYE|Wing Eye|Wing Eye|Transliteration
マンイーター|maniitaa|MANEATER|Man Eater|Maneater|Transliteration
スコーピラス|sukoopirasu|SCORPION|Scorpion|Scorpius|Transliteration
ラージヤーゴ (ラージ[水蠆](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%B0%B4%E8%A0%86))|raajiyaago|G.SCORPI|Gold Scorpion|Giant [Naiad](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/naiad)|Transliteration + translation
ブルースライム|buruusuraimu|BL.SLIME|Blue Slime|Blue Slime|Transliteration
モタビアンノーフ (モタビアン農夫)|motabiannoofu|N.FARMER|N.Farmer|Motavian Peasant|Transliteration + translation
デビルバット|debirubatto|OWL BEAR|Owl Bear|Devil Bat|Transliteration
キラープラント|kiraapuranto|DEADTREE|Dead Tree|Killer Plant|Transliteration
バイターフライ|baitaafurai|SCORPIUS|Scorpius|Biting Fly|Transliteration
モタビアンイビル|motabianibiru|E.FARMER|E.Farmer|Motavian Evil|Transliteration
ヘレックス|herekkusu|GIANTFLY|Giant Fly|Herex|Transliteration
サンドワーム|sandowuumu|CRAWLER|Crawler|Sandworm|Transliteration
モタビアンマニア|motabianmania|BARBRIAN|Barbarian|Motavian Maniac|Transliteration
ゴールドレンズ|goorudorenzu|GOLDLENS|Goldlens|Gold Lens|Transliteration
レッドスライム|reddosuraimu|RD.SLIME|Red Slime|Red Slime|Transliteration
バットマン|battoman|WERE BAT|Werebat|Bat Man|Transliteration
カブトガニ (兜蟹)|kabutogani|BIG CLUB|Big Club|Horseshoe Crab|Translation
シャーキン|shaakin|FISHMAN|Fishman|Shark King|Transliteration
リッチ|ritchi|EVILDEAD|Evil Dead|Lich|Transliteration
タランチュラ|taranuchura|TARANTUL|Tarantula|Tarantula|Transliteration
マンチコア|manchikoa|MANTICOR|Manticore|Manticore|Transliteration
スケルトン|sukeruton|SKELETON|Skeleton|Skeleton|Transliteration
アリジゴク ([蟻地獄](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B9%E3%83%90%E3%82%AB%E3%82%B2%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A6))|arijigoku|ANT LION|Ant Lion|Antlion|[Translation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antlion)
マーシーズ|maashiizu|MARMAN|Marshman|Marshes|Transliteration
デゾリアン|dezorian|DEZORIAN|Dezorian|Dezorian|Transliteration
デザートリーチ|dezaatoriichi|LEECH|Leech|Desert Leech|Transliteration
クライオン|kuraion|VAMPIRE|Vampire|Cryon|Transliteration
ビッグノーズ|biggunoozu|ELEPHANT|Elephant|Big Nose|Transliteration
グール|guuru|GHOUL|Ghoul|Ghoul|Transliteration
アンモナイト|anmonaito|SHELFISH|Shellfish|Ammonite|Transliteration
エグゼキュート|eguzekyuuto|EXECUTER|Executer|Executor|Transliteration
ワイト|waito|WIGHT|Wight|Wight|Transliteration
スカルソルジャー|sukarusorujaa|SKULL-EN|Skull-En|Skull Soldier|Transliteration
マイマイ (まいまい)|maimai|AMMONITE|Ammonite|Snail|Translation
マンチコート|manchikooto|SPHINX|Sphinx|Manticort|Transliteration
サーペント|saapento|SERPEN|Serpent|Serpent|Transliteration
リバイアサン|ribaiasan|SANDWORM|Sandworm|Leviathan|Transliteration
ドルージュ|doruuju|LICH|Lich|[Druj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasu_%28Zoroastrianism%29)|Transliteration
オクトパス|okutopasu|OCTOPUS|Octopus|Octopus|Transliteration
マッドストーカー|maddosutookaa|STALKER|Stalker|Mad Stalker|Transliteration
デゾリアンヘッド|dezorianheddo|EVILHEAD|Evil Head|Dezorian Head|Transliteration
ゾンビ|zonbi|ZOMBIE|Zombie|Zombie|Transliteration
リビングデッド|ribingudeddo|BATALION|Battalion|Living Dead|Transliteration
ロボットポリス|robottoporisu|ROBOTCOP|Robotcop|Robot Police|Transliteration
サイボーグメイジ|saiboogumeiji|SORCERER|Sorcerer|Cyborg Mage|Transliteration
フレームリザード|fureemurizaado|NESSIE|Nessie|Flame Lizard|Transliteration
タジム|tajimu|TARZIMAL|Tarzimal|Tajim|Transliteration
ガイア|gaia|GOLEM|Golem|Gaia|Transliteration
マシンガーダー|mashiingaadaa|ANDROCOP|Androcop|Machine Guard|Transliteration. Could be "Guarder"
ビッグイーター|bigguiitaa|TENTACLE|Tentacle|Big Eater|Transliteration
タロス|tarosu|GIANT|Giant|Talos|Transliteration
スネークロード|suneekuroodo|WYVERN|Wyvern|Snake Lord|Transliteration
デスベアラー|desubearaa|REAPER|Reaper|Death Bearer|Transliteration
カオスソーサラー|kaosusoosaraa|MAGICIAN|Magician|Chaos Sorcerer|Transliteration
セントール|sentooru|HORSEMAN|Horseman|Centaur|Transliteration
アイスマン|aisuman|FROSTMAN|Frostman|Ice Man|Transliteration
バルカン|barukan|AMUNDSEN|Amundsen|Vulcan|Transliteration
レッドドラゴン|reddodoragon|RD.DRAGN|Red Dragon|Red Dragon|Transliteration
グリーンドラゴン|guriindoragon|GR.DRAGN|Green Dragon|Green Dragon|Transliteration
ラシーク|rashiiku|SHADOW|Shadow|LaShiec|Transliteration
マンモス|manmosu|MAMMOTH|Mammoth|Mammoth|Transliteration
キングセイバー|kinguseibaa|CENTAUR|Centaur|King Saber|Transliteration
ダークマローダー|daakumaroodaa|MARAUDER|Marauder|Dark Marauder|Transliteration
ゴーレム|gooremu|TITAN|Titan|Golem|Transliteration
メデューサ|medyuusa|MEDUSA|Medusa|Medusa|Transliteration
フロストドラゴン|furosutodoragon|WT.DRAGN|White Dragon|Frost Dragon|Transliteration
ドラゴンワイズ|doragonwaizu|B.DRAGN|Blue Dragon|Dragon Wise|Transliteration
ゴールドドレイク|goorudodoreiku|GD.DRAGN|Gold Dragon|Gold Drake|Transliteration
マッドドクター|maddodokutaa|DR.MAD|Dr. Mad|Mad Doctor|Transliteration
ラシーク|rashiiku|LASSIC|Lassic|LaShiec|Transliteration
ダークファルス|daakufarusu|DARKFALZ|Dark Falz|Dark Force|Transliteration. Could be "Dark Falz" as seen in later PS games.
ナイトメア|naitomea|SACCUBUS|Saccubus|Nightmare|Transliteration

### Other things
The currency of Algol is "メセタ" (meseta). In-game is is sometimes referred to by the pseudo-currency-code MST. Two questions arise for localisation:

1. Should it be capitalised? For the original US translation, we can't tell. For English, we chose yes. 
2. Should it be pluralised? For the original US translation, they chose yes. For English, we chose no, by similarity to the way "yen" and other east Asian currencies are not pluralised. For languages where "yen" is pluralised, we pluralise Mesetas.
