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Script Changes

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NoharOSP edited this page Aug 11, 2025 · 52 revisions

Introduction:

While not a complete retranslation, the aim of the script patch is a story that's as faithful as possible to the Japanese version of the game, and to raise the dialogue's presentation to a more modern standard of consistency by sticking to a style guide.

It uses the original English localisation by Richard Honeywood as its basis, and so the overall tone and classic scenes will remain familiar to long-time players, but many names, key terms, mistranslations, and countless instances of incorrect grammar and punctuation have been corrected. Most importantly, we have attempted to restore the various philosophical, mythological, and religious references that were originally intended by the creators.

Some official details from Perfect Works have been added to deepen the in-game lore. Where the original game script (even in Japanese) is contradicted by information in Perfect Works, dialogue has been changed to reflect Perfect Works.

Terms which went on to appear in later Xeno games with an updated 'official' localisation have been changed to match (Vessels of Anima being one example).

There were also a handful of bugs where characters' lines were missing or cut short due to quirks in the code - these have also been fixed.

Screenshots:

Name changes:

  • Alpha Weltall = Original Weltall - Grahf's gear. Changed to use the Japanese name. The term is used in both fights.
  • True Weltall = Original Weltall - Same as above.
  • Alkanshel = Arc-en-Ciel - French for 'rainbow'. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Anima Relics = Vessels of Anima - Artifacts that align with gears. Changed to use the Japanese name.
  • Anonelbe = Ahnenerbe - German for 'Ancestral Heritage'. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Aveh = Av - Fifth month of the Hebrew calendar. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Bledavik = Breidablik - Home of Baldr in Norse mythology. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Broyer = Breuer - Possibly named after Josef Breuer. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Day of Destruction = Day of Collapse - Event where Grahf destroyed most of the population. Changed to use the Japanese name.
  • Elhaym = Elehayym - Heroine of Xenogears. Changed to use the Japanese name.
  • Elru = Elul - Sixth month of the Hebrew calendar. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Ethos = The Church/Church of Ethos - In the original script, the Ethos was simply referred to as 'the Church'. A combination of the two has been used to respect the original term whilst using a name that is appropriate for an organisation.
  • Etrenank = Etemenanki - Ziggurat dedicated to Marduk. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Gaetia Key = Key of Goetia - Reference to The Goetia, a book of The Lesser Key of Solomon. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Gebler = Geburah - The fifth Sephirot of the kabbalistic Tree of Life. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Golgada = Golgotha - Site where Jesus was crucified. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Kadomony = Kadamoni - Reference to Adam Kadmon, the first human. Changed to use the Japanese name.
  • Heimdal = Heimdall - Son of Odin who watches for invaders. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Helmholz = Helmholtz - Named after Hermann von Helmholtz. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Kahran = Carlin (and Kahr to Carl) - Possibly named after Carl Jung. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Kelvena = Cherubina - Derived from Cherubim, the second highest angelic order to Seraphim in Christianity. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Mahanon = Machanon - Possibly derived from Machen, the fourth heaven where the Garden of Eden is located. Used a spelling that is closer to 'Machen'.
  • Merkava = Merkabah - Hebrew for 'chariot'. Either term is acceptable, though the Japanese version is used.
  • Miang = Myyah - Romanization of the name used in Perfect Works. Changed to use the Perfect Works name.
  • Nikolai = Nikola - Possibly derived from Nikola Tesla, who created the radio remote control. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Nortune = Noatun - Home of Njörðr in Norse mythology. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Opiomorph = Ophiomorphous - Serpent in Gnostic lore according to a A Dictionary of Angels. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Razael = Raziel - Angel in Jewish mysticism, who gave Adam secrets about the universe. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Renk = Rank - Possibly referring to Otto Rank. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Ricdeau = Rikudou - Japanese term, possibly referring to the Buddhist idea of Six Paths. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Taura = Torah - First five books of the Hebrew bible. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Thames = Tamuz - Fourth month of the Hebrew calendar. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Tolone = Throne - Derived from Thrones, the third highest angelic order to Seraphim and Cherubim in Christianity. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Urobolus = Ouroboros - Greek term for tail-eating snake. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Yabeh = YHWH - Reference to the name considered for Deus. Decided as the name for the interplanetary invasion system through a poll.
  • Wind Mode = Zephyr Mode - Chosen to give Bart's ability names a more dramatic flair.
  • Earth Mode = Seismic Mode - Chosen to give Bart's ability names a more dramatic flair.
  • Fire Mode = Inferno Mode - Chosen to give Bart's ability names a more dramatic flair.
  • Water Mode = Torrent Mode - Chosen to give Bart's ability names a more dramatic flair.
  • Vance = Franz - Restored the name swap done with Vance and Franz.
  • Franz = Vance - Restored the name swap done with Vance and Franz.
  • Amphysvena = Amphisbaena - Serpent with a head at each end. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Harlute = Harut - Angel paired with Marut in the Quran. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Marlute = Marut - Angel paired with Harut in the Quran. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Sundel = Sandalphon - Jewish and Christian archangel. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Schpariel = Spirale - German for 'spiral'. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Seibzehn = Siebzehn - German for 'seventeen'. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Skyghene = Skyscreech - The Japanese name used an onomatopoeia which was translated as 'ghene'. Changed to use a more appropriate localisation.
  • Sufal = Sphar - Used by the Italian translation of Perfect Works. Sanskrit term meaning 'to spread'. The original script likely used the term 'Sephardi', though referring to the game's mutants as 'Jews from Spain' had unfortunate connotations.
  • Sufal Mass = Sphar Meld - Chosen as it conveyed the meaning of the Japanese term better.
  • Suzarn = Suzanne - Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Krelian = Karellen - Reference to Karellen from Childhood's End, whose methods and goals align with his Xenogears counterpart. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Stratski = Strachey - Reference to James Strachey. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Arbot = Araboth - The seventh heaven, housing the throne. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Miang's Gear = Type-1 Vierge - Changed to use the Perfect Works name.
  • Neo Etone (Boss) = Arch Etone - Used to differentiate the boss and enemy Etones.
  • Edin = Edain - Reference to an Irish myth. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Eagle Armor = Egil Armor - Reference to an Icelandic saga. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Eagle Blade = Egil Blade - See above.
  • Eagle Gunner = Egil Gunner - See above.
  • Ignas = Ignis - Latin term for 'fire'. Corrected the misspelling of the original name.
  • Aquvy = Aqvi - Written as 'Acvi' in Perfect Works. Spelt as 'Aqvi' as a similar term is used officially in Final Fantasy Type-0.
  • Rattan = Kenpen - Reference to Sha Wujing's original title in Journey to the West. Corrected the mistranslation of the original name.
  • Mugwort = Tenpou - Reference to Zhu Bajie's original title in Journey to the West. Corrected the mistranslation of the original name.
  • Reapers/Wels = Verus - Possible reference to the Latin term for 'truth'. Corrected the mistranslation of the original name.
  • Maison = Mason - Written as 'Mason' in Perfect Works.
  • Jessie = Jesse - Possible reference to Jesse James. Written as 'Jesse' in Perfect Works.

Story changes:

  • Liquid Sky is referred to by Jessie and Sigurd in the gunroom and by Maison after Shakhan.
  • The names of the Gazel Ministry are referenced by Karellen in their final scene.
  • All references to Chu-Chu are now pointers, which means that anything in the script with the name "Chu-Chu" will now load the nickname the player gave her.
  • The deaths of Bart's parents and Margie's parents has been changed from execution to suicide akin to Perfect Works.

Chapter names:

  • Path to Aveh > Path to Av
  • Operation Aveh > Operation Av
  • Road to Nisan > Route to Nisan
  • Recapture Aveh > Recapture Av
  • Escape Ignas > Escape Ignis
  • Friends Again > Reunion
  • Reapers' Ship > Verus' Ship
  • Gate 1 Margie > Gate 1 Nisan
  • Krelian's Lab > Karellen's Lab
  • Merkava Calls > Merkabah Calls

Other

  • English-dubbed FMV sequences are replaced with English-subtitled Japanese versions. You can choose to opt out.
  • Voice samples from battles, the card game etc are also replaced with the Japanese versions (note that the cost, as with most undubs, is that these are unsubtitled). You can choose to opt out.
  • The various jukeboxes in the game now show the official English track titles when playing.
  • All characters with portraits are named except the Gazel.
  • El prefix has been added to the names of the Omnigears.
  • Accept/Cancel has been changed to Enter/Delete.
  • DeathBlow has been changed to Deathblow.
  • Name changes between the game, the arena selection screen and the arena portraits are harmonised.
  • Elemental item names have been replaced with the continent names akin to the Japanese version.
  • Sufal Mass FMV now uses higher audio quality.
  • All instances of Neo in a name are hyphenated.

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