Simon's Quest dissected

Images

Japanese version

This was the original animated title screen of Castlevania II, only seen in the Famicom Disk System version of the game.

North-American English version (NTSC)

Published one year after the Japanese version.
Likely due to political reasons, the blood effect from the Japanese version was not preserved in overseas releases.
Aside from changing a period to a comma, the prologue text was however kept completely unchanged, despite the occurrence of the word “hell”.
The nice-looking apostrophe in the word “you’ve” is actually a comma that is on the preceding line.
The Konami logo and the filmroll are placed eight pixels lower on the screen than in the FDS version, most likely due to attribute table limitations in the console hardware, and also to make sure that if something ends up being clipped because of overscan (cheap TVs render part of the content outside their own viewport), it is not the Konami logo that gets clipped.

International English version (PAL)

Published two years after the USA version.
The reference to Nintendo was made simply, “Nintendo”, rather than “Nintendo of America, Inc.”

Finnish version

I included the Japanese release year, 1987, and the two English release years in the Konami copyright year listing, because I incorporated features from all three releases.
The name of the company, Konami, was stripped of the extra legalese to match the Japanese version, and because of layout reasons.
The filmroll is eight pixels taller than in the other versions in order to make room for the version information textbox. As a consequence, the filmroll now nearly touches the edge of the Konami logo.

Main menu screens.
Japanese version The disk system version supported saving the game state to the disk, and up to three games could be saved. Touroku=enter, kesu=wipe out. It is unknown why they used latin alphabet (rōmaji) for Japanese text. It is uncommon to do that.
English versions The NES version did not have disk saving support, nor did the game cartridge include SRAM for saving. Instead, the game state would be encoded into a password, that could be entered later, and written on paper. These screens were also nicely decorated. When the international English version was released after the North-American version, for some odd reason they decided to scramble the password font. Perhaps, to reduce the possibility of coincidentally obscene passwords by removing all vowels. In the USA version, there are a total of about 90 valid passwords that coincidentally consist entirely of English words, such as “`PORN VOLT DEAD WHAT`” or “`LONG DOZY TILT RAYS`” (both discovered by Bisqwit). In the PAL version, there are none found so far, unless L337 spelling is allowed, in which case the numbers for NTSC and PAL become 250 and 50 respectively. Though the password encoding mechanism is identical in both versions, the letters displayed look different. This caused some confusion in Finland when an imported and translated gamer magazine included passwords that could only possibly be entered in the USA version, without explanation of the fact. Eventually, I memorized both versions (displayed). The North-American version used a special pixel-shifted tileset for just the "YOUR" word to avoid the "ENTER YOUR" line touching the edge of the text box (you can see how the letters of "YOUR" do not line up with the "WORD" below). The PAL version could not use that trick due to being out of unused tiles; instead, they shifted the entire font, including the red arrow, one pixel to the left. They forgot to shift the underline, though. I actually have made a video that explains in very deep detail how the password system works. Watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ve0YEQEMw
Finnish versions The Finnish version comes in two variants: NTSC and PAL. The password compatibility was preserved regardless of version. The main menu box now includes a SRAM-save feature, and the font was changed into a serif font. The film roll also is 8 pixels taller. The misplaced underline in the PAL version was also fixed.

Dialog output comparisons.
Japanese	English	Finnish	Explanation
	The Japanese version was tuned to produce the text at an approximately natural pace of speaking. When the game was translated into English, the pace was kept exactly the same, despite each character now corresponding to a single letter rather than an entire syllable, thereby producing an impression of slow speech. The Finnish version attempts to reintroduce a new natural pace. At the faster pace, more dialog can be outputted without the game becoming slower. A special exception was added for stop characters such as the comma or the question mark, producing a longer delay. The Japanese version also uses a serif-type font. It has strokes that are sharp at one end and round at other end (where such features can be presented in the low resolution). For some reason, the English version went with standard sans-serif Nintendo font, despite every indication in the original game being that for latin alphabet, serif font should be used at all times. In the Finnish version, I chose the serif font already present in the game for dialog text. I also created a lowercase font, but these screenshots are from an earlier version that did not use it. The Japanese version also renders dialog in such manner, that it leaves empty lines between text lines. My guess is that originally they planned to use the between-lines for the dakuten ゜ and handakuten ゛ marks, as is done in e.g. Chrono Trigger. However, at some point they discarded that plan, and just put those marks amidst the dialog text. They still preserved the line spacing, because it gets somewhat messy with all the dialog together at that font. When the game was ported to the NES and English, the sparse style was preserved, despite there being absolutely no reason to that. The English letters are very clear and distinct shapes that do not get mixed even if they are brought adjacent to each others. Because of this decision alone, they had very limited space for text on screen, and that was one of the main reasons contributing to the cryptic translations in the English version. There was ample unused space in the ROM for text expansion; they just chose to not utilize it optimally. In the Finnish version, I reduced the line interval from 2 to 1, thereby allowing more text to be displayed in the same dialog box. I also experimented with increasing the width of the dialog box itself, but it produced some problems related to PPU graphics transfers. I still did make it taller in the trading dialogs.

Japanese

English

Finnish

Explanation

The Japanese version was tuned to produce the text at an approximately natural pace of speaking. When the game was translated into English, the pace was kept exactly the same, despite each character now corresponding to a single letter rather than an entire syllable, thereby producing an impression of slow speech.
The Finnish version attempts to reintroduce a new natural pace. At the faster pace, more dialog can be outputted without the game becoming slower. A special exception was added for stop characters such as the comma or the question mark, producing a longer delay.

The Japanese version also uses a serif-type font. It has strokes that are sharp at one end and round at other end (where such features can be presented in the low resolution).
For some reason, the English version went with standard sans-serif Nintendo font, despite every indication in the original game being that for latin alphabet, serif font should be used at all times. In the Finnish version, I chose the serif font already present in the game for dialog text. I also created a lowercase font, but these screenshots are from an earlier version that did not use it.

The Japanese version also renders dialog in such manner, that it leaves empty lines between text lines. My guess is that originally they planned to use the between-lines for the dakuten ゜ and handakuten ゛ marks, as is done in e.g. Chrono Trigger. However, at some point they discarded that plan, and just put those marks amidst the dialog text. They still preserved the line spacing, because it gets somewhat messy with all the dialog together at that font. When the game was ported to the NES and English, the sparse style was preserved, despite there being absolutely no reason to that. The English letters are very clear and distinct shapes that do not get mixed even if they are brought adjacent to each others. Because of this decision alone, they had very limited space for text on screen, and that was one of the main reasons contributing to the cryptic translations in the English version. There was ample unused space in the ROM for text expansion; they just chose to not utilize it optimally.
In the Finnish version, I reduced the line interval from 2 to 1, thereby allowing more text to be displayed in the same dialog box. I also experimented with increasing the width of the dialog box itself, but it produced some problems related to PPU graphics transfers. I still did make it taller in the trading dialogs.

Dialog text

Day and night transitions.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
0	ソシテセンリツノヨルカ゛オトス゛レタ	WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE.	This text appears every time the ingame clock reaches 18:00 (6 pm), followed by a transition to night-time palette. The monsters will be twice as strong as at daytime. Literal translation of original Japanese text: And then descended the horrible night. Comment: The Japanese version of this dialog follows the same narrative style as the game ending. It is written like a teleplay. Interestingly the original text makes no mention of a curse.	And then descends a horrible night.	Ja sitten laskeutui hirvittävä yö.	Une nuit horrible s’annonce.	Sumapit ang malagim na gabi.	Y ahora desciende la horrible noche.	De duivelse nacht valt. Het kwaad voedt zich met de nacht.	Det grusomme nattesmørket har vekket forbannelsen.	Eine furchtbare Nacht bricht herein.
1	アクムノヨウナヨルカ゛アケタ	THE MORNING SUN HAS VANQUISHED THE HORRIBLE NIGHT.	This text appears every time the ingame clock reaches 06:00 (6 am), followed by a transition to the day-time palette. The monsters are back to normal strength. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The night of a nightmare has ended (due to sunrise). Comment: The original text speaks of a nightmare. The night was like a frightening dream. In the retranslation, I implemented a pauseless transition between daytime and nighttime palettes. These dialog boxes, while iconic, became redundant, and were removed. See a demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCfnehhRBsk	The morning sun has vanquished the horrible night.	Auringon säteet karkoittivat painajais- maisen yön.	Le soleil du matin a dissipé l’horrible nuit.	Nadaig ng bukang- liwayway ang malagim na gabi.	El sol de la mañana ha vencido a la horrible noche.	De felle ochtendzon heeft de vreselijke nacht verdreven.	Morgensolen har atter seiret over den grusomme natten.	Der Albtraum endet mit der Morgensonne.
The ferryman.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
11	イイトコロニツレテイッテアケ゛ヨウイッヒッヒ	SURE, I’LL TAKE YOU TO A GOOD PLACE. HEH‼ HEH‼ HEH‼	Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let’s take you to a good place, creepy laughter	Well then‥. Let’s go to a really good place. Hehehe‼ Hee, hee‼	Joudutaanpa sitten. Vien teidät oikein hyvään paikkaan, ihihii‼	Bien‥. Allons dans un superbe endroit. Héhéhé‼ Ha Ha‼	O sige‥. Dadalhin kita sa isang astig na lugar. HEHEH‼ HEE, HEE‼	Entonces... Vayamos a un lugar muy bueno. ¡¡Hehehe‼ ¡¡Hee, hee‼	Mooi zo‥. Laten we naar een goede plek gaan. He,he‼ Hee, hee‼	Jada. Vi kan dra til et helt fantastisk sted‼ Hohoho‼ Hah, hah‼	Freund,... Gewiss werde ich Dich an einen guten Ort bringen. Har har‼
12	アナタノユクヘ゛キトコロニミチヒ゛キマショウ	LET ME SHOW YOU THE WAY.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let’s guide you to the place where you must go. Comment: This string is shown instead of string 11, when the player shows Dracula’s heart to the ferryman. Hints for the player: strings 88 (info: there is a curse at the river), 31 (clue: must solve curse at river to progress), 68 (rumor: try showing something to the ferryman), and 34 (clue: the heart solves a curse). It was also outright spoiled in the game’s manual, both in the Japanese and English editions.	Let me take you to where you must go.	Minä vien teidät sinne, minne teidän pitää mennä.	Laisse-moi te guider au bon endroit.	Hayaan mong ituro ko sa iyo ang daan na dapat mong tahakin.	Déjame llevarte a donde debes ir.	Ik zal je brengen naar waar je moet zijn.	La meg vise deg veien du må ta.	Lasst mich Euch auf den rechten Pfad lotsen.
19	アナタノユクヘ゛キトコロニミチヒ゛キマショウ	I’LL SHOW YOU THE WAY.	Comment: Unused copy of string 12. My guess is that they were planning to use it when returning with the ferry from Brahm’s mansion, but it was never implemented. None of the official releases contain any reference to this dialog line. I implemented it in the retranslation(s).	Everything done? Let’s get going then. Next stop: Belasco Marsh.	Kaikki valmista? Joudutaanpa sitten. Seuraava etappi: Belascon suo.	Allons-y. Prochain arrêt: le marais de Belasco.	Handa ka na ba? Lalayag na tayo tungo sa Lati ng Belasco. Sakay na‼	¿Terminaste? Vámonos entonces. Siguiente parada... Pantano Belasco.	Helemaal gereed? Vooruit met de geit‼ Volgende halte: Belasco’s Moeras.	Har du gjort deg ferdig? Da drar vi videre. Neste stopp: Belaskomyr.	Ihr habt es vollendet? Dann auf, zurück ins dunkle Moor. Har Har Har‼
Clues.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
66	ハ゛-クレイノヤカタテ゛シロスイショウヲカサ゛ストキミチハヒラカレル	CLEAR A PATH AT BERKELEY MANSION WITH A WHITE CRYSTAL.	In town of Veros. Hinted by string 78. Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you hold the white crystal over your eyes in the Berkeley mansion, a path is revealed. Comment: True. Without the white crystal, the entry to that mansion is difficult, but the crystal reveals a hidden moving platform. The English text misses on the opportunity to explain in-universe how exactly this artifact helps accomplish this purpose (compare with string 89), but this is likely because of the limited space. Japanese does not have this problem because it is approximately twice as space-efficient as English.	One peek into a crystal is all you need to reveal a path in Berkeley Mansion.	Berkeleyn kartanon salattu tie paljastuu kristalliin katsomalla.	Un cristal peut révéler un chemin secret dans la demeure Berkeley.	Ipapakita ng puting kristal ang lihim na daan sa Mansyon ni Berkeley.	Un cristal puede revelar un camino secreto en la Mansión Berkeley.	Het witte kristal zal een pad voor je onthullen in de Burcht van Berkeley.	Det sies at en krystall kan vise vei i Berkeley herregård.	Seht durch den Kristall in Burg Berkley und der Steig erscheint.
159			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Crystal	Kristalli	Cristal	Kristal	Cristal	Edelstenen	Krystall	Der Kristall
30	カシノキノクイヲアルモノニウチコムトキマオウノショウチョウハアラワレル	A SYMBOL OF EVIL WILL APPAER WHEN YOU STRIKE THE STAKE.	In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80. Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you smash an oak stake at a certain object, a symbol of devil (lit. king of evil) appears. Comment: Yes, the Japanese text uses a nonspecific ‘at a certain person/thing’ (アルモノ). And yes, both NTSC and PAL English versions had a typo in the word "appear". Also, this game often refers to Dracula as devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil). In Chrono Trigger, Magus’s name was also “maou” (魔王). Aside from the typo, the only problem in the translation is that it refers to generic evil, rather than Dracula the king.	A symbol of Dracula will appear when you strike certain object with a stake made of oak.	Demonin symboli ilmestyy, kun tietty rakennelma murskataan tammisella vaarnalla.	Un symbole de Dracula apparaîtra en utilisant le pieu en chêne.	Ang sagisag ni Dracula ay lilitaw kapag ito ay tinamaan ng ensinang tulos.	Un símbolo de Drácula va a aparecer al golpear algo con una estaca.	Sla toe met een eiken staak, en er zal een deel van Dracula verschijnen.	Slå til med en eikestake og symbolet til ondskap- en vil vise seg.	Gepfählt mit einen Pflock aus Eiche werden die teuflischen Relikte erscheinen.
160			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Oak Stake	Tammivaarna	Pieu en Chêne	Tulos	Estaca	Eiken Staak	Eikestake	Eichenpflock
31	フ゛ラ-ムノヤカタカワノノロイヲトクモノムカエイレル	DESTROY THE CURSE AND YOU’LL RULE BRAHM’S MANSION.	In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The clearing of the curse of the river will usher into Brahm’s mansion (i.e. it will lead / escort you there). Comment: In other words, when you clear the curse of the river, a path opens for you to the Brahm Mansion. The English translation omits that it speaks of the curse of the river, in particular. The ferryman operates at the river, where there is a curse (this is mentioned by several NPCs). You need to show him the heart, and he will take you to the coast next to Brahm’s mansion that you cannot otherwise access (except by utilizing a glitch that allows you to jump three-block obstacles).	The road to Brahm’s Mansion will be heralded by dispelling the curse of the river.	Tie Brahmin kartanoon kulkee joen kirouksen purkamisen kautta.	Dissipe la malédiction touchant la rivière pour atteindre la demeure Brahm.	Ang daan sa Mansyon ni Brahm ay lilitaw kapag ang sumpa ng ilog ay naiwaksi.	El camino a la Mansión Brahm va anunciado al disipar la maldición del río.	De route naar Brahm’s Burcht, zal zich tonen, als de vloek, die rust op de rivier, verbroken wordt.	Veien frem til Brahms herregård vil åpnes om du fjerner elvens for- bannelse.	Bannt den Fluch des Flusses um die Brahmsburg zu erreichen.
161			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Brahm’s Road	Brahmin tie	Brahm	Daan sa Brahm	Paso de Brahm	Brahm’s Pad	Brahms vei	Brahms Steg
32	セイナルホノオノミナモトハヒニトサ゛サレタリョウイキニイマモネムル	A FLAME FLICKERS INSIDE THE RING OF FIRE.	In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The source of the holy fire (“flame”) sleeps even now in the land that is forever closed off (trapped) from daylight (in a territory that never sees sunlight). Comment: In other words, the flame is hidden in a cave. Which is true. The English translator misunderstood the meaning, and tried to convey that the (a?) flame is trapped and surrounded by fire: ヒ, “hi”, means both fire (火) and daylight (日). Unfortunately the result was total nonsense.	Even today the Sacred Flame rests in a realm hidden from sunlight.	Vielä tänäkin päivänä pyhä soihtu lepää valtakunnassa joka ei valoa näe.	La Flamme Sacrée se trouve dans un lieu caché et obscur.	Ang Banal na Apoy ay nakakubli at malayo sa sinag ng araw.	Hoy en día, la Flama Sagrada yace en un reino oculto de la luz del sol.	De heilige vlam rust ook nu nog op een plek, waar nimmer het zonlicht zal schijnen.	Selv i dag hviler den hellige ild i riket som aldri møtes av solen.	Die Heilige Flamme ruht an einem Ort fernab des Sonnenlichts.
162			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Sacred Flame	Pyhä soihtu	Flamme Sacrée	Banal na Apoy	Flama Sagrada	Heilige Vuur	Hellig ild	Das Feuer
13	アオスイショウヲカカケ゛コスイノマエニヒサ゛マス゛クトキタ゛イチハミス゛ヲウケイレル	TO REPLENISH EARTH ,KNEEL BY THE LAKE WITH THE BLUE CRYSTAL.	In Aljiba woods. Hinted by string 103. Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you kneel in front of a lake, holding a blue crystal, the ground accepts/receives the water. Comment: The English text is a bit uncalled-for cryptic (and it misplaces the comma), but it does give the right idea. You really need to kneel at a lake, holding a colored crystal, in order to progress to the area under the lake. At two distinct locations. In terms of gameplay, it may be confusing how both “lakes” are tiny compared to the “river”, but most players still figure out this clue and apply it without a problem.	When the sapphire hits the sand of a lake beach, the earth will swallow the water.	Kun sinisen jalokiven painaa järven ranta- hiekkaan, maa imee veden.	Lorsque le Cristal bleu touche le sable devant un lac, l’eau se retire.	Kapag tumama ang sepiro sa buhangin ng aplaya, lulununin ng lupa ang tubig sa lawa.	Cuando el safiro golpee la arena de la playa del lago, la tierra se tragará el agua.	Breng een saffier in contact met met de oever van het meer, en de aarde zal al het water doen verzwelgen.	Om en safir får tilbe sjøens sand- strand, vil jorden sluke vannet.	Betet mit einem Saphir am Ufer des Sees, wird das Wasser versiegen.
163			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Beach	Rantahiekka	Plage	Aplaya	Playa	Oever	Strand	Das Ufer
92	テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケノマエニチョウコウセキヲモツトシオイタシ゛フ゜シ-カ゛イル	AN OLD GYPSY HOLDS A DIAMOND IN FRONT OF DE- BORAH CLIFF.	In town of Aljiba. Hinted by string 79. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In front of Deborah cliff there is an elderly gypsy who has a mineral chunk ("diamond"). Comment: Completely true. However, there are two different sites to the Deborah cliff. At one (north), happens the whirlwind event. At the other (south), is the gypsy. Both sites are accessed through different sections of Jam Wasteland. Both wasteland sections have a jumping-puzzle river crossing in them. It is ambiguous enough. In-game nothing differentiates or identifies them. Only the Japanese instruction manual had a map. The English one did not. My retranslation adds an in-game map in all supported languages for the convenience of the player. See a demonstration here (of the Finnish version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xv2Z0PQgR4&t=3m0s	There is an old gypsy who lives in southern Jam Wasteland. She has a giant diamond.	Jamin erämaassa eteläpuolella asuu vanha romanileski, jolla on valtava timantti.	Une vieille gitane vit au sud de la Terre Désolée de Jam. Elle a un énorme diamant.	Ang babaeng hitano na nakatira sa timugang Parang ng Jam ay may malaking diamante.	Hay una vieja gitana que vive en el Baldío Jam del sur. Ella tiene un diamante gigante.	De oude zigeuner uit het Droogland in het zuiden, is in het bezit van een enorme diamant.	En gammel kone bor i det sydlige Ødejam. Det sies hun har en stor diamant.	Die graue Zigeunerin in Jams Einöde wacht über einen mächtigen Edelstein.
164			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Diamond	Timantti	Diamant	Diamante	Diamante	De Diamant	Diamant	Der Diamant
34	マオウノシンソ゛ウハノロワレシモノノノロイヲトク	DESTROY THE CURSE WITH DRACULA’S HEART.	In Rover mansion. Hinted by string 105. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The heart of Dracula (lit. heart of the king of evil, i.e. devil) clears the curse of something/someone that is cursed. Comment: The original English version is terse to the degree of meaninglessness. Still, the clue is completely true, when you realize that it refers to the ferryman. Not too easy, considering the amount of stuff that is cursed in this game: Simon is cursed and will die if he does not vanquish Dracula soon enough, the ferryman is cursed (the curse of the river), there is a cursed swamp, and there is Dracula’s curse (which is solved with the clue-books), and clue-books are trapped because of a curse… In the Finnish version, I am calling the monsters of wilderness as demons, but also translating 魔王 (maou) as the demon. To avoid misleading the player (Finnish language does not contain a way to separately express “a demon” and “the demon”), I explicitly wrote Dracula’s heart in Finnish in this particular line.	Dracula’s heart will destroy certain curse.	Draculan sydän purkaa erään kirouksen.	Le coeur de Dracula détruira une malédiction.	Ang puso ni Dracula ang wawasak sa isang uri ng sumpa.	El corazón de Drácula destruirá una cierta maldición.	Dracula’s hart zal een zekere vloek opheffen.	Fyrstens hjerte kan løfte en spesifikk forbannelse.	Das Herz des Tieres lotst die Geiseln des Fluches.
165			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Heart	Sydän	Coeur	Puso	Corazón	Het Hart	Hjerte	Das Herz
33	ハカハ゛ニニンニクヲオクトマモノハキエウセソナタヲマツヒトカ゛アラワレル	GARLIC IN THE GRAVEYARD SUMMONS A STRANGER.	In Rover mansion. Hinted by string 105. Literal translation of original Japanese text: At a graveyard, when garlic is placed on the ground, demons will die, and a person who awaits for you will appear. Comment: The Japanese version uses archaic words like “sonata” (rather than “anata”) a lot. There is no direct translation in English, and I am not an expert on ye olde English anyway, so I will just use “you” rather than trying to work “thee” into my translations. Just know that almost all of the Japanese dialog is full of archaic forms in this game. The English translation omits the notion that demons can’t stand garlic.	Put garlic on cemetery ground, and demons will die. You may also meet someone awaiting you.	Valkosipuli kalmiston mullassa karkoittaa demonit, mutta saatat tavata sen, joka sinua odottaa.	Pose l’ail sur le sol du cimetière pour tuer les démons. Tu y fera aussi une rencontre.	Maglapag ka ng bawang sa himlayan at masasawi ang mga aswang, at may taong naghihintay sa iyo doon.	Deja un poco de ajo en el cementerio, y los demonios morirán. Puede que te encuentres a alguien.	Dood demonen op het kerkhof met knoflook, om er veilig iemand te kunnen ontmoeten.	Legg hvit- løk ut ved kirkegården for å drepe demoner. Kanskje du også møter noen slik.	Knoblauch am Friedhof erlegt Dämonen. Jemand wird auf Euch zukommen.
166			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Garlic	Valkosipuli	Ail	Bawang	Ajo	Knoflook	Hvitløk	Knoblauch
35	キヌノフクロニクルマレシケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハタマシイヲフキコマレル	PLACE THE LAURELS IN A SILK BAG TO BRING THEM TO LIFE.	In Brahm’s mansion. Not hinted. Literal translation of original Japanese text: A soul/spirit will be blown into the laurels, when you wrap them in a silk bag. Comment: There is nothing wrong with the English translation of this clue. According to the plot, silk bag brings laurels (and garlics) into life, so they are twice as potent as before. How this is reflected in gameplay is that the silk bag rises the storage capacity for both laurels and garlics from 4 to 8. Another reference to this "life" phenomenon is in string 37. The idea is that once the player has read both, they should understand that in order to safely cross the large swamp of Joma, they should have laurels and the silk bag. It is still rather difficult to put together.	When you wrap dry herbs, such as laurels, in a silk bag, they will be brought to life.	Kiedo yrtit silkkiseen laukkuun, ja ne heräävät henkiin.	Lorsqu’un laurier est enroulé dans un sac de soie, il prend vie.	Magbalot ng mga tuyong lubigan, tulad ng laurel, sa sedang supot at sila ay mabubuhay.	Al envolver hierba seca, tales como laureles, en una bolsa de seda, éstos serán traídos a la vida.	Bewaar dure kruiden als laurier in een zijden zak, om ze langer vers te houden.	Tørre urter, som laurbær, i en silke- taske vil få tilbake friskheten.	In einem Seidenbeutel gelagerte Kräuter leben auf‼ Das ist sehr mächtig.
167			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Silk Bag	Silkkilaukku	Sac en Soie	Sedang Supot	Bolsa de Seda	Zijden Tas	Silketaske	Seidenbeutel
36	テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケノマエテ゛アカスイショウヲカカケ゛カセ゛ヲマテ	WAIT FOR A SOUL WITH A RED CRYSTAL ON DEBORAH CLIFF.	In Brahm’s mansion. Not hinted. Literal translation of original Japanese text: Hold a red crystal in front of Deborah cliff and wait for a wind. Comment: The Japanese original was completely true and an important clue, without which you may not be able to complete the game. Although even the Japanese text neglects to mention kneeling. In a slight deviation from the original, my retranslation adds the kneeling into the clue as a mercy to the player. In the original English version, they translated “kaze”, which means wind/breeze, as soul. Why? Kaze does not mean soul/spirit in Japanese. In a handful other languages, such as Russian and Hebrew, spirit and wind are the same word, but this is not the case in either Japanese nor English. This suggests that the native language of the translator was neither English nor Japanese, but one of these other languages.	Press a ruby against the Deborah cliff, kneel, and wait for a whirlwind.	Paina rubiini Deboran kallioon ja odota myrskytuulta.	Baisse-toi devant la falaise de Deborah avec un Cristal rouge, et attends une tornade.	Hawakan ang rubi, lumuhod sa tapat ng Talampas ng Deborah at mag-abang ng ipu-ipo.	Presiona un rubí contra el acantilado Deborah, arrodíllate y espera un remolino.	Kniel met een robijn, aan de berg van Deborah, en laat je meevoeren door de wind.	Presenter en rubin for Debraklippen og be om å bli tatt av vinden.	Kniet, und haltet den Rubin gegen den Felsen von Deborah. Erwartet den Wirbelsturm.
168			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Whirlwind	Myrskytuuli	Tornade	Ipu-ipo	Remolino	De Wind	Virvelvind	Wirbelsturm
37	イノチアルケ゛ッケイシ゛ュナキモノヌマノノロイニイノチツキル	THE CURSE HAS KILLED THE LAUREL TREE.	In Bodley mansion. Hinted by string 104. Literal translation of original Japanese text: A person without living laurels will perish on the cursed swamp. Comment: The original English version is total nonsense. But I do not claim to be smarter than the original translator: I, too, could not make any sense of the Japanese text, until I asked a native Japanese person about it. Turns out that this clue, too, actually makes sense and is absolutely true for most players. (The Joma swamp is huge.) The wording of ‘living laurel’ is to be understood in conjunction with string 35, which suggests that the laurels become lively when wrapped in a silk bag. And clearly, the swamp becomes easier to cross when you have 8 laurels rather than 4, especially at lower levels. Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 67 (laurels fix a pickle), and 91 (laurel protects from swamp poisons)	Treading through the cursed swamp without living laurels is perilous.	Kirotun suon läpi tarpominen ilman eläviä laakerin- lehtiä on hengen- vaarallista.	Traverser le marais maudit sans laurier est périlleux.	Ang paglakad sa sinumpang lati na walang baong mga buhay na laurel ay mapanganib.	Pisar a través del pantano maldito sin laureles vivientes es peligroso.	Het giftige moeras over steken, is zonder verse laurier op voorraad, uiterst gevaarlijk‼	Det å vandre gjennom den forbannede myren uten friske laur- bær er helt nyttesløst.	Ohne den veredelten Lorbeer geht Ihr im verfluchten Moor zu Grunde.
169			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Nail	Kynsi	Ongle	Kuko	Uña	De Nagel	Fingernegl	Der Nagel
20	マオウノツメハシ゛ャアクノカヘ゛ヲウチクタ゛クチカラヲモツ	DRACULA’S NAIL MAY SOLVE THE EVIL MYSTERY.	At Deborah cliff. Not hinted. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The claw/nail of devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil) has the power to break evil walls. Comment: True. Equip the nail, and your whip now can destroy the same walls that the holy water can destroy. You still need the water in order to break “evil floors”, because the whip cannot be lashed vertically. The English translation however is maliciously cryptic. You can easily fit “can break evil walls” in same space as “may solve the evil mystery”. I did not even know the nail can break walls until I began the retranslation project. I thought the nail is as useless as the ring is.	The nail of Dracula possesses the power to shatter evil walls.	Demonin kynsi antaa voiman murskata noituuden muurit.	L’ongle de Dracula permet de briser les murs maléfiques.	Ang kuko ni Dracula ay may lakas na titibag sa mga pader ng kasamaan.	La uña de Drácula posee el poder para quebrantar muros malignos.	Dracula’s nagel zal je zweep de kracht geven, om valse muren neer te halen.	Draculas fingernegl bærer evnen til å knuse ondskapens vegger.	Draculas Kralle besitzt die Macht trügerische Wände umzureißen.
170			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Living Laurel	Elävät lehdet	Lauriers	Laurel	Laurel Vivo	Verse Laurier	Laurbær	Lorbeer
17	シニカ゛ミカ゛カクシモツナイフニカミ-ラノヒトミハクモル	DRACULA’S EVIL KNIFE BLURS CAMILLA’S VISION.	In Debious woods. Not hinted. Literal translation of original Japanese text: The god of death (shinigami) / with a concealed knife / Carmilla’s pupil becomes dim. Comment: This clue simply tells that Death (who is in Brahm’s mansion) is hiding the golden knife, which is the most powerful special weapon in the game. Defeat Death, and you get the knife. It also offers an explanation for the “weeping” eye of Carmilla. The English translator did not understand that this refers to the actual in-game monster called Death, and thought that it is just a title referring to Dracula, like the “king of evil” (maou) used in other clues. The English translation had an additional layer of misdirection: The manual (at least in USA) referred to the boss Carmilla as Vampira, and there is an ingame location called Ca(r)milla cemetery, where you acquire the silver knife. (Thanks Est A) The Finnish translation puts a surprise twist to a certain idiom, by using its literal meaning. The literal meaning is an accurate translation of the original text, though at first reading one sees the idiom, which has a different meaning.	Death poked Carmilla’s eye with a concealed knife.	Kuolema, se viikatemies, viilasi Carmillaa linssiin. Käyttäen kätkettyä puukkoa.	La Mort a piqué l’oeil de Carmilla avec un couteau caché.	Tinusok ni Kamatayan ng tagong punyal ang mata ni Camilla.	La Muerte clavó el ojo de Carmilla con un cuchillo oculto.	De Dood verblinde Camilla, met het mes, dat hij onder zijn gewaad verborgen hield.	Døden stakk Carmillas øye ut med en skjult kniv.	Gevatter Tod blendete Carmilla mit einem versteckten Dolch.
171			Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.	Death’s Ruse	Kuoleman juju	La Mort	Kamatayan	Muerte Oculta	Dood z’n list	Dødens puss	Todes List
Road signs
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
58	ミキ゛ヨ-ハ゛ノモリヒタ゛リヘ゛ラスコノヌマ	TURN RIGHT FOR THE JOVA WOODS. LEFT FOR BELASCO MARSH.	In Jova Comment: Forest of Jova, swamp of Belasco	┄┄┄┄┄ JOVA ┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova Woods ◄▬ Belasco Marsh	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jovan metsä ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belascon suo	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Forêt de Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Marais de Belasco	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Gubat ng Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Lati ng Belasco	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Bosque Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Pantano Belasco	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova’s Woud ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasco’s Moeras	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova- skogen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasko- myr	┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Wälder von Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasco Moor
59	ミキ゛タ゛ヒ゛ノチカト゛ウヒタ゛リヘ゛ロスノモリ	TURN RIGHT FOR DABI’S PATH LEFT FOR THE VEROS WOODS.	In Veros Comment: Subterranean tunnel of Dabi [dah-bee], forest of Veros	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ VEROS ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabi’s Path ◄▬ Veros Woods	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabin tunneli ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Veroksen metsä	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Chemin de Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Veros	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Daan ng Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Veros	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Paso de Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Veros	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabi’s Pad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Veros Woud	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabis Vei ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Feros- skogen	┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabis Grottenweg ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Wälder von Veros
60	ミキ゛サ゛タ゛ムノモリヒタ゛リシ゛ャムノアレチ	TURN RIGHT FOR SADAM WOODS, LEFT FOR THE JAM WASTELAND.	In Ondol Comment: Forest of Zadam, wasteland of Jam. The names of these places are documented in a map image that appeared in the Japanese manual of the game, and in an English publication called Nintendo Power NES Game Atlas.	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ONDOL ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam Woods ◄▬ Northern Jam Wasteland	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadamin metsä ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Pohjoinen Jamin erämaa	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Forêt de Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Terre Désolée Jam Nord	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Gubat ng Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Hilagang Parang ng Jam	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Bosque Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Baldío Jam del Norte	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam’s Woud ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Noordelijk Droogland	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam- skogen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Nordre Ødejam	┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadams Wald ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Nördliches Jam Brachland
81	ミキ゛カミ-ラホ゛チヒタ゛リオルシ゛ハ゛ノモリ	TURN RIGHT FOR CAMILLA CEMETERY, LEFT FOR THE ALJIBA WOODS.	In Aljiba Comment: Graveyard of Carmilla, forest of Aljiba	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ALJIBA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Carmilla Cemetery ◄▬ Forest of Aljiba	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillan kalmisto ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiban metsä	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Cimetière Carmilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt d’Aljiba	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Himlayan ng Camilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Aljiba	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Cementerio Carmilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque de Aljiba	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Camilla’s Kerkhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiba’s Woud	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillas kirkegård ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiba- skogen	┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillas Friedhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Wald von Aljiba
82	ミキ゛テ゛ット゛リハ゛- ヒタ゛リサ゛タ゛ムノモリ	TURN RIGHT FOR THE DEAD RIVER, LEFT FOR THE SADAM WOODS.	In Aldra Comment: Dead river, forest of Zadam	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ALDRA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dead River ◄▬ Sadam Woods	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Kuollut joki ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadamin metsä	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Rivière Morte ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Sadam	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Patay na Ilog ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Sadam	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Río Muerto ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Sadam	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dode Rivier ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadam’s Woud	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Deaud- elv ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadam- skogen	┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Toter Fluss ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadams Wald
83	ミキ゛キタノハシヒタ゛リシ゛ャアクノミソ゛	TURN LEFT FOR THE WICKED DITCH , RIGHT TO GO NORTH.	In Doina Comment: Northern bridge, ditch of wickedness. For space reasons the English version reversed the order.	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ DOINA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Northern Bridge ◄▬ Wicked Ditch	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Pohjoinen silta ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Noiduttu korpi	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Pont Nord ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Fossé Cruel	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Hilagang Tulay ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Masamang Kanal	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Puente del Norte ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Arroyo Malvado	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Noordelijke Brug ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gevaarlijke Kloof	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Nord- broen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Farlig grøft	┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Brücke nach Norden ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gefährliche Brandgräben
84	ミキ゛ウ゛ラト゛ホ゛チヒタ゛リト゛-ラノモリ	TURN RIGHT FOR VRAD GRAVEYARD, LEFT FOR THE DORA WOODS.	In Yomi Comment: Graveyard of Vlad, forest of Dora [dow-rah]	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ YOMI ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlad Graveyard ◄▬ Dora Woods	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vladin hautausmaa ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dooran metsä	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Cimetière Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Dora	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Himlayan ng Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Dora	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Cementerio Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Dora	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlad’s Kerkhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dora’s Woud	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlads Kirkegård ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dora- skogen	┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlads Friedhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Doras Wald
NPCs of Town 1 (Jova)
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
56	シロスイショウヲカイナサレソコカラスヘ゛テカ゛ハシ゛マル	FIRST THING TO DO IN THIS TOWN IS BUY A WHITE CRYSTAL.	monk on 2nd stair in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: Go and buy a white crystal. Everything begins from there. Comment: Arguably true. You should not skip the holy water either, though.	Go and buy a white crystal. That’s the first thing you must do, the beginning of all things.	Kaikki alkaa siitä, että menet ja ostat valkoisen kristalli- kiven.	Avant toute chose, tu dois acheter un cristal blanc.	Ang bilhin mo una ay ang puting kristal. Ang lahat ay magsisimula doon.	Primero, deberías comprar un cristal blanco. Todo empieza desde ahí.	Koop zo snel mogelijk een wit kristal. Hiermee zal je zoektocht starten.	Alle burde kjøpe seg en hvitfarget krystallkule. De er be- gynnelsen på noe stort.	Geht nun, holt einen Kristall‼ So wird es beginnen.
61	アルト゛ラノマチニソナタノナカマカ゛イルカナラス゛アイナサレ	YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN THE TOWN OF ALDRA. GO AND SEE HIM.	monk on ground in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: A friend of yours is in the town of Aldra. No matter what, you must meet him. Comment: True. Compare to #57.	There is a friend waiting for you in the town of Aldra. You must go and meet him.	Eräs ystäväsi odottaa sinua Aldran kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.	Un ami t’attend dans la ville d’Aldra. Tu dois aller le voir.	Mayroon kang kaibigan na naghihintay sa iyo sa bayan ng Aldra. Makipagkita ka sa kanya.	Hay un amigo esperándote en el pueblo de Aldra. Debes ir con él.	Er wacht een vriend op je in het dorp Aldra. Breng hem een bezoek als je kunt.	En venn venter deg i byen Aldra. Du burde gå og møte ham.	Ein Kamerad wartet schon in der Stadt Aldra. Geht zu ihm, lasst Euch nicht davon abhalten.
62	13サツノカクサレシフ゛ンケンヲヒモトクトキナソ゛ハトカレル	13 CLUES WILL SOLVE DRACULA’S RIDDLE.	monk on 1st stair in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: There are 13 hidden clues; each of them solves a mystery when read. Comment: Completely true, at least in the Japanese version. The English version is a bit challenged in that regard. Another possible translation: When you have read 13 hidden clues, the mystery will be solved.	Find one of the 13 hidden clues, and a riddle can be solved.	Kun löydät kätketyn vihjeen, ratkaisu arvoitukseen selviää. Vihjeitä on kolmetoista.	Le mystère sera résolu après avoir lu les 13 indices cachés.	Hanapin ang 13 lihim na bakas, at ang bugtong ay malulutas.	Encuentra una de las 13 pistas, y un acertijo podrá ser resuelto.	Vind 1 van de 13 hints, en probeer een raadsel op te lossen.	Finn en av de 13 skjul- te sporene og en gåte vil la seg løse.	Dreizehn Spuren könnt Ihr folgen, - Jede Spur lüftet ein Geheimnis.
65	セイスイニアクマハクルシミシ゛ャアクノカヘ゛ハクタ゛ケル	A MAGIC POTION WILL DESTROY THE WALL OF EVIL.	monk on ground in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: The holy water causes agony to the evil, and breaks wicked walls. Comment: The Japanese text is self-explanatory and completely true. The English version omits the notion that the holy water also hurts enemies, and inexplicably calls holy water “magic potion”. I can only marvel the inattention of the translator and the lack of QA at Konami’s localization team.	The Holy Water is agonizing to anything evil. It even shatters evil walls.	Demonit eivät siedä pyhitettyä vettä. Pyhä vesi sulattaa myös noidutut muurit.	L’Eau Bénite détruit le mal et brise les murs maudits.	Ang Agua- Bendita ay pasakit sa kahit anong kasamaan. Kahit pader ay kayang durugin.	El Agua Bendita es agonizante para todo ser maligno. Incluso rompe muros malignos.	Heilig water is pijnlijk voor alles wat duivels is. Het kan zelfs valse muren breken.	Vievannet er smertefullt for alt ondt. Det kan til og med knuse ondskapens vegger.	Weihwasser bereitet Dämonen Höllenpein und bricht trügerische Mauern.
68	テ゛ット゛リハ゛-ノセント゛ウハニンニクカ゛コウフ゛ツトキイタコトカ゛アル	RUMOR HAS IT , THE FERRY- MAN AT DEAD RIVER LOVES GARLIC.	guy on 1st stair in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have heard that the favourite dish of the ferryman at the Dead River is garlic. Comment: The translation is correct. Total nonsense, but it does direct the mind of the player to experiment with introducing different items to the ferryman. Showing the heart to the ferryman is necessary for completing the game. Thankfully, this is not the only hint of the fact. Other hints for the player: strings 88 (info: there is a curse at the river), 31 (clue: must solve curse at river to progress), and 34 (clue: the heart solves a curse). It was also outright spoiled in the game’s manual, both in the Japanese and English editions. When I translated the game (into Finnish), and then made a re-translation of it (for English), an opportunity opened for me to make the ferryman actually respond to garlic. I long hesitated, fearing that if the player receives a response that way, it might discourage them from trying other items (particularly, the heart), feeling that the riddle of string 68 has been already solved. However, after months of thinking it through, I did eventually add it. Now, if you show garlic to the ferryman (you have to place it on ground first), he will be upset and rant about the curse with the implication that he wants to see a proof of a hero. There are a number of similar easter eggs that I added to the game. See if you can find them all.	You know the ferryman, at the Dead River? I heard that he loves garlic.	Tiedäthän lautturin kuolleella joella? Olen kuullut, että hän on perso valko- sipulille.	Connais-tu le passeur de la Rivière Morte? Il paraît qu’il adore l’ail.	Kilala mo ba ang bangkero sa Patay na Ilog? Mahilig daw siya sa bawang.	¿Conoces al barquero, cerca del Río Muerto? Escuché que adora el ajo.	Ken je de veerman van de dode Rivier? Ik hoorde dat dat hij gek is op‥..ehm, knoflook..?	Det sies at fergemannen ved Daulågen elsker den rike smaken av hvitløk.	Wisst Ihr, der Fährmann am toten Fluss? Man erzählt, er nähme Knoblauch fuer bare Münze.
76	マチニハカクレテショウハ゛イヲスルハ゛イニンカ゛イル	A CROOKED TRADER IS OFFERING BUM DEALS IN THIS TOWN.	monk on 2nd stair in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: In the town (or: in towns) there are sellers who do business in hiding. Comment: While ‘kakurete’ may also mean ‘underhanded’ ("crooked deals"), from context it should be clear that it just says that those traders are hiding. Again, the translator probably never saw the actual game, and none of the playtesters could read Japanese, so nobody could tell the translation was bad. From my professional experience, I have come to conclude that this sort of trainwreck is very common in any highly departmentalized company. Everyone does exactly what they are paid to do, and they do it perfectly according to specifications, but still the outcome is bad — because the left hand does not know what the right hand does. Information gets lost in the process, due to no fault of any individual actor.	The crystal salesman patrols that alley all day, but most traders prefer the safety of indoors. Some even hide behind fake walls.	Kylässämme on salakaupan harjoittajia. Joissakin kylissä he lymyävät hauraiden valeseinien takana.	Des vendeurs se cachent dans notre ville. Parfois, ils se cachent derrière des faux murs.	May mga manlalako na nagtatago sa bayan. Ang iba ay nagtatago sa likod ng mga pekeng pader.	Hay mercantes escondiéndose en nuestro pueblo. En algunos pueblos, se ocultan tras muros falsos.	Er houden zich kooplui shuil in ons dorpje. In sommige dorpen vind je ze achter valse muren.	Det finnes forhandlere som tilbyr ting i skjul. I noen byer skjuler de seg bak falske murer.	In der Stadt gibt es Händler, die sich hinter falschen Wänden verstecken.
77	セイナルホノオカ゛テ゛ニスノモリノ 6ハ゛ンメノキノウエニアル	A FLAME IS ON TOP OF THE 6TH TREE IN DENIS WOODS.	guy on 1st stair in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: The holy flame is on top of the 6th tree in Denis Woods. Comment: Just this once, the English text is actually an accurate translation of this total nonsense. If we look at the game map (click to view), we can notice that Denis Woods is right next to Dabi’s Path, the real location of the flame; even though the shortest path between these two places is very long in the game. My theory is that this is an actual in-joke: There was a poster-size map hung on the wall of the writing team’s office. A label for the Flame was scribbled on that general section of the map, and the text sort of looked like it pointed clearly at a certain tree in the forest. So they made an NPC say this suspiciously specific line. That is my theory, and I am sticking with it. You could also argue the same for an in-universe motivation: This NPC had looked at a similar map and came to this conclusion, without any intention to mislead anyone. Fortunately, string 32 (clue: flame is deep in a cave) also exists. Unfortunately for English people, the translation for string 32 was totally botched, so for English players, finding the flame was left completely up to chance. Fortunately, any player quickly learns to probe any suspicious protruding surfaces and dead ends with water bottles, so most players probably did find the Flame, despite the translator’s ineptitude, even if they had to substitute brute force for ingeniousness to get it.	The Sacred Flame is on the top of the 6th tree in Denis Woods.	Pyhä soihtu sijaitsee Deniksen metsässä, kuudennen puun latvassa.	La Flamme Sacrée est en haut du 6ème arbre de la forêt de Denis.	Ang Banal na Apoy ay nasa tuktok ng ika- 6 na puno sa Gubat ng Denis.	La Flama Sagrada está en la cima del 6to árbol en el Bosque Denis.	De heilige vlam kun je vinden in de top van de 6 de boom in het woud van Denis‥.. Dacht ik‥..	Den hellige ild er i toppen av 6. tre i Denisskogen.	Man sagt, die heilige Flamme lodert in der Krone des sechsten Baumes von Denis Wald.
78	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ヘ゛ロスノマチニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF VEROS.	guy on ground in Jova Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is said (or it can be told), that (some) literature/books, that clear/solve Dracula’s mystery/mysteries, lie hidden (lit. sleep) in the town of Veros. Comment: All of these "clues to <..> are" lines are true and correct, except for #103. They also follow an identical sentence format, due to substring compression in the Japanese version. This line refers to string 66.	It is said that in the town of Veros there is a hidden book that contains a clue to Dracula’s riddle.	Vihjeitä Draculan arvoitukseen löytyy Veroksen kylästä.	Il paraît qu’un livre caché dans la ville de Veros révèle un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula.	Ayon sa mga balita, ang bayan ng Veros ay may nakatagong aklat na naglalaman ng bakas sa bugtong.	Se dice que en el pueblo de Veros hay un libro oculto que contiene una pista sobre Drácula.	Het gerucht gaat, dat er een boek verborgen is in Veros. Zou er een hint in zijn beschreven?	Det sies at Veros har en hemmelig bok som holder en ledetråd til Draculas gåte.	In Stadt Veros liegt ein Buch versteckt, das Draculas Vermächtnis entziffern kann.
NPCs in town 2 (Veros)
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
57	オルシ゛ハ゛ノマチニソナタノナカマカ゛イルカナラス゛アイナサレ	YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND WAIT- ING FOR YOU IN THE TOWN OF ALJIBA.	monk on ground in Veros Literal translation of original Japanese text: A friend of yours is in the town of Aljiba. No matter what, you must meet him. Comment: True. Compare to #61.	There is a friend waiting for you in the town of Aljiba. You must go and meet him.	Eräs tuttusi odottaa sinua Aljiban kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.	Un ami t’attend dans la ville d’Aljiba. Tu dois aller le voir.	Mayroon kang kaibigan na naghihintay sa iyo sa bayan ng Aljiba. Makipagkita ka sa kanya.	Hay un amigo esperándote en el pueblo de Aljiba. Debes ir con él.	Er wacht een vriend op je in Aljiba. Ga er heen en zorg dat je hem spreekt.	Du har en venn som venter deg i Aljiba. Du må gå og møte ham.	Ein Kamerad wartet in Aljiba auf Euch. Was auch passiert, sucht ihn auf‼
64	マオウノホネハシ゛ャアクノチカラヲフセク゛タテトナル	A RIB CAN SHIELD YOU FROM EVIL.	guy on ground in Veros Literal translation of original Japanese text: A rib of devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil) becomes a shield that protects from the powers of wickedness/evil. Comment: Completely true. The English translation however neglects to mention that it is Dracula’s bone that has this power, not just any random rib.	The rib of the demon king can act as a shield that protects you from powers of evil.	Demonin luu suojaa noituuden voimilta.	L’os du démon te protègera du mal.	Ang tadyang ng diyablo ang tatanggol sa iyo laban sa kasamaan.	La costilla del demonio te protegerá de la maldad.	Dracula’s rib zal je beschermen. Het werkt als een shild.	Djevelens ribbein kan beskytte deg mot ondskap.	Draculas Rippe wird Euch wie ein Schild vor den Mächten des Bösen schützen.
67	ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハシチュ-ニイレルトイイカオリカ゛スル	LAURELS IN YOUR SOUP ENHANCES ITS AROMA.	guy on ground in Veros Literal translation of original Japanese text: Put laurels in a shichuu (stew, or fatal situation), and a nice scent is produced. Comment: This Japanese line is a pun. The word “shichuu” means “stew”, but it also means “fatal situation”. The English translator was out of their wits, and what was a pun became nonsense. My re-translation, of course, uses the word “pickle”, which means both a broth and a difficult situation. The Finnish text has a similar pun. Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 37 (laurels with life make swamp crossable), and 91 (laurel protects from swamp poisons)	A laurel in a pickle makes all your worries go away.	Laakerinlehti tekee ihmeitä liemessä kuin liemessä.	En cas de grand danger, utilise du laurier.	Maglagay ng laurel sa adobo, at ang iyong mga problema ay maglalaho.	Pon laureles en ahogos, y un buen aroma será producido.	Doe eens een laurierblad in de soep. Ze geven het een helende werking.	I nød, bruk laurbær for å unngå din død.	Lorbeer kann im Topf und im Kampf das Blatt wenden.
72	タヒ゛ノヒトカオイロカ゛ヨクナイネキョウカイテ゛スコシヤスミナサイ	YOU LOOK PALE,MY SON. YOU MUST REST IN THE CHURCH.	guy on ground in Veros Literal translation of original Japanese text: The color of the traveller’s face [i.e. your face, indirectly and politely] is not really that good, is it? Please rest for a while in the church. Comment: This subtly reinforces the theme that Simon is suffering from the curse, and also reminds the player that they can refill their HP in a church. In the retranslation(s), I swapped this dialog with #80 in the same town, because I thought that #72 is better line for a monk. In a hack called ‘Redaction’ they moved this line to the first town, on the basis that this town a bit too late for such basic instruction. However, the purpose of churches is already mentioned in the instruction booklet, and any honorable player has already found it out by basic exploration. I think the more pressing purpose of this line is to confirm that time is at issue for Simon. The more he wastes time, the less likely he is to survive the curse even if he manages to beat Dracula.	There are clues to Dracula’s riddle within Berkeley Mansion.	Berkeleyn kartanossa sijaitsee vihjeitä Draculan arvoitukseen.	Il y a des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula dans la demeure Berkeley.	May mga bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula sa loob ng Mansyon ni Berkeley.	Hay pistas sobre Drácula dentro de la Mansión Berkeley.	In de burcht van Berkeley, kun je hints over het raadsel van Dracula vinden.	Du kan finne ledetråder til Draculas gåte inne i Berkeley herregård.	Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis findet Ihr in der Burg Berkeley.
79	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛オルシ゛ハ゛ノマチニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF ALBA.	lady on ground in Veros Comment: "ALBA" is a mistranslation. The original text says Aljiba. There is no town of Alba. This line refers to string 92.	One of the clues to Dracula’s riddle is within the town of Aljiba.	Yksi Draculan arvoituksen vihjeistä sijaitsee Aljiban kylässä.	Un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula est dans la ville d’Aljiba.	Isa sa mga bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula ay nasa loob ng bayan ng Aljiba.	Una de las pistas sobre Drácula está dentro del pueblo de Aljiba.	1 van de hints over Dracula’s raadsel ligt verborgen in het dorpje met de naam Aljiba.	Du kan finne et hint til Draculas gåte i byen Aljiba.	Eine Spur zu Draculas Vermächtnis wurde in der Stadt Aljiba versteckt.
80	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ハ゛-クレイノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BERKELEY MANSION.	monk on ground in Veros Comment: The retranslation(s) exchanged this line with #72. This line refers to strings 30, 31 and 32.	Boy you are pale, young man‼ Please rest in a church and refresh your soul.	Nuori mies, oletpa kalpea‼ Lepää kirkossa ja virkistä sielusi.	Tu sembles souffrant‼ Soigne-toi dans une église.	Namumutla ka na, iho‼ Magpahinga ka sa loob ng simbahan at giginhawa ang iyong kaluluwa.	¡¡Vaya que te ves pálido‼ Por favor, descansa en la iglesia y refresca tu alma.	Tjonge, wat zie jij er bleek uit‼ Rust wat in onze kerk om op krachten te komen.	Du store‼ Så blek du er, unge mann‼ Finn ro i kirken og forbered deg på å møte verden på ny.	Gütiger Himmel‼ Seid Ihr blass‼ Bitte ruht Euch in der Kirche aus‼
NPCs in town 3 (Aljiba/Alba)
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
87	アルト゛ラノマチノキョウカイノマエテ゛ヨシミ‼ トサケフ゛トライフカ゛マンタンニナルヨ‼	TO RESTORE YOUR LIFE, SHOUT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.	guy on 2nd stair in Aljiba Literal translation of original Japanese text: Shout "yoshimi!" in front of the church in Aldra, and life becomes refilled (lit. "life" becomes マンタン, a full tank). Comment: Background information: There is a church in Aldra, but this guy is in Aljiba. There is no church in Aljiba. Thus, the NPC might not know exactly how they work. So he relays this rumor. This may be a pun. The word, “Yoshimi” is a Japanese male’s given name, but it also means intimacy or kindness. So it kind of makes sense. Maybe. Maybe it’s an inside joke. The English version loses this connotation, and thereby became plain nonsense. The English version also omits the town name, Aldra, which does have a church. I do not know whether there was a staff member with name "Yoshimi". It might also have been an inside joke. The word “life” was used as an English loanword in the Japanese version. The word “mantan” means full tank, as in literal refilling: think a milk jug. It’s a Konami thing. They use it in many games, such as Goonies II. In the retranslation the boy says, “priests don’t pray at nights. That’s why the forests are full of demons.”, because I thought it would be funnier than an attempt at a direct translation. Either way, it is nonsense.	The priests don’t pray at night. That’s why the forests are full of demons.	Papit eivät rukoile öisin. Siksi metsät ovat täynnä demoneja.	Les prêtres ne prient pas la nuit. De ce fait, les forêts sont toutes infestées de démons.	Ang mga pari ay hindi nagdarasal sa gabi. Kaya ang gubat ay puno ng mga aswang.	Los clérigos ya no rezan por la noche. Es por eso que los bosques están llenos de demonios.	De priesters bidden nooit in de nacht. De demonen zullen in de nachten dus krachtiger zijn‥..	Presten kan ikke hjelpe deg om mør- ket har falt. Så pass deg for faren som lurer i natten.	Au weh. Die Hand die einen nährt, sollte man nicht beißen‼ Vermaledeite Vampire‼
88	ノロワレシテ゛ット゛リハ゛- イマナオノロイヲトクモノマチワヒ゛ルカワ	THE DEAD RIVER WAITS TO BE FREED FROM THE CURSE.	lady on 2nd stair in Aljiba Literal translation of original Japanese text: The accursed Dead River. A river that still desperately waits for that which will break the curse. Comment: In Japanese, this is the only line that contains more than one sentence and where one of the sentences is without a predicate. This made it a bit difficult to parse… In any case, the lady seems to be lost in thought, pondering about the Dead River.	The accursed Dead River‥. A river that still awaits the one who frees it from the curse.	Kuollut joki ‥. Joki, joka yhä odottaa kipeästi kaivaten vapauttajaa kirouksesta.	La maudite Rivière Morte‥. Une rivière qui attend toujours son sauveur.	Ang Patay na Ilog‥. Ang ilog ay naghihintay sa sinumang magpapalaya sa sumpa nito.	El condenado Río Muerto... Un río que espera a aquel que lo libere de su maldición.	De vloek op de dode rivier‥. Wie oh wie, zal hem verlossen van zijn vloek?	Daulågen ‥. En elv som fortsatt venter på den som kan løfte for- bannelsen som hviler over den.	Dieser verdammte, tote Fluss‼ Der Damm bricht mit dem Fluch des Flusses.
91	ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハヌマノト゛クヨリミヲマモル	A LAUREL WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE POISON MARSH.	monk on 2nd stair in Aljiba Literal translation of original Japanese text: A laurel protects you from the poisons of a swamp. Comment: True, though not restricted to marshes in particular. Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 37 (laurels with life make swamp crossable), and 67 (laurels fix a pickle)	If you plan to trek through a swamp, eat laurels. It neutralizes the poison.	Jos aiot tarpoa suolla, syö laakerin- lehtiä. Laakeri neutralisoi suossa olevat myrkyt.	Si tu veux traverser un marécage, mange du laurier. Il stoppe le poison.	Kung balak mo maglakbay sa mga lati, kumain ka ng laurel. Pangontra ito sa lason.	Si planeas atravesar el pantano, come laureles, te protegen y neutralizan el veneno.	Mocht je van plan zijn om door het moeras te reizen, eet dan laurier tegen het vergif.	Vil du vade gjennom en hel sumpmyr? Spis litt laurbær‼ De motvirker giftgassene.	Mit einem Lorbeerblatt erträgt man die Fäule in den Sümpfen.
96	ココノトクサンフ゛ツハニンニクシ゛ャカッテユキナサレ	BUY SOME GARLIC. IT HAS SPECIAL POWERS.	guy on ground in Aljiba Literal translation of original Japanese text: The specialty of this place is garlic. Go and buy some. Comment: The English version is a mistranslation, though it makes enough sense that it might have been deliberate.	In Aljiba we pride on our garlic. It is our specialty. Have you tried it yet? If not, hurry up and buy some‼	Kylässämme arvostetaan valkosipulia. Se on hyvin voimakas ja terveellinen yrtti. Osta ja ihastu‼	L’ail est la spécialité de notre ville. Cours en acheter‼	Natatangi sa bayan namin ay bawang. Mahalagang sahog ito sa sinangag at adobo.	El especial de nuestro pueblo es el ajo. ¡¡Ve y compra un poco‼	Knoflook is echt onze specialiteit hier. Het is fantastisch, dus ga snel wat kopen‼	Byen vår har spesialisert seg på hvit- løk. Kjøp deg en smaksprøve. Den er noe for seg selv.	Die Spezialität unserer Stadt ist frischer Knoblauch. Holt Euch welchen‼
103	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ヘ゛ロスノモリニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE VEROS WOODS.	guy on 1st stair in Aljiba Comment: All of the “clues to <..> are” lines are true and correct, except for this one. It should refer to Aljiba woods, not to Veros woods. The original text has the same error. This line refers to string 13.	Clues to the riddle of Dracula? I know one of them is in the forest of Aljiba.	Draculan arvoituksen vihjeitä? Tiedän, että yksi niistä sijaitsee Aljiban metsässä.	Des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula? Je sais que l’un d’eux est dans la forêt d’Aljiba.	Bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula ba? Alam ko na ang isa ay nasa Gubat ng Aljiba.	¿Pistas sobre Drácula? Sé que hay una de ellas en el Bosque de Aljiba.	Hints over het raadsel van Dracula? zoek er naar in Aljiba’s woud.	Ledetråder for Draculas gåte? Jeg vet du kan finne en av dem i Aljibaskogen.	Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis? Sucht im Wald von Aljiba.
105	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ロ-ハ゛-ノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN ROVER MANSION.	monk on 2nd stair in Aljiba Comment: This line refers to strings 33 and 34.	Clues to Dracula’s riddle‥. Search in the Rover Mansion. I have heard some are hidden there.	Draculan arvoituksen vihjeitä‥. Etsi Roverin kartanosta. Olen kuullut, että niitä on siellä.	Des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula‥. Cherche dans la demeure Rover. Il paraît que certains sont là-bas.	Bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula‥. Maghanap ka sa Mansyon ni Rover. Nadinig ko may natatago pa doon.	Pistas sobre Drácula... Busca en la Mansión Rover. Escuché que hay algunas ocultas ahí.	Hints over Dracula’s raadsel? ‥..Zoek in Rover’s Burcht. Daar kun je vast een paar vinden.	Ledetråder til Draculas gåte ‥.? Gi Rover herregård et besøk. Jeg har hørt de skjuler noe der.	Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis? In Schloss Lauber findet man welche.
NPCs in town 4 (Aldra). Theme: Almost all are ladies.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
89	ノロイニヨリトサ゛サレシモノト゛ラキュラノメタ゛マニヨリウツシタ゛サレル	DRACULA’S EYEBALL REFLECTS THE CURSE.	guy deep in house in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: In Dracula’s eyeball, a reflection can be seen of something that has been trapped because of curse. Comment: The English version is mistranslated into nonsense. The original text reveals that the eyeball helps see hidden things, such as clue scrolls. Oddly though, the invisible floating platform in Berkeley mansion is made visible by a crystal, not Dracula’s eye.	A thing cursed away from sight can be seen as a reflection in Dracula’s eyeball.	Jos on jotain minkä kirous on kätkenyt näkyvistä, sen voi nähdä heijastuksena Draculan silmämunassa.	Une chose touchée par la malédiction se reflète dans l’oeil de Dracula.	Ang bagay na isinumpang maglaho sa paningin ay makikita sa aninag ng mata ni Dracula.	En el ojo de Drácula puede verse un reflejo de todo aquello sumerso en maldición.	Dingen, die gewoonlijk niet te waarnemen zijn, worden weerspiegeld in Dracula’s oogbal.	Er noe usyn- lig for det blotte øye, kan Draculas øye se det klart og tydelig.	Draculas Auge übersieht die Zierden des Fluches.
95	コ゛メンネアタイヒマシ゛ャナイノマタコント゛ネ	SORRY, PAL. NO TIME NOW, MAYBE LATER.	lady on 3rd stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: I’m sorry, you see… I don’t have time now; perhaps another time. Comment: Rather accurate translation. The English “, pal” attempts to convey the softening “ne” particle in Japanese.	Sorry, pal. No time now, maybe tomorrow.	En nyt oikein ehdi. Ehkä huomenna.	Désolé, je n’ai pas le temps. Demain, peut-être.	Paumanhin. Wala akong oras. Pwede sa ibang araw araw na lang?	Lo siento, amigo. No tengo tiempo ahora, quizás mañana.	Sorry‥. Ik heb nu geen tijd om te praten, vriend. Misschien later?	Beklager. Det passer litt dårlig akkurat nå. Kanskje i morgen.	Vergebung‼ Es sind sehr schlechte Zeiten. Ich hoffe es endet bald.
93	テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケヲス゛ツキテ゛キリヒラケスルトオオキナアナカ゛アク	HIT DEBORAH CLIFF WITH YOUR HEAD TO MAKE A HOLE.	lady on 3rd stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: Open up the Deborah cliff by headbutting, and a large hole opens. Comment: This text is complete nonsense, although it does (vaguely) hint that there is a way to progress at Deborah cliff. Chances are that this was another one of those false rumors. However, I deliberately chose an alternative interpretation: This lady thinks Simon is trying to hit on her, and assumes an antagonistic attitude. She suggests Simon smash his head against a rock. I think I managed to convey this passive-aggressive meaning well in both Finnish and English.	Go and hit the Deborah Cliff with your head. See which one gives first.	Mene ja lyö pääsi Deboran kallioon. Katso, kumpiko antaa ensin periksi.	Frappe la Falaise Deborah avec ta tête. Nous verrons qui est le plus robuste.	Untugin mo ang Talampas ng Deborah at tingnan natin kung sino ang unang babagsak‼	Ve y golpea el Acantilado Deborah con tu cabeza. Ve qué se da primero.	Stoot je kop aan de berg van Deborah, en kijk wie het langst zal standhouden. De berg of jij?	Gå og deng hodet ditt i Debraklippen. Se hva som gir etter først.	Für ein großes Loch schlagt doch Euren Kopf gegen die Felsen von Deborah‼
97	アナタッテハンサムネワタシアナタノヨウナヒトヲマッテタノ	I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR A GOOD LOOKING GUY LIKE YOU.	lady on 2nd stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: Aren’t you ‹handsome›, huh! I have been waiting for a person like you. Comment: The word “handsome” is used as an English loanword in the Japanese text (i.e. it says “hansamu” instead of some Japanese word). The “ne” particle also appears here.	I’ve been waiting for a good looking guy like you.	Olet todella komea‼ Olen unelmoinut tapaavani sinunlaisesi ihmisen.	J’attendais un bel homme comme toi.	Naghihintay ako ng isang guwapong lalaki na kagaya mo.	Eres guapo. He estado buscando una persona como tú.	Lang heb ik gewacht op zo’n knappe vent als jij.	Heisann, kjekken‼ Hvor har du vært hele livet mitt?	Ihr seid eine Augenweide‼ Ich sehne mich so nach einem Mann wie Euch.
98	アナタカ゛ホシイ	I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.	lady on 1st stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: I lust you! Comment: The Finnish version diverges from the original meaning here for no particular reason. I used the same line in the re-translation. “I really hope to meet a smart man some day.”	I really hope to meet a smart man some day.	Toivon vielä joskus tapaavani fiksun miehen. Onko sellaisia?	J’espère rencontrer un jour un homme intelligent.	Umaasa akong makakatagpo ako ng isang matipunong lalaki‥. tulad mo.	Realmente espero conocer a un hombre inteligente algún día.	Hopelijk ontmoet ik ooit een intelligente man in mijn leven‥.	Jeg vil ha deg i mørket hos meg.	Bitte bleibt heute Nacht bei mir. Ich meine es gut mit Euch‼
99	コンヤ 12シ゛カワノホトリテ゛	I’LL SEE YOU AT MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER BANK.	lady on 3rd stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: Tonight, at 12am, near the river (in the vicinity of the river). Comment: The dialog of this lady is very terse, as if she was passing you a secret note on paper. The words do not form a sentence. It is just the location and the time, with implication that she will meet you there. Which is false, of course.	Tonight. At midnight. The river bank. Be there.	Tavataan keskiyöllä jokirannassa.	Rends-toi à minuit sur la berge.	Ngayong Hatinggabi. Sa tabing ilog. Walang indyanan‼	Esta noche, 12 A.M. A la orilla del río. No faltes.	Vannacht, om 12 uur, aan de oever van de rivier‥. Zorg dat je er bent‥.	I kveld. Ved midnatt. Møt meg ved elvebredden.	Heute. Zu Mitternacht. Am Ufer des Flusses. Seid dort.
102	ストリコ゛イホ゛チテ゛アヒルカラキヌノフクロヲモラウトナカ゛イキスル	GET A SILK BAG FROM THE GRAVEYARD DUCK TO LIVE LONGER.	lady on 2nd stair in Aldra Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you receive a silk bag from a duck [man who waddles around] at the Strigoi graveyard, living long happens. Comment: This has been one of the most criticized translations in Simon’s Quest. Yes, it explicitly says ahiru, meaning domestic duck, in the original text. However, the word “ahiru” in Japanese also appears to be a slang term, that refers to e.g. an uniformed policeman that walks a beat slowly, like a duck. The English line was an accurate literal translation of the original text. It was not an accidental concatenation of two dialog items. The translator just did not know this expression. For length limitations, the name of the graveyard (Strigoi) was omitted in the English version. My re-translation does not suffer from such limitations. Addendum: While the “patrolling man” word was found in a Japanese slang word list, it has been brought to my attention that this theory might still be wrong, if for nothing else but that the existence of ducks is allegedly a sort of in-joke in other Konami games. Apparently “ahiru” also refers to a particular style of waddling walk, rather than the act of patrolling. In any case, I feel that the current translation is the best possible compromise between translation accuracy and not sticking out (breaking the game immersion).	If you find the patrolling man at the Strigoi Cemetery, ask for a silk bag. It will help you live longer.	Elääksesi pitkään mene Strigoin hautuumaalle. Siellä asuu joku, joka antaa sinulle silkkilaukun.	Si, au Cimetière Strigoi, tu obtiens d’un homme un sac de soie, tu vivras plus longtemps.	Kapag nakuha mo na ang sedang supot mula sa tanod sa Himlayan ng Strigoi, mabubuhay ka ng mas matagal.	Al recibir una bolsa de seda del hombre que patrulla el Cementerio Strigoi, seguro vivirás más.	Als je een zijden zak ontvangt, op het kerkhof van Strigoi, zul je zeker langer leven.	Legg turen til Strigoi kirkegård og få deg en silketaske fra han som patrulerer, så lever du nok lenger.	Der Seidenbeutel vom Wächter der Strigoi verlängert Euer Leben‼
104	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ハ゛ト゛リ-ノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル	CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BODLEY MANSION.	lady on 3rd stair in Aldra Comment: This line refers to string 37.	There is a clue to Dracula’s riddle within the Bathory Mansion.	Yksi vihje Draculan arvoitukseen sijaitsee Bathoryn kartanossa.	Un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula se trouve dans la demeure Bathory.	Ang bakas para malutas ang bugtong ni Dracula ay natutulog sa Mansyon ni Bathory.	Una pista sobre Drácula reside dentro de la Mansión Bathory.	In de burcht van Bathory, Kun je een hint vinden om Dracula’s raadsel op te lossen.	En del av svaret på Draculas gåte ligger i Bathory herregård.	Draculas Letzer Wille weilt in Burg Bathory.
NPCs in town 5 (Ondol). Theme: Old men. Almost all of them speak in old men’s accent.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
63	ムチニフシキ゛ナチカラヲアタエルヒトカ゛クラヤミニスム	A MAN LIVING IN DARKNESS CAN GIVE YOUR WHIP POWER.	monk on 3rd stair in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: A man dwelling in darkness can apply a mysterious power into your whip. Comment: Which is true, though a little unhelpful. The man lives in Uta lower road 2: between Bodley mansion and Debious woods.	There is a hermit, living in a cave, who can empower a whip in a peculiar manner.	Eräs luolassa asuva erakko kykenee antamaan ruoskalle erikoisen voiman.	Un ermite vivant dans une cave peut donner à ton fouet une force mystérieuse.	Ang pantas na nakatira sa yungib ay kayang palakasin ang iyong latigo.	Un ermitaño que vive en una cueva puede darle poder a tu látigo.	Een in een grot levende kluizenaar, kan je zweep veel krachtiger maken.	Einstøingen som bor for seg selv i en hule, kan forbedre pisken din på en snodig måte.	Der in der Grotte lebende Einsiedler vermag Eure Peitsche zu entflammen.
69	ストリコ゛イホ゛チノアルハカヲホルトチョウコウセキカ゛テ゛ルトイウ	DIG UP THE 4TH GRAVE IN THE CEMETERY FOR A DIAMOND.	guy on 3rd stair in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is said that if you excavate a certain grave at Strigoi graveyard, a mineral chunk ("diamond") appears. Comment: Something happens at Strigoi graveyard, yes. But it is not the diamond, and it is not the digging of a grave. (It is the silk bag, which you acquire by "summoning a stranger" with a garlic.) Often, in RPGs, all rumors, tales and prophecies are completely true. Not so in Simon’s Quest. Every time someone says ’I have heard’ or ’it is said’, it is NEVER true, or at least it is a heavily altered truth. When such words are not used, the statement is usually honest and true, assuming it contains a verifiable claim to begin with. Unfortunately in the English version, the distinction of when something is a rumor or not, was not always indicated.	According to a rumor, there is a colossal diamond buried in a grave at the Strigoi Cemetery‼	Jos kaivaa hautoja Strigoin hautuumaalla, voi löytää timantin. Kuulemma.	Selon la rumeur, un diamant est caché dans une tombe du Cimetière Strigoi.	Ayon sa mga sabi-sabi, sa Himlayan ng Strigoi ay may mahuhukay na malaking diamante‼	Se dice que si cavas en cierta tumba dentro del Cementerio Strigoi... ¡¡Aparece un diamante‼	Men zegt dat grafschennis op Strigoi’s kerhof, je een enorme diamant kan opleveren‼	Ryktet sier at om man graver på Strigois kirkegård finner man en stor diamant‼	Es geht das Gerücht, am Friedhof der Strigoi seien auch Edelsteine verscharrt.
70	コンニチハアナタハカミヲシンシ゛マスカ? シンシ゛ルモノハミナスクワレル	BELIEVE IN MAGIC AND YOU’LL BE SAVED.	guy on 2nd stair in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: Greetings. Do you believe in God? What you believe in decides everything. Comment: Because of political reasons, explicitly religious dialog was changed in the USA release. Oddly, believing in magic was considered OK, but believing in God was not.	Hello. Do you believe in God? Everything depends on that.	Hei. Uskotteko Jumalaan? Kaikki on siitä kiinni mihin uskoo.	Bonjour. Crois- tu en Dieu? Tout part de là.	Kamusta. Naniniwala ka ba sa Diyos? Ang lahat ay nakabatay doon.	Saludos. ¿Crees en Dios? Tus creencias deciden todo.	Goedendag. Geloof je in God? Alles is daarvan afhankelijk.	God dag. Er du en troende? Det er troen som avgjør alt.	Grüß Gott‼ Nun sagt, wie habt Ihr es mit Gott?
71	モラッテヤッテクタ゛サイウチノムスメヲイマナラタタ゛タ゛ヨ	TAKE MY DAUGHTER, PLEASE‼	monk on 2nd stair in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: Please take my daughter. Right now I won’t ask for anything else.	Please, take my daughter. That’s all I am asking.	Ota tyttäreni ja vie. En pyydä mitään muuta.	Prends ma fille. C’est tout ce que je demande.	Pakiusap‼ Kunin mo ang aking anak na babae‼	Por favor, llévate a mi hija. Eso es todo lo que pido.	Neem, alsjeblieft mijn dochter. Dat is alles wat ik wens.	Jeg ber deg, ta med deg min datter. Det er alt jeg ber om.	Nehmt meine Tochter an Euch‼ Das sei mein einziger Wunsch...
73	シチョウセイカ゛ミエルテ゛アロウオワッタナ‼	DON’T LOOK INTO THE DEATH STAR, OR YOU WILL DIE.	guy in house in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: If the Death Omen Star (star of death) is sighted, it’s over! Comment: This is a Hokuto no Ken reference. If the star of death (死兆星) is shining in the sky above two warriors engaged in a battle of destiny, one of those two men shall die. (Thanks RahanAkero!) The reference was lost on western people unfamiliar with this manga, and I doubt the translator understood it either. I certainly did not. I am not sure if the apparent allusion to Star Wars was intentional by the translator. My own interpretation, before the above bit was brought to my attention, was this: “if you witness four deaths, you are likely to be the next.” Four is a number associated with death in superstition in Japan and China. However, because of ambiguousness in the Japanese text (lack of kanji), this sentence can be translated in a number of different ways. The Japanese text begins with “shichousei”, which consists of three syllables, “shi”, “chou” and “sei”. There is no indication where the word break is. · “shichou” (シチョウ) means attention, city hall, and mayor. · “chousei” (チョウセイ) means passing away, longevity, government, and the action of adjusting something. · “shi” (シ) can mean four, death, poem, and pride. · “chou” (チョウ) means chief, tempo, agency, omen, and a counter for guns, tools, levers, leaves or cakes of something, servings in a restaurant. · “sei” (セイ) means planet/star, government, life, gender and other things. So there are actually dozens of different ways to translate this sentence. In the Finnish version, I wrote “death follows that who sees death”, which sounds like a proverb and fits the mood of the game. In the retranslation I put different flavor.	There is so much battle in the world. I used to be a fighter myself, but I realized I need to live my life.	Kuolema seuraa sitä joka kuolemaa näkee.	Il y a tant de combats à mener dans le monde. Aujourd’hui, j’ai compris que je devais mener ma vie.	Napakaraming digmaan sa mundong ito. Mandirigma ako noon, gayonpaman, pinili ko ang mabuhay ng matiwasay.	Hay tantas batallas en el mundo. Solía ser un caballero, pero ahora necesito hacer mi propia vida.	Er is zoveel oorlog in de wereld‥. Vroeger was ik soldaat, maar koos ervoor, om mijn leven nu te leven.	Som soldat styrte jeg hvordan folk skulle leve sine liv, men glemte helt å leve mitt eget.	Was tot ist, beißt nicht mehr‼ Lasst die Toten ruhen.
74	ワシヲヒキトメンテ゛クレンカネワシハトマルトシヌンシ゛ャ	DON’T MAKE ME STAY. I’LL DIE.	monk on ground in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: Would you take me with you? If I stay here, I will die.	Would you please take me with you? If I stay here, I will die‼	En halua jäädä tänne. Ota minut mukaasi‼	Puis-je venir avec toi? Si je reste ici, je vais mourir‼	Pakiusap, isama mo ako‼ Mamamatay ako kapag nanatili pa ako dito‼	¿Me llevarías contigo, por favor? Si me quedo aquí, ¡¡moriré‼	Wil je mij alsjeblieft meenemen? Als ik hier blijf zal ik zeker de dood vinden‼	Kan du ta meg med vekk her fra? Om jeg blir, kommer jeg til å dø‼	Ich flehe Euch an‼ Bringt mich weg von hier‼ Ich will hier nicht sterben‼
75	シ゛マンシ゛ャナイカ゛コレテ゛モワシハムカシオンナニヨクモテタモノシ゛ャ	WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, WOMEN LOVED ME.	monk on 3rd stair in Ondol Literal translation of original Japanese text: Not to brag, but though you might not believe it from how I look now, a long time ago I was very popular with women. Comment: English could have added “not to brag” in the dialog box and it would still have fit. I don’t know why the translator did not think of that. My English re-translation is quite true to the original, but I added a bit of flavor in the Finnish version. It says approximately “when I was young, I sat on beaches together with ladies, looking at stars. They downright flocked around me.”	Not to brag, but when I was your age, I was really popular with the ladies.	Nuorena katselin öisin tähtiä rannalla naisten kanssa‥. He suorastaan parveilivat ympärilläni.	Sans me vanter, étant jeune, j’avais du succès auprès des femmes.	Hindi sa nagyayabang, noong kasing gulang kita, sikat ako sa mga bebot.	No es por presumir, pero cuando, tenía tu edad era muy popular con las mujeres.	Ik wil niet, opscheppen, maar op jouw leeftijd was ik erg in trek bij de dames‼	Ikke for å skryte, men da jeg var på din alder flokket alle damene seg rundt meg.	Damals konnte ich Frauenherzen im Sturm erobern. Damals war ich noch ansehnlich.
NPCs in town 6 (Doina/Fetra). Theme: Hostile towards Simon.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
94	1ネンマエモココテ゛ミカケタネマサカライネンモシ゛ャナイタ゛ロウネ	AFTER CASTLEVANIA I WARNED YOU NOT TO RETURN.	monk on ground in Doina Literal translation of original Japanese text: I happened to see you here last year. I cannot bear the thought that (it would happen) next year, too. Comment: The villager is not pleased to see Simon there again. He expresses deep contempt in a read-between-lines manner that is very typical to Japanese language. The fourth-wall breaking reference to "Castlevania" is an invention of the English translator. In the re-translation, I made this very blunt: “You again‼ Last year I was hoping to never see you again.” It still fit in five lines. The Finnish version did not.	You again‼ Last year I was hoping never to see you again.	Taasko sinä olet täällä. Viime vuonna, kun lähdit, luulimme päässeemme sinusta eroon.	Encore toi‼ Depuis notre dernière rencontre, j’espérais ne jamais te revoir.	Aba‼ Ikaw na naman‼ Sa nakaraang taon, umaasa akong di ka na makikita‼	¡¡Otra vez‼ El año pasado esperaba no volverte a ver de nuevo.	Jij weer‼ Vorig jaar hoopte ik je nooit meer te hoeven zien.	Deg igjen‼? Du er som et symbol på problemer‼ Jeg håpet at aldri kom til å se deg igjen‼	Ihr schon wieder‼ Ich hatte so innig gehofft Euch nie wieder zu begegnen.
100	カエレ‼	GET BACK‼	guy in house in Doina Literal translation of original Japanese text: Return‼ (Go back, don’t come, get lost, etc.)	Go away‼	Mene muualle‼	Va-t’en‼	LAYAS‼	¡¡Vete‼	Ga weg‼	Forsvinn‼	Verschwindet‼
101	アンタノセイテ゛コノアタリカ゛サワカ゛シクナッタテ゛テイッテクレ	YOU’VE UPSET THE PEOPLE. NOW GET OUT OF TOWN‼	monk on 1st stair in Doina Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is your fault our neighborhood has become filled with noise (trouble, annoyance). Go away. Comment: The villager is blaming Simon for the appearance of demons all around. The Japanese text says, ‘this area has become noisy’. The English translation was probably a deliberate choice given the lack of space within the dialog box.	It’s your fault that it’s not safe around here anymore. Please, just leave and never return.	Sinun takiasi täällä ei ole enää rauhallista. Ole hyvä ja lähde. Mene matkojasi.	A cause de toi, ce lieu est devenu dangereux. Va-t’en, et ne reviens plus.	Kasalanan mo kaya hindi na ligtas manirahan dito. Kaya lumayas ka at huwag ka nang babalik.	Es tu culpa que ya no sea seguro por aquí. Por favor, solo vete, y no regreses.	Het is jouw schuld dat het niet meer veilig is‥. Alsjeblieft, ga weg en kom nooit meer terug‼	Det er din skyld at det nå ikke er trygt her. Bare dra din vei og aldri kom tilbake.	Euretwegen sind die Blutsauger erst hier‼ Verlasst die Stadt, geht wieder‼
106	ラルハ゛ノヤカタテ゛ロサ゛リオヲカナラス゛テニイレルンシ゛ャソ゛	THE CROSS IN LARUBA’S MANSION MUST BE FOUND.	monk on ground in Doina Literal translation of original Japanese text: In the mansion of Laruba, no matter what, you must possess (receive into your hands) the rosary (magic cross).	When you go to Laruba’s Mansion, you must find the Rosary. Do not exit without it.	Kun menet Laruban kartanoon, älä poistu sieltä ilman ruusukkoa.	Tu dois trouver le chapelet dans la demeure Laruba. Ne repars pas sans lui.	Kapag pumunta ka sa Mansyon ni Laruba, kuhanin mo ang Krusipiho at huwag na huwag kang lalabas nang wala iyon‼	Cuando vayas a la Mansión Laruba, debes encontrar el Rosario. No te vayas sin él.	Als je naar de Laruba’s Burcht gaat, zorg dan dat je de hem NIET zonder het kruis verlaat‼	Før du drar fra Laruba herregård, må du finne rosenkransen. Ikke forlat herregården uten den.	Verlasst die Raubersburg nicht ohne das geweihte Rosenkreuz. Ihr sollt es dort finden‼
NPCs in town 7 (Yomi/Ghulash). Theme: Deserted town
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
90	ココテ゛フタリテ゛クラサンカ	LET’S LIVE HERE TOGETHER.	guy in house in Yomi Comment: In the Finnish version and in the re-translation I added a number of context-sensitive dialog options to this character (and many others). This is no longer the only line he can say. The context-sensitive dialog options are triggered by various conditions depending on character. Conditions such as items you are carrying and the day number.	Let’s live here together.	Jää tänne asumaan kanssani. En pärjää enää yksin.	Vivons ici ensemble.	Mabuhay tayo dito nang magkasama.	Vivamos aquí juntos para siempre.	Laten we hier gaan samenwonen. ..hips‼..	Her kan vi dele våre dager sammen.	Es ist sehr behaglich hier. Setz Dich doch zu mir.
"Friend"
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
85	シロトアオノスイショウヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ	I’D LIKE TO EXCHANGE A WHITE CRYSTAL FOR A BLUE ONE.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have an idea: Let’s exchange our crystals, white and blue. Comment: Hints for the player: string 61 (info: a friend awaits you in Aljiba) This text is only shown if you have the required crystal. The exchange is being performed as the text is output, with no possibility to cancel it.	Is that a sparkling shiny white crystal? I want it‼ You can have my blue sapphire instead.	Minulla on sininen safiiri, mutta haluan vaihtaa sen kirkkaaseen kristalliisi.	Je souhaite échanger mon saphir bleu contre ton étincelant cristal blanc.	Meron akong sepiro. Ibig kong ipagpalit ito sa iyong kumikinang na puting kristal.	Tengo un safiro azul, pero quisiera cambiarlo por tu brillante cristal blanco.	Ik heb een mooie blauwe saffier maar, wil deze wel ruilen tegen jouw witte sprankelende kristal.	Jeg har en blå safir, men jeg vil gjerne bytte den mot en blank, hvit krystallkule.	Ich besitze einen Saphir‼ Ich überlasse ihn Euch gerne im Tausch für Euren Bergkristall.
86	アオトアカノスイショウヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ	I’D LIKE TO EXCHANGE A BLUE CRYSTAL FOR A RED ONE.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have an idea: Let’s exchange our crystals, blue and red. Comment: Hints for the player: string 57 (info: a friend awaits you in Aldra)	Is that a, a blue sapphire? I have always wanted one‼ Let’s swap. You can have my red ruby instead.	Minulla on punainen rubiini, mutta haluan vaihtaa sen kauniiseen siniseen safiiriisi.	Je souhaite échanger mon rubis rouge contre ton magnifique saphir bleu.	Meron akong dalang rubi. Ibig kong ipagpalit ito sa iyong maganda at makintab na sepiro.	Tengo un rubí rojo, pero quisiera cambiarlo por tu hermoso safiro azul.	Ik heb een rode robijn maar, wil deze graag ruilen tegen jouw mooie, blauwe, saffier.	Jeg har en rød rubin, men jeg vil gjerne bytte den mot din vakre, blå fair.	Ich besitze einen Rubin‼ Ich überlasse ihn Euch gerne im Tausch für Euren Saphir.
107	ワタシトアナタノスイショウトテ゛ハコウカンテ゛キヌ	I REFUSE TO EXCHANGE MY CRYSTAL FOR YOURS.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: I don’t want to exchange my crystal with yours. Comment: Both collectors use this same message, if you don’t have the exact type of crystal that triggers their exchange. A bit blunt for a “friend” if you ask me.	I love gem stones. If you find something more interesting than what you have now, come back and we might barter a bit.	Rakastan jalokiviä. Mutta sinulla ei ole sellaista kuin mistä haaveilen‥.	Je souhaite échanger ma pierre gemme, mais tu n’as pas le type de cristal que je recherche.	Ibig kong ipagpalit ang batong hiyas ko‥. Pero hindi mo dala ang nais kong kristal.	Me gustaría cambiar mi piedra preciosa... Pero no tienes el cristal que yo quiero.	Ik zou graag mijn juweel ruilen tegen die van jou. Je hebt alleen niet het soort dat ik zoek.	Jeg har lyst til å bytte bort edel- steinen min. Men du har ikke den krystall- typen jeg vil ha.	Ich bereite Edelsteine zum Tausch vor. Doch Ihr habt kein Juwel von Wert für mich.
The priest.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
49	ココテ゛カラタ゛ヲヤスメテイキナサレチチトコトセイレイノナニオイテア-メン	REST HERE FOR A WHILE.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let your body rest here and then go. In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen. Comment: Due to politics, the prayer was censored in the English version. In the Finnish version, I initially considered adding a more elaborate prayer along the lines of ‘heavenly Father, please bless this weary traveller’, but I think it would not have been fitting for a catholic priest.	Rest here for a while. In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.	Lepää täällä hetki. Isän, Pojan ja Pyhän Hengen nimeen, aamen.	Tu peux te reposer ici. Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit, amen.	Magpahinga ka muna dito, iho. Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo, Amen.	Descansa aquí un momento. En el nombre del Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo, amén.	Rust hier een poosje In de naam de Vader, Zoon en Heilige geest, amen.	Hvil her en stund. I Faderen, sønnen og den hellige ånds navn. Amen.	Weile hier, bete mit mir mein Sohn. Gottes Segen sei mit Dir. Amen.
Altruists who give gifts
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
117	ソノムチテ゛ハワシノシ゛ュモンニタエラレヌテ゛アロウテ゛ナオスカ゛ヨイ	TO BREAK MY SPELL, COME BACK WITH A POWERFUL WEAPON.	At Lower Uta Road (large blue-toned cave) Literal translation of original Japanese text: You better replace that whip [lit. repair/heal], for it probably will not withstand my spell. Comment: See string 14 below. (Same NPC.) The person uses old-man’s language. The English translator botched this line but it still manages to be convey the important bit.	Sorry, but your whip is too weak to withstand the power that I would bestow. Can you not find a better one?	Ruoskanne ei kestäne loitsuni voimaa. Teidän olisi hyvä hankkia vahvempi ruoska.	Désolé, ton fouet est trop faible. Il ne peut supporter le pouvoir que je veux te transmettre.	Ang latigong hawak mo ay napakahina para sa kapangyarihan na igagawad ko. Magdala ka ng matibay na latigo.	Lo siento, pero tu látigo es muy débil para aguantar el poder que le otorgo. ¿No tienes un látigo mejor?	Sorry, maar je zweep is te zwak voor de kracht die ik hem kan geven. Vind eerst een betere‥.	Beklager‼ Pisken din tåler ikke de magiske kreftene jeg kan gi den. Du må gjøre noe med det først‼	Eure Peitsche sollte man gut stählen. Brüchig wird sie meinem Zauber nicht standhalten können.
14	ソナタノフント゛ウノムチニシ゛ャアクヲヤキツクスチカラヲサス゛ケヨウ	I’LL GIVE YOUR MORNING STAR POWER TO BURN AWAY EVIL.	Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award your morning star (“whip of weight”) the power to burn the wickedness into nothing. Comment: Hints for the player: string 63 (info: A man in darkness empowers your whip) These five strings all used the sentence format of 「ｿﾅﾀ～ｻｽﾞｹﾖｳ」, but substring compression was not used.	I will give your Morning Star the power to burn away evil.	Annan aamu- tähdellenne voiman polttaa pimeyden tieltään.	Je vais donner à ton Etoile du Matin le pouvoir du feu.	Gagawaran ko ang iyong Buntala ng kapangyarihan na palingasin ang kasamaan.	Le daré a tu Estrella Matutina el poder para quemar la maldad.	Ik zal je Morgenster de kracht geven om het kwaad weg te branden.	Jeg kan opp- gradere din morgen- stjerne med ondskaps- brennende kraft.	Ich verleihe Eurem Morgenstern die Kraft, Geister zu verbrennen‼ Mögen sie brennen wie Zunder‼
15	ソナタニキヌノフクロヲサス゛ケヨウ	I’LL GIVE YOU A SILK BAG.	At Strigoi cemetary Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a silk bag. Comment: Hints for the player: strings 33 (clue: drop garlic at graveyard, and a stranger appears), 35 (clue: there is a benefit to acquiring silk bag), 102 (info: stranger at Strigoi graveyard gives silk bag) and 69 (rumor: you get something at Strigoi graveyard)	Please accept this gift, a fine silk bag.	Lahjoitan teille tämän silkkilaukun.	Je te prie d’accepter ce présent. C’est un sac en soie.	Tanggapin mo ang aking alay sa iyo. Isang bagong sedang supot.	Por favor, acepta este regalo, una fina bolsa de seda.	Accepteer alstublieft mijn gift, het is een zijden zak.	Her har du en gave. En flott silketaske.	Herr, Ich vermache Euch diesen wertvollen Seidenbeutel.
16	ソナタニキ゛ンノナイフヲサス゛ケヨウ	I’LL GIVE YOU THIS SILVER KNIFE TO SAVE YOUR NECK.	At Carmilla cemetary Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a silver knife. Comment: The “to save your neck” was added in the English translation for some reason. Hints for the player: string 33 (clue: drop garlic at graveyard, and a stranger appears)	Please take this silver knife. It may save your life some day.	Ottakaa tämä hopeinen puukko. Se voi pelastaa henkenne.	Accepte ce couteau d’argent. Il peut te sauver la vie.	Tanggapin mo itong pilak na punyal. Matutulungan ka nito.	Por favor, toma este cuchillo de plata. Puede salvar tu vida.	Alstublieft, neem dit silveren mes. Wellicht kan het uw leven redden.	Ta denne sølvkniven. Den kan bli din redning.	Bitte nehmt diesen silbernen Dolch. Er möge Euch stets den Hals retten.
18	ソナタニチョウコウセキヲサス゛ケヨウ	I’LL GIVE YOU A DIAMOND.	In front of south Deborah cliff Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a mineral chunk ("diamond"). Comment: Hints for the player: string 92 (clue: gypsy at Deborah cliff has diamond)	I would like to give you this giant diamond.	Olkaa hyvä. Annan teille tämän timantin.	Je souhaite t’offrir cet énorme diamant.	Nais kong ihandog sa iyo itong malaking diamante.	Me gustaría darte este diamente gigante.	Ik geef je graag mijn enorm grote diamant‥. Pas op je rug‼	Jeg ønsker å gi deg denne diamanten.	Ich werde Euch meinen Rosenstein überlassen.
120	ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュヲサス゛ケヨウ	I BEG OF YOU TO TAKE THESE LAURELS.	In Laruba mansion Literal translation of original Japanese text: Laurels will be gifted/granted/awarded. Comment: This text is different from the others in that it lacks the word "ソナタニ", "sonata ni", meaning "to you".	Please have these laurels. God bless you.	Lahjoitan teille nämä laakerin- lehdet. Olkaa siunattu.	Prends ces lauriers, je t’en prie.	Tanggapin mo itong mga laurel. Pagpalain ka nawa ng Maykapal.	Por favor, ten estos laureles. Dios te bendiga.	Alsjeblieft. Neem mijn laurier. God zij met u.	Her‼ Ta noen laurbær. Må Gud være med deg.	Bitte, Junge, nimmt Dir soviel Lorbeerblatt Du kannst. Gott segne Dich‼
Items you acquire from something other than a merchant or an altruist
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
24	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノアハ゛ラホ゛ネヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S RIB.	Found in Berkeley mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s rib bone was placed in your hand. Comment: The Japanese version used this complicated sentence for Dracula’s body parts. The English version used the word "possess" to convey the abnormality of the wording. The NTSC English version had the word "possess" misspelled as "prossess". The PAL release had that fixed.	You now possess Dracula’s rib.	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan kylkiluun kantaja.	Tu obtiens l’os de Dracula.	Nakamtan mo ang Tadyang ni Dracula‼	Ahora posees la Costilla de Drácula.	Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s rib.	Draculas ribbein funnet.	Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Rippe.
25	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノシンソ゛ウヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S HEART.	Found in Rover mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s heart was placed in your hand.	You now possess Dracula’s heart.	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan sydämen kantaja.	Tu obtiens le coeur de Dracula.	Nakamtan mo ang Puso ni Dracula‼	Ahora posees el Corazón de Drácula.	Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s hart.	Draculas hjerte funnet.	Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Herz.
26	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノメタ゛マヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S EYEBALL.	Found in Brahm’s mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s eyeball was placed in your hand.	You now possess Dracula’s eyeball.	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan silmämunan kantaja.	Tu obtiens l’oeil de Dracula.	Nakamtan mo ang Mata ni Dracula‼	Ahora posees el Ojo de Drácula.	Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s oogbal.	Draculas øye funnet.	Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Auge.
27	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノツメヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S NAIL.	Found in Bodley mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s fingernail (or claw or talon) was placed in your hand.	You now possess Dracula’s nail.	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan kynnen kantaja.	Tu obtiens l’ongle de Dracula.	Nakamtan mo ang Kuko ni Dracula‼	Ahora posees la Uña de Drácula.	Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s nagel.	Draculas fingernegl funnet.	Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Kralle.
28	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノユヒ゛ワヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S RING.	Found in Laruba mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s ring was placed in your hand.	You now possess Dracula’s ring.	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan sormuksen kantaja.	Tu obtiens l’anneau de Dracula.	Nakamtan mo ang Singsing ni Dracula‼	Ahora posees el Anillo de Drácula.	Vanaf nu Bezit je Dracula’s ring.	Draculas ring funnet.	Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Ring.
118	コノシュンカンソナタハセイナルホノオヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS THE SACRED FLAME.	Found in a cave. Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, the sacred flame was placed in your hand. Comment: Text follows the same pattern as with Dracula’s body parts; however, no version had the "prossess" typo here. Hints for the player: string 32 (clue: flame is in cave), string 77 (info: flame is in the next forest (which is false))	Obtained the Sacred Flame‼	Käsissäsi on nyt pyhä soihtu.	Tu obtiens la Flamme Sacrée‼	Nakamtan mo ang Banal na Apoy‼	¡¡Obtuviste la Flama Sagrada‼	Je hebt het Heilige Vuur gevonden‼	Den hellige flamme funnet‼	Ihr nehmt Die Heilige Flamme an Euch.
38	コノトキソナタハロサ゛リオヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS THE MAGIC CROSS.	This item is acquired by killing Carmilla/Vampira. Literal translation of original Japanese text: At this time, the rosary ("magic cross") was placed in your hand. Comment: The text pattern for this and the next is different from the previous six.	Obtained the Rosary‼	Käsissäsi on nyt ruusukko.	Tu obtiens le Chapelet‼	Nakamtan mo ang Krusipiho‼	¡¡Obtuviste el Rosario‼	Je hebt het Kruis verkregen‼	Rosenkransen funnet‼	Ihr nehmt Das Rosenkreuz an Euch.
119	コノトキソナタハキンノナイフヲテニイレタ	YOU NOW POSSESS THE GOLDEN KNIFE.	This item is acquired by killing Shinigami (Death). Literal translation of original Japanese text: At this time, the golden knife was placed in your hand.	Obtained the Golden Knife‼	Käsissäsi on nyt kultainen puukko.	Tu obtiens le Couteau Doré‼	Nakamtan no ang Gintong Punyal‼	¡¡Obtuviste el Cuchillo Dorado‼	Je hebt het Gouden Mes verkregen‼	Den gylne kniv funnet‼	Ihr nehmt Das Goldene Messer an Euch.
Vendors.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
29	カシノキノクイヲカッテユカヌカ?	INVEST IN AN OAK STAKE?	Exists in all five mansions. Cost: 50 ♥, one-time use Comment: All of these Japanese texts follow the pattern, “<item> wo katteyukanuka” (which I think is short for more modern “<item> wo katte ikanai ka”, meaning literally "Would it not be good for you to buy <item>" said in a humble, indirect manner typical to Japanese). The English versions have more variance to them, but are still restricted to the two lines of text. In the Finnish version, I have up to five lines of text (or six, if I want to sacrifice the top margin).	Would you like to invest in an oak stake?	Myyn ikivihreästä tammesta veistettyjä vaarnoja.	Veux-tu investir dans un pieu en chêne?	Gusto mo bang bumili ng isang ensinang tulos?	¿Te gustaría invertir en una estaca de roble?	Voelt u wat voor de aanschaf van een eiken staak?	Ønsker du å investere i en eikestake?	Asche für den Pflock aus Eiche?
47	ニンニクヲカッテユカヌカ?	WILL YOU BUY SOME GARLIC?	Exists in Aljiba and Aldra. Cost: 50 ♥ for 2 Comment: Because this same dialog item (and the above, and the below) is used by multiple vendors, it cannot be made too personal.	Garlic‼ Get your best quality garlic here, while supplies last.	Myyn itse kasvatettua valkosipulia.	Je vends de l’ail. Veux-tu en acheter?	Bawang ang tinda ko. Bibili ka? Maganda ang klase nito.	Vendo ajo. ¿Quieres un poco? Te garantizo la calidad.	Wilt u wat knoflook kopen? De kwaliteit is uitstekend.	Jeg selger hvitløk. Vil du ha? De har full smaksgaranti.	Ich biete frischen Knoblauch an. Wollt Ihr welchen?
48	ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュヲカッテユカヌカ?	BUY SOME OF MY LAURELS?	Exists in Aljiba, Aldra, Ondol and Doina. Cost: 50 ♥ for 2	Would you buy some of my laurels?	Myyn laakeripuun lehtiä. Ostatteko muutaman?	Veux-tu m’acheter du laurier?	Bibili ka ba ng mga tinda kong laurel?	¿Comprarás algunos de mis laureles?	Wilt u wat van mijn laurier kopen?	Vil du kjøpe noen av mine laurbær?	Wollt Ihr Lorbeer erstehen?
50	シロスイショウヲカッテユカヌカ?	BUY A WHITE CRYSTAL?	In Jova. The only outdoors vendor. Cost: 50 ♥	Would you like to buy a white crystal? It has untold magical powers.	Ostatteko minulta kirkkaan, valkoisen kristallin?	Veux-tu acheter un cristal blanc?	Bibili ka ba ng isang puting kristal?	¿Comprarás un cristal blanco?	Belang bij een wit, sprankelend kristal?	Vil du kjøpe en hvit krystall?	Wollt Ihr meinen weißen Bergkristall erstehen?
55	セイスイヲカッテユカヌカ?	WANT TO BUY HOLY WATER?	In Jova. Cost: 50 ♥	I sell Holy Water. It is very potent‼ Are you interested?	Minä myyn pyhitettyä vettä. Erittäin riittoisaa.	Je vends de l’Eau Bénite. N’hésite pas.	Tinda ko ay Agua-Bendita. Bilhin mo na at hindi ka magsisisi.	Vendo Agua Bendita. Compra, y no te arrepentirás.	Ik verkoop Heilig water. Je zult geen spijt van je koop krijgen.	Jeg selger vievann. Kjøp litt‼ Du vil ikke angre på det.	Wollt Ihr Weihwasser erstehen? Es wird Euch helfen‼
51	イハ゛ラノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?	BUY A THORN WHIP?	In Jova. Cost: 100 ♥	Home-made thorn whips for sale. Buy one?	Ostakaa hyvä piikkiruoska.	Je vends mon fouet d’épines. Veux- tu l’acheter?	Ang tinda ko ay latigong tinik. Bibilhin mo ba?	Estoy vendiendo este látigo de espinas. ¿Vas a comprarlo?	Ik verkoop mijn oude doorn-zweep. Wil jij hem kopen?	Jeg har en tornepisk til salgs. Vil du kjøpe den av meg?	Ich biete diese Dornen-Peitsche an. Wollt Ihr sie erwerben?
52	クサリノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?	PURCHASE A CHAIN WHIP?	In Veros. Cost: 150 ♥	This chain whip is worth its price. Are you interested?	Tämä vahva ketjuruoska on hintansa arvoinen. Kiinnostaako?	Ce fouet chaîne est incroyable. Es- tu intéressé?	Sulit ang halaga ng latigong kadena ko. Bibilhin mo?	Este látigo de cadena vale todo su precio. ¿Estás interesado?	Deze ketting zweep is z’n geld waard. Heb je interesse?	En kjetting- pisk er prisen verdt. Har du lyst til å kjøpe en av meg?	Diese Ketten- Peitsche ist ihren Preis wert.
53	フント゛ウノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?	MORNING STAR - BUY ONE?	In Ondol. Cost: 200 ♥	This is the Morning Star. Its tip has a spiky steel ball.	Tämän ruoskan päässä on piikkipallo. Kutsun sitä aamutähdeksi.	l’Etoile du Matin a des épines en acier.	Ang Buntala ay kadenang may bakal na bola sa dulo. Walang tawad‼	La punta de la Estrella Matutina tiene una bola de acero con puntas.	De morgenster heeft een gepunte ijzeren bal aan het eind.	Ytterst på morgen- stjernen sitter en ball med pigger. Er det noe du vil ha?	Der Kopf des Morgensterns ist wuchtig‼ Wollt Ihr ihn erwerben?
54	タンケンヲカッテユカヌカ?	WILL YOU BUY A DAGGER?	In Veros. Cost: 50 ♥	Awesome daggers for sale‼ Super cheap‼	Ostakaa hyvä tikari‼ Ei maksa paljoa.	Dagues à vendre‼ Petit prix‼	Bili na ng astig na mga punyal‼ Murang mura‼	¡¡Asombrosas dagas en venta‼ ¡¡Muy baratas‼	Prachtige dolken te koop‼ Super goedkoop‼	Kule kniver til salgs‼ Superbillig‼	Wollt Ihr Wurf- Dolche von mir erwerben?
These strings never appear in dialog in the English version. They could be used as substrings (and indeed were used as such in the Japanese version), but the English translators did not utilize that feature (which still remains in the game). For no reason at all, they entered "NOTHING" into those table items, probably for the poor translator not understanding what they are used for. The engine of the English versions still had support for the substrings (despite being never used), and I utilized it in the retranslation(s) just for fun.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
2	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	NOTHING.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	▬►	▬►	▬►	▬►	▬►	▬►	▬►	▬►
3	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	NOTHING.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬	┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬
21	アュオ	NOTHING.	Substring: <garbage>	you	alkosipuli	demeure	ala	acertijo	je		en
22	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	NOTHING.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	Mansion	kantaja.	laurier	ay	úñ	acht		Ihr
23	ヲテニイレタ	NOTHING.	Substring: was placed in your hand.	You	sijaitsee	le	na	eñt	s Woud		er
39	スイショウ	NOTHING.	Substring: crystal	of	sta	Tu	ayan	Bosqúe	aar		sch
40	ヲカッテユカヌカ?	NOTHING.	Substring: -the-buying-of would be okay, no? (i.e. will you buy)	laurels	metsä	ais	Mansyon ni	la Mañsióñ	ijn
41	ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュ	NOTHING.	Substring: laurel	I	in	indice	mo	laúreles	de	a.	Verlasst die Raubersburg ni
42	ミキ゛	NOTHING.	Substring: Right		laakerin- leh	imetière	aghihintay	ista	de		er
43	ヒタ゛リ	NOTHING.	Substring: Left	Dracula	a.	ristal	kristal	maldicióñ	er		Knoblauch
44	ヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ	NOTHING.	Substring: would like to exchange with that of yours.	here	sinu	Veux-tu	laurel	qúisiera cambiarlo por tú	noflook		Draculas
45	ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛	NOTHING.	Substring: Clues to Dracula’s riddle are	Please	.	la	ay	est	Ik		cht
46	ニネムルトツタエラレテイル	NOTHING.	Substring: -in-something sleeps, it is said.	crystal	┄┄┄	acheter	sa	púeblo	van		en.
108		NOTHING.		a	täällä	un	ang	¡¡Obtúviste	raadsel		ch
109		NOTHING.		will	ihjeitä	du	aka	┄┄┄	er		erwerben?
110		NOTHING.		with	n.	est	ito	esper	eilig		┄┄┄
111		NOTHING.		to	lla	┄┄┄	kasamaan.	añt	lsjeblieft		Seidenbeutel
112		NOTHING.		curse	on	attend	at	es	ver		Ein Freund wartet in
113		NOTHING.		┄┄┄	taa	ivière	┄┄┄	as	van		Fluss
114		NOTHING.		ight	Olen kuullut, että	Je	mga	a. Debes ir coñ él.	┄┄┄		versteck
115		NOTHING.		that	Joudutaanpa sitten	e.	ka	de	lijk		ist
128				must go and meet him.	uolema	de	Ma	e gústaría	De		Rosenkreuz
129				really	kirouks	d’Aljiba	Mansyon ni Berkeley.	o.	je		Friedhof
130				ould	Kun menet Laruba	e re	bugto	eñ	Het		überlass
131				is	pyhitettyä vettä	ant	ako	para	oor		Woll
132				some	nne	que	ko	ocúlt	Je hebt	n.	die
133				ver	voi	ille	.	Estrella Matútiña	.		das
134				garlic	va	orêt	iyo	o	in		n Pflock aus Eiche
135				in	kaa	pouvoir	doon.	, pero	zal		nehmt
136				have	ssa	La Flamme Sacrée	latigo	o.	dat	si.	nde
137				Obtained	lle		Bibil	ompra	vloek		in
138				and	stä	Il	ka	demoñio	kristal		ristall
139				Woods	ssä	es	pag	la	met		in
140				emetery	si.	s.	ama	múros maligños.	cht		che
141				Let’s	ja	to	hin	coñ	lauri		auf
142				to	ruusukko	cach	ni	púed	niet		. Viel Erfolg.
143				one	tteko	our		eñ	lt u wat		ver
144				sapphire	lli	un	ita	El	te		Edelst
145				giant diamond.	emon	paraît	Krusipiho	ñdo	diamant		Aljiba
146				.	joka	le	awa	ill			es
147				for	ruosk	end	ata	úñ	op		ann
These are also substrings. It can be seen from the game code that they were planning to utilize these messages when the player gains a level-up, but maybe they never got it to work, so the strings remain unused. In the retranslation(s), they are used as substrings.
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
4	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 1.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	You now possess Dracula’s	Nyt olet kreivi Draculan	sur l’énigme de Dracula	ng	Drácúla	Dracula’s		Ihr besitzt nun Draculas
5	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 2.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	the	Draculan arvoitukse	Tu obtiens l	ng	Ahora posees	en		Draculas Vermächtnis
6	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 3.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	to Dracula’s riddle	en	de	Nakamtan mo a	qúe	Vanaf nu bezit je		Ich
7	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 4.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	you	an kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.	Dracula	Dracula	de	en		eine
8	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 5.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	the	Käsissäsi on nyt	Je souhaite échanger m	sa	de	en.		Euch
9	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 6.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s	ing	n kartano	dans	na	el	het		t Ihr
10	コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ	YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 7.	Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s Comment: The maximum level is actually 6. Attempting to invoke level 7 by cheat codes will cause out-of-bounds array access at a few places. In any case, these seven texts are never used in the game, as explained earlier.	The	an	malédiction	sa	Por favor	het		en
Endings
ID	Japanese text	English text	Explanations	Re EN	Re FI	Re FR	Re TL	Re ES	NL (WIP)	NN (WIP)	DE (WIP)
end1	AND THE BATTLE ENDED. SIMON BELMONT PUT AN ETERNAL PERIOD TO THE LEGEND OF DRACULA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT PENETRA- TED INTO THE GROUND OF TRA- NSYLVANIA WILL BRING US FULL- BLOWN FLOWERS WITH HAPPINESS IN NEXT SPRING . TOAST TO YOUR 0DAYS’ BATTLE PROGRAMMED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTIC INVINCIBILITY AKAMATSU PERMANENCE IWASA PHILOSOPHY TOGAKUSHI MASTERPIECE KAWANISHI SENSITIVITY HATANO EXCELLENCE TERASHIMA AMBIVALENCE KUWAHARA FLOURISH HIGASA ADMIRATION OHYAMA WARM-HEART MATSUOKA SUPERIORITY MURATA SYNCHRONISM MATSUBARA CIRCUMSTANCE KONAMI	THE ENCOUNTER WITH DRACULA IS TERMINATED. SIMON BELMONT HAS PUT AN END TO THE ETERNAL DARKNESS IN TRANSYLVANIA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT HAVE PENETRATED THE EARTH AND WILL INDUCE MAGIC & HAPPINESS FOR THOSE WHO WALK ON THIS LAND.	Beat game at day 0—7. String numbers: Japanese=0—15; 48—80, English=0—15 Comment: Yes, the Japanese version is in English, and it is also longer than the English version. The ending also includes the number of days it took to beat the game. To compensate for the longer duration it takes to display the text, the Japanese ending song also includes multiple stancas. Both songs last for the duration of their respective texts. Note: There are no “good” or “bad” endings. There are three endings. They are: Ending 1 (<9 days): Simon won. But in an ironical twist, Dracula still wakes up. Ending 2 (9…23 days): Simon won, but it took him just a bit too long and he did not make it. Ending 3 (≥ 24 days): Simon won, but it was way too late for him personally. The ending text is an eulogy. Currently the ending texts in the re-translation (both English and Finnish) are a bit mis-adjusted to account for these descriptions. Interestingly the crew roles are replaced with characteristics. I have heard a theory that this was to avoid headhunters. Konami wanted to keep their workers.	THE BATTLE WITH DRACULA HAS CONCLUDED. SIMON BELMONT HAS PUT AN END TO THE ETERNAL DARKNESS IN TRANSYLVANIA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT HAVE PENETRATED THE EARTH AND WILL INDUCE PEACE & SERENITY FOR THOSE WHO WALK ON THIS LAND. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 0 DAYS.	JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. DRACULAN KIROUS ON PÄÄTTYNYT IKIAJOIKSI, JA RAUHA JA ONNI OVAT PALANNEET TRANSYLVANIAAN. SANKARIN NIMI ON IKIAJOIKSI PAINETTU KAN- SAN SYDÄMIIN. SE NIMI, JOKA ON SINUN NIMESI, ON: SIMON BELMONT. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 0 PÄIVÄSSÄ.	LE COMBAT CONTRE DRACULA EST TERMINE. SIMON BELMONT A MIS FIN A L’ETERNELLE OBSCURITE EN TRANSYLVANIE. SON SANG A PENETRE LA TERRE, ET VA APPORTER MAGIE ET BONHEUR A CEUX QUI MARCHERONT ICI. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 0 JOURS.	ANG LABAN KAY DRACULA AY NAGWAKAS. NAWAKASAN NI SIMON BELMONT ANG SUKDULANG KADILIMAN SA TRANSYLVANIA. ANG DUGO’T PAWIS NIYA AY TUMAGOS SA LUPA AT MAGPA- PANATILI SA KAPAYAPAAN AT KATAHIMIKAN SA LUPAING ITO. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 0 NA ARAW.	LA BATALLA CON DRACULA HA CONCLUIDO. SIMON BELMONT HA PUESTO UN FIN A LA ETERNA OSCURIDAD. SU SANGRE Y SUDOR HAN PENETRADO LA TIERRA E INDUCIRAN PAZ Y SERENIDAD PARA AQUELLOS EN ESTA TIERRA. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 0 DIAS.	HET GEVECHT MET DRACULA IS GEEINDIGD. SIMON BELMONT HEEFT EEN EIND GEMAAKT AAN DE DUISTERNIS IN TRANSYLVANIE. ZIJN BLOED EN ZWEET ZIJN DOOR DE AARDE OP GENOMEN EN ZORGEN VOOR RUST EN VREDE VOOR WIE HET LAND BETREED. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 0 DAGEN.	THE BATTLE WITH DRACULA HAS CONCLUDED. SIMON BELMONT HAS PUT AN END TO THE ETERNAL DARKNESS IN TRANSYLVANIA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT HAVE PENETRATED THE EARTH AND WILL INDUCE PEACE & SERENITY FOR THOSE WHO WALK ON THIS LAND. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 0 DAYS.	JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 0 TAGEN.DER KAMP’ MIT DRACULA IST GESCHLAGEN. SIMON BELMONT BEENDETE DIE EWIGE ’INSTERNIS TRANSSYLVANIENS. SEIN BLUT UND SEIN SCHWEISS DWNGTEN DIE ERDE UND SCHA’’TEN ’RIEDE UND RUHE ’WR JENE, DIE DURCH DAS LAND SCHREITEN.
end2	AND THE BATTLE ENDED. BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY SUFFER- ED DURING THE BATTLE,SIMMON BELMONT PASSED AWAY. UNTIL A YOUNG MAN TO FIGHT AGAINST EVILS LIKE HIM COMES AGAIN TO THIS WORLD, TRANSYLVANIANS WILL KEEP PRA- YING FOREVER. TOAST TO YOUR 9DAYS’ BATTLE <credits>	ALTHOUGH THE CONFONTATION BETWEEN SIMON AND DRACULA HAS CONCLUDED, SIMON COULDN’T SURVIVE HIS FATAL WOUNDS. TRANSYLVANIA’S ONLY HOPE IS A YOUNG MAN WHO WILL TRIUMPH OVER EVIL AND RID THE CITY OF DRACULA’S DEADLY CURSE.	Beat game at day 8—14. String numbers: Japanese=16—31; 48—80, English=16—31 Comment: The English version is a horrible mistranslation. It makes it look like Simon did not accomplish anything. The original intention appears to have been moreover, that the world lost a great hero. The concept of praying was removed for political reasons.	AND THE BATTLE ENDED. BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY SUFFE- RED DURING THE BATTLE, SIMON BELMONT PASSED AWAY. UNTIL A YOUNG MAN TO FIGHT AGAINST EVILS LIKE HIM COMES AGAIN TO THIS WORLD, TRANSYLVANIANS WILL KEEP PRAY- ING FOREVER. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 9 DAYS.	JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. MUTTA VAIKKA DRACULA ONKIN VOITETTU, SIMON BELMONT MENEHTYI KÄRSIMIINSÄ HAAVOIHIN. TRANSYLVANIA RUKOILEE, ETTÄ NOUSEE UUSI NUORUKAINEN, SANKARI, JOKA TAISTELEE PI- MEYTTÄ VASTAAN KUTEN HÄN TEKI. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 9 PÄIVÄSSÄ.	LE COMBAT EST TERMINE. SIMON BELMONT N’A CEPENDANT PAS SURVECU A SES BLESSURES. LE PEUPLE DE TRANSYLVANIE CONTINUE DE PRIER, EN ATTENDANT QU’UN AUTRE HOMME COMME LUI VIENNE COMBATTRE LE MAL. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 9 JOURS.	AT ANG LABANAN AY NAGWAKAS. GAYONMAN, SA NATAMONG PINSALA SA LABANAN, SI SIMON BELMONT AY PUMANAW. HANGGA’T MAY TAONG LALABAN SA KASAMAAN KAGAYA NIYA, ANG MGA TAO’Y MAGHIHINTAY SA KANYA NG HABAMBUHAY. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 9 NA ARAW.	Y LA BATALLA TERMINO. PERO DEBIDO A LAS HERIDAS SUFRIDAS EN BATALLA, SIMON BELMONT HA FALLECIDO. HASTA QUE OTRO JOVEN QUE LUCHE CONTRA LA MALDAD VENGA A ESTE MUNDO, LA GENTE SEGUIRA ORANDO. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 9 DIAS.	HET GEVECHT IS TEN EINDE. MAAR DOOR DE GELEDEN VERWONDINGEN OVERLEED SIMON BELMONT. TOT DAT EEN JONGE MAN HET GEVECHT TEGEN HET KWAAD OPNIEW AANGAAT ZULLEN DE TRANSYLVANIERS VOOR ALTIJD BLIJVEN BIDDEN. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 9 DAGEN.	AND THE BATTLE ENDED. BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY SUFFE- RED DURING THE BATTLE, SIMON BELMONT PASSED AWAY. UNTIL A YOUNG MAN TO FIGHT AGAINST EVILS LIKE HIM COMES AGAIN TO THIS WORLD, TRANSYLVANIANS WILL KEEP PRAY- ING FOREVER. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 9 DAYS.	JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 9 TAGEN.DIE SCHLACHT ENDET. ABER SIMON BELMONT IST SEINEN VERLETZUNGEN ERLEGEN. BIS NUN WIEDER EIN JUNGER MANN DIE KWHNHEIT BESITZT, SICH DER MACHT DES BQSEN ZU STELLEN, WERDEN DIE BWRGER VON TRANSSYLVANIEN BETEN MWSSEN.
end3	AND THE BATTLE ENDED. NOW THE PEACE AND CALM HAVE ARRIVED BACK AT TRANS- YLVANIA JUST LIVE BEFORE. THE NAME OF THE HERO WILL BE ETCHED UPON OUR MIND DEEP- LY. HIS NAME IS SIMMON BEL- MONT,THAT IS THE NAME OF YOURSELF. TOAST TO YOUR 24DAYS’ BATTLE <credits>	THE BATTLE HAS CONSUMMATED. NOW PEACE AND SERENITY HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO TRANSYLVANIA AND THE PEOPLE ARE FREE OF DRACULA’S CURSE FOREVER. AND YOU, SIMON BELMONT, WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE.	Beat game at day 15—99. String numbers: Japanese=32—47; 48—81, English=32—47 Comment: The word, “live”, is an authentic typo in the Japanese version. The Japanese version contains an easter egg: If the game was beat exactly on day 69 (not before, not later), an extra line is displayed after the text: SEE YOU AGAIN. The English version still contains this check, but it does not work, because the text is shorter and thus never reaches line number 80.	THE BATTLE HAS CONSUMMATED. NOW PEACE AND HAPPINESS HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO TRANSYLVANIA AND THE PEOPLE ARE FREE OF DRACULA’S CURSE FOREVER. AND YOU, SIMON BELMONT, WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 24 DAYS.	JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. DRACULAN KIROUS ON PÄÄTTYNYT IKIAJOIKSI, JA TRANSYLVANIA, JONKA MAAHAN SANKARI SIMON BELMONT HAUDATTIIN, TULEE KEVÄÄNÄ KUKKIMAAN JA KUKOISTAMAAN ONNEA JA RAUHAA SYMBOLISOIDEN. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 24 PÄIVÄSSÄ.	LE COMBAT EST TERMINE. LA TRANSYLVANIE A RETROUVE PAIX ET SERENITE. LE PEUPLE EST LIBERE DE LA MALEDICTION DE DRACULA POUR TOUJOURS. LA BRAVOURE ET LE COURAGE DE SIMON BELMONT MARQUERONT LES ESPRITS A JAMAIS. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 24 JOURS.	ANG LABANAN AY NAGWAKAS. KAPAYAPAAN AT KALIGAYAHAN AY NANUMBALIK SA TRANSYLVANIA AT ANG MGA TAO AY MALAYA NA SA SUMPA NI DRACULA NANG HABAMBUHAY. AT IKAW, SIMON BELMONT, AY MAALALA SA IYONG GITING AT TAPANG. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 24 NA ARAW.	LA BATALLA HA TERMINADO. AHORA LA PAZ Y LA FELICIDAD HAN SIDO RESTAURADOS A TRANSILVANIA Y LA GENTE ESTA LIBRE DE LA MALDICION. Y TU, SIMON BELMONT, SERAS RECORDADO SIEMPRE POR TU VALENTIA Y CORAJE. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 24 DIAS.	HET GEVECHT EINDIGD HIER. GELUK EN VREDE ZIJN HERSTELD IN TRANSYLAVIE DE MENSEN ZIJN VOOR ALTIJD VERLOST VAN DRACULA’S VLOEK. JIJ SIMON BELMONT, ZAL ALTIJD WORDEN HERINNNERD VOOR JE HELDHAFTIGHEID EN MOEDIGHEID. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 24 DAGEN.	THE BATTLE HAS CONSUMMATED. NOW PEACE AND HAPPINESS HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO TRANSYLVANIA AND THE PEOPLE ARE FREE OF DRACULA’S CURSE FOREVER. AND YOU, SIMON BELMONT, WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 24 DAYS.	DIE SCHLACHT IST GESCHLAGEN. ’RIEDE UND ’REUDE SIND NACH TRANSSYLVANIEN ZURWCKGEKEHRT. DRACULAS ’LUCH IST ’WR IMMER GEBANNT. UND IHR, SIMON BELMONT, WERDET ’WR IMMER ’WR EURE HELDENTATEN IN ERINNERUNG BLEIBEN. JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 24 TAGEN.

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

ソシテセンリツノヨルカ゛オトス゛レタ

WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE.

This text appears every time the ingame clock reaches 18:00 (6 pm), followed by a transition to night-time palette. The monsters will be twice as strong as at daytime.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: And then descended the horrible night.

Comment: The Japanese version of this dialog follows the same narrative style as the game ending. It is written like a teleplay.
Interestingly the original text makes no mention of a curse.

And then descends a horrible night.

Ja sitten laskeutui hirvittävä yö.

Une nuit horrible s’annonce.

Sumapit ang malagim na gabi.

Y ahora desciende la horrible noche.

De duivelse nacht valt. Het kwaad voedt zich met de nacht.

Det grusomme nattesmørket har vekket forbannelsen.

Eine furchtbare Nacht bricht herein.

アクムノヨウナヨルカ゛アケタ

THE MORNING SUN HAS VANQUISHED THE HORRIBLE NIGHT.

This text appears every time the ingame clock reaches 06:00 (6 am), followed by a transition to the day-time palette. The monsters are back to normal strength.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The night of a nightmare has ended (due to sunrise).

Comment: The original text speaks of a nightmare. The night was like a frightening dream.

In the retranslation, I implemented a pauseless transition between daytime and nighttime palettes. These dialog boxes, while iconic, became redundant, and were removed. See a demonstration here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCfnehhRBsk

The morning sun has vanquished the horrible night.

Auringon säteet karkoittivat painajais- maisen yön.

Le soleil du matin a dissipé l’horrible nuit.

Nadaig ng bukang- liwayway ang malagim na gabi.

El sol de la mañana ha vencido a la horrible noche.

De felle ochtendzon heeft de vreselijke nacht verdreven.

Morgensolen har atter seiret over den grusomme natten.

Der Albtraum endet mit der Morgensonne.

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

イイトコロニツレテイッテアケ゛ヨウイッヒッヒ

SURE, I’LL TAKE YOU TO A GOOD PLACE. HEH‼ HEH‼ HEH‼

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let’s take you to a good place, *creepy laughter*

Well then‥. Let’s go to a really good place. Hehehe‼ Hee, hee‼

Joudutaanpa sitten. Vien teidät oikein hyvään paikkaan, ihihii‼

Bien‥. Allons dans un superbe endroit. Héhéhé‼ Ha Ha‼

O sige‥. Dadalhin kita sa isang astig na lugar. HEHEH‼ HEE, HEE‼

Entonces... Vayamos a un lugar muy bueno. ¡¡Hehehe‼ ¡¡Hee, hee‼

Mooi zo‥. Laten we naar een goede plek gaan. He,he‼ Hee, hee‼

Jada. Vi kan dra til et helt fantastisk sted‼ Hohoho‼ Hah, hah‼

Freund,... Gewiss werde ich Dich an einen guten Ort bringen. Har har‼

アナタノユクヘ゛キトコロニミチヒ゛キマショウ

LET ME SHOW YOU THE WAY.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let’s guide you to the place where you must go.

Comment: This string is shown instead of string 11, when the player shows Dracula’s heart to the ferryman.
Hints for the player: strings 88 (info: there is a curse at the river), 31 (clue: must solve curse at river to progress), 68 (rumor: try showing something to the ferryman), and 34 (clue: the heart solves a curse). It was also outright spoiled in the game’s manual, both in the Japanese and English editions.

Let me take you to where you must go.

Minä vien teidät sinne, minne teidän pitää mennä.

Laisse-moi te guider au bon endroit.

Hayaan mong ituro ko sa iyo ang daan na dapat mong tahakin.

Déjame llevarte a donde debes ir.

Ik zal je brengen naar waar je moet zijn.

La meg vise deg veien du må ta.

Lasst mich Euch auf den rechten Pfad lotsen.

アナタノユクヘ゛キトコロニミチヒ゛キマショウ

I’LL SHOW YOU THE WAY.

Comment: Unused copy of string 12. My guess is that they were planning to use it when returning with the ferry from Brahm’s mansion, but it was never implemented. None of the official releases contain any reference to this dialog line. I implemented it in the retranslation(s).

Everything done? Let’s get going then. Next stop: Belasco Marsh.

Kaikki valmista? Joudutaanpa sitten. Seuraava etappi: Belascon suo.

Allons-y. Prochain arrêt: le marais de Belasco.

Handa ka na ba? Lalayag na tayo tungo sa Lati ng Belasco. Sakay na‼

¿Terminaste? Vámonos entonces. Siguiente parada... Pantano Belasco.

Helemaal gereed? Vooruit met de geit‼ Volgende halte: Belasco’s Moeras.

Har du gjort deg ferdig? Da drar vi videre. Neste stopp: Belaskomyr.

Ihr habt es vollendet? Dann auf, zurück ins dunkle Moor. Har Har Har‼

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

ハ゛-クレイノヤカタテ゛シロスイショウヲカサ゛ストキミチハヒラカレル

CLEAR A PATH AT BERKELEY MANSION WITH A WHITE CRYSTAL.

In town of Veros. Hinted by string 78.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you hold the white crystal over your eyes in the Berkeley mansion, a path is revealed.

Comment: True. Without the white crystal, the entry to that mansion is difficult, but the crystal reveals a hidden moving platform.
The English text misses on the opportunity to explain in-universe how exactly this artifact helps accomplish this purpose (compare with string 89), but this is likely because of the limited space. Japanese does not have this problem because it is approximately twice as space-efficient as English.

One peek into a crystal is all you need to reveal a path in Berkeley Mansion.

Berkeleyn kartanon salattu tie paljastuu kristalliin katsomalla.

Un cristal peut révéler un chemin secret dans la demeure Berkeley.

Ipapakita ng puting kristal ang lihim na daan sa Mansyon ni Berkeley.

Un cristal puede revelar un camino secreto en la Mansión Berkeley.

Het witte kristal zal een pad voor je onthullen in de Burcht van Berkeley.

Det sies at en krystall kan vise vei i Berkeley herregård.

Seht durch den Kristall in Burg Berkley und der Steig erscheint.

159

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Crystal

Kristalli

Cristal

Kristal

Cristal

Edelstenen

Krystall

Der Kristall

カシノキノクイヲアルモノニウチコムトキマオウノショウチョウハアラワレル

A SYMBOL OF EVIL WILL APPAER WHEN YOU STRIKE THE STAKE.

In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you smash an oak stake at a certain object, a symbol of devil (lit. king of evil) appears.

Comment: Yes, the Japanese text uses a nonspecific ‘at a certain person/thing’ (アルモノ). And yes, both NTSC and PAL English versions had a typo in the word "appear".
Also, this game often refers to Dracula as devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil). In Chrono Trigger, Magus’s name was also “maou” (魔王).
Aside from the typo, the only problem in the translation is that it refers to generic evil, rather than Dracula the king.

A symbol of Dracula will appear when you strike certain object with a stake made of oak.

Demonin symboli ilmestyy, kun tietty rakennelma murskataan tammisella vaarnalla.

Un symbole de Dracula apparaîtra en utilisant le pieu en chêne.

Ang sagisag ni Dracula ay lilitaw kapag ito ay tinamaan ng ensinang tulos.

Un símbolo de Drácula va a aparecer al golpear algo con una estaca.

Sla toe met een eiken staak, en er zal een deel van Dracula verschijnen.

Slå til med en eikestake og symbolet til ondskap- en vil vise seg.

Gepfählt mit einen Pflock aus Eiche werden die teuflischen Relikte erscheinen.

160

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Oak Stake

Tammivaarna

Pieu en Chêne

Tulos

Estaca

Eiken Staak

Eikestake

Eichenpflock

フ゛ラ-ムノヤカタカワノノロイヲトクモノムカエイレル

DESTROY THE CURSE AND YOU’LL RULE BRAHM’S MANSION.

In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The clearing of the curse of the river will usher into Brahm’s mansion (i.e. it will lead / escort you there).

Comment: In other words, when you clear the curse of the river, a path opens for you to the Brahm Mansion.
The English translation omits that it speaks of the curse of the river, in particular. The ferryman operates at the river, where there is a curse (this is mentioned by several NPCs). You need to show him the heart, and he will take you to the coast next to Brahm’s mansion that you cannot otherwise access (except by utilizing a glitch that allows you to jump three-block obstacles).

The road to Brahm’s Mansion will be heralded by dispelling the curse of the river.

Tie Brahmin kartanoon kulkee joen kirouksen purkamisen kautta.

Dissipe la malédiction touchant la rivière pour atteindre la demeure Brahm.

Ang daan sa Mansyon ni Brahm ay lilitaw kapag ang sumpa ng ilog ay naiwaksi.

El camino a la Mansión Brahm va anunciado al disipar la maldición del río.

De route naar Brahm’s Burcht, zal zich tonen, als de vloek, die rust op de rivier, verbroken wordt.

Veien frem til Brahms herregård vil åpnes om du fjerner elvens for- bannelse.

Bannt den Fluch des Flusses um die Brahmsburg zu erreichen.

161

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Brahm’s Road

Brahmin tie

Brahm

Daan sa Brahm

Paso de Brahm

Brahm’s Pad

Brahms vei

Brahms Steg

セイナルホノオノミナモトハヒニトサ゛サレタリョウイキニイマモネムル

A FLAME FLICKERS INSIDE THE RING OF FIRE.

In Berkeley mansion. Hinted by string 80.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The source of the holy fire (“flame”) sleeps even now in the land that is forever closed off (trapped) from daylight (in a territory that never sees sunlight).

Comment: In other words, the flame is hidden in a cave. Which is true. The English translator misunderstood the meaning, and tried to convey that the (a?) flame is trapped and surrounded by fire: ヒ, “hi”, means both fire (火) and daylight (日). Unfortunately the result was total nonsense.

Even today the Sacred Flame rests in a realm hidden from sunlight.

Vielä tänäkin päivänä pyhä soihtu lepää valtakunnassa joka ei valoa näe.

La Flamme Sacrée se trouve dans un lieu caché et obscur.

Ang Banal na Apoy ay nakakubli at malayo sa sinag ng araw.

Hoy en día, la Flama Sagrada yace en un reino oculto de la luz del sol.

De heilige vlam rust ook nu nog op een plek, waar nimmer het zonlicht zal schijnen.

Selv i dag hviler den hellige ild i riket som aldri møtes av solen.

Die Heilige Flamme ruht an einem Ort fernab des Sonnenlichts.

162

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Sacred Flame

Pyhä soihtu

Flamme Sacrée

Banal na Apoy

Flama Sagrada

Heilige Vuur

Hellig ild

Das Feuer

アオスイショウヲカカケ゛コスイノマエニヒサ゛マス゛クトキタ゛イチハミス゛ヲウケイレル

TO REPLENISH EARTH ,KNEEL BY THE LAKE WITH THE BLUE CRYSTAL.

In Aljiba woods. Hinted by string 103.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you kneel in front of a lake, holding a blue crystal, the ground accepts/receives the water.

Comment: The English text is a bit uncalled-for cryptic (and it misplaces the comma), but it does give the right idea. You really need to kneel at a lake, holding a colored crystal, in order to progress to the area under the lake. At two distinct locations.
In terms of gameplay, it may be confusing how both “lakes” are tiny compared to the “river”, but most players still figure out this clue and apply it without a problem.

When the sapphire hits the sand of a lake beach, the earth will swallow the water.

Kun sinisen jalokiven painaa järven ranta- hiekkaan, maa imee veden.

Lorsque le Cristal bleu touche le sable devant un lac, l’eau se retire.

Kapag tumama ang sepiro sa buhangin ng aplaya, lulununin ng lupa ang tubig sa lawa.

Cuando el safiro golpee la arena de la playa del lago, la tierra se tragará el agua.

Breng een saffier in contact met met de oever van het meer, en de aarde zal al het water doen verzwelgen.

Om en safir får tilbe sjøens sand- strand, vil jorden sluke vannet.

Betet mit einem Saphir am Ufer des Sees, wird das Wasser versiegen.

163

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Beach

Rantahiekka

Plage

Aplaya

Playa

Oever

Strand

Das Ufer

テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケノマエニチョウコウセキヲモツトシオイタシ゛フ゜シ-カ゛イル

AN OLD GYPSY HOLDS A DIAMOND IN FRONT OF DE- BORAH CLIFF.

In town of Aljiba. Hinted by string 79.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In front of Deborah cliff there is an elderly gypsy who has a mineral chunk ("diamond").

Comment: Completely true. However, there are two different sites to the Deborah cliff. At one (north), happens the whirlwind event. At the other (south), is the gypsy. Both sites are accessed through different sections of Jam Wasteland. Both wasteland sections have a jumping-puzzle river crossing in them. It is ambiguous enough. In-game nothing differentiates or identifies them. Only the Japanese instruction manual had a map. The English one did not.

My retranslation adds an in-game map in all supported languages for the convenience of the player. See a demonstration here (of the Finnish version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xv2Z0PQgR4&t=3m0s

There is an old gypsy who lives in southern Jam Wasteland. She has a giant diamond.

Jamin erämaassa eteläpuolella asuu vanha romanileski, jolla on valtava timantti.

Une vieille gitane vit au sud de la Terre Désolée de Jam. Elle a un énorme diamant.

Ang babaeng hitano na nakatira sa timugang Parang ng Jam ay may malaking diamante.

Hay una vieja gitana que vive en el Baldío Jam del sur. Ella tiene un diamante gigante.

De oude zigeuner uit het Droogland in het zuiden, is in het bezit van een enorme diamant.

En gammel kone bor i det sydlige Ødejam. Det sies hun har en stor diamant.

Die graue Zigeunerin in Jams Einöde wacht über einen mächtigen Edelstein.

164

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Diamond

Timantti

Diamant

Diamante

De Diamant

Diamant

Der Diamant

マオウノシンソ゛ウハノロワレシモノノノロイヲトク

DESTROY THE CURSE WITH DRACULA’S HEART.

In Rover mansion. Hinted by string 105.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The heart of Dracula (lit. heart of the king of evil, i.e. devil) clears the curse of something/someone that is cursed.

Comment: The original English version is terse to the degree of meaninglessness. Still, the clue is completely true, when you realize that it refers to the ferryman. Not too easy, considering the amount of stuff that is cursed in this game: Simon is cursed and will die if he does not vanquish Dracula soon enough, the ferryman is cursed (the curse of the river), there is a cursed swamp, and there is Dracula’s curse (which is solved with the clue-books), and clue-books are trapped because of a curse…
In the Finnish version, I am calling the monsters of wilderness as demons, but also translating 魔王 (maou) as the demon. To avoid misleading the player (Finnish language does not contain a way to separately express “a demon” and “the demon”), I explicitly wrote Dracula’s heart in Finnish in this particular line.

Dracula’s heart will destroy certain curse.

Draculan sydän purkaa erään kirouksen.

Le coeur de Dracula détruira une malédiction.

Ang puso ni Dracula ang wawasak sa isang uri ng sumpa.

El corazón de Drácula destruirá una cierta maldición.

Dracula’s hart zal een zekere vloek opheffen.

Fyrstens hjerte kan løfte en spesifikk forbannelse.

Das Herz des Tieres lotst die Geiseln des Fluches.

165

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Heart

Sydän

Coeur

Puso

Corazón

Het Hart

Hjerte

Das Herz

ハカハ゛ニニンニクヲオクトマモノハキエウセソナタヲマツヒトカ゛アラワレル

GARLIC IN THE GRAVEYARD SUMMONS A STRANGER.

In Rover mansion. Hinted by string 105.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: At a graveyard, when garlic is placed on the ground, demons will die, and a person who awaits for you will appear.

Comment: The Japanese version uses archaic words like “sonata” (rather than “anata”) a lot. There is no direct translation in English, and I am not an expert on ye olde English anyway, so I will just use “you” rather than trying to work “thee” into my translations. Just know that almost all of the Japanese dialog is full of archaic forms in this game.
The English translation omits the notion that demons can’t stand garlic.

Put garlic on cemetery ground, and demons will die. You may also meet someone awaiting you.

Valkosipuli kalmiston mullassa karkoittaa demonit, mutta saatat tavata sen, joka sinua odottaa.

Pose l’ail sur le sol du cimetière pour tuer les démons. Tu y fera aussi une rencontre.

Maglapag ka ng bawang sa himlayan at masasawi ang mga aswang, at may taong naghihintay sa iyo doon.

Deja un poco de ajo en el cementerio, y los demonios morirán. Puede que te encuentres a alguien.

Dood demonen op het kerkhof met knoflook, om er veilig iemand te kunnen ontmoeten.

Legg hvit- løk ut ved kirkegården for å drepe demoner. Kanskje du også møter noen slik.

Knoblauch am Friedhof erlegt Dämonen. Jemand wird auf Euch zukommen.

166

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Garlic

Valkosipuli

Ail

Bawang

Ajo

Knoflook

Hvitløk

Knoblauch

キヌノフクロニクルマレシケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハタマシイヲフキコマレル

PLACE THE LAURELS IN A SILK BAG TO BRING THEM TO LIFE.

In Brahm’s mansion. Not hinted.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A soul/spirit will be blown into the laurels, when you wrap them in a silk bag.

Comment: There is nothing wrong with the English translation of this clue. According to the plot, silk bag brings laurels (and garlics) into life, so they are twice as potent as before. How this is reflected in gameplay is that the silk bag rises the storage capacity for both laurels and garlics from 4 to 8. Another reference to this "life" phenomenon is in string 37. The idea is that once the player has read both, they should understand that in order to safely cross the large swamp of Joma, they should have laurels and the silk bag. It is still rather difficult to put together.

When you wrap dry herbs, such as laurels, in a silk bag, they will be brought to life.

Kiedo yrtit silkkiseen laukkuun, ja ne heräävät henkiin.

Lorsqu’un laurier est enroulé dans un sac de soie, il prend vie.

Magbalot ng mga tuyong lubigan, tulad ng laurel, sa sedang supot at sila ay mabubuhay.

Al envolver hierba seca, tales como laureles, en una bolsa de seda, éstos serán traídos a la vida.

Bewaar dure kruiden als laurier in een zijden zak, om ze langer vers te houden.

Tørre urter, som laurbær, i en silke- taske vil få tilbake friskheten.

In einem Seidenbeutel gelagerte Kräuter leben auf‼ Das ist sehr mächtig.

167

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Silk Bag

Silkkilaukku

Sac en Soie

Sedang Supot

Bolsa de Seda

Zijden Tas

Silketaske

Seidenbeutel

テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケノマエテ゛アカスイショウヲカカケ゛カセ゛ヲマテ

WAIT FOR A SOUL WITH A RED CRYSTAL ON DEBORAH CLIFF.

In Brahm’s mansion. Not hinted.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Hold a red crystal in front of Deborah cliff and wait for a wind.

Comment: The Japanese original was completely true and an important clue, without which you may not be able to complete the game. Although even the Japanese text neglects to mention kneeling. In a slight deviation from the original, my retranslation adds the kneeling into the clue as a mercy to the player.
In the original English version, they translated “kaze”, which means wind/breeze, as soul. Why? Kaze does not mean soul/spirit in Japanese. In a handful other languages, such as Russian and Hebrew, spirit and wind are the same word, but this is not the case in either Japanese nor English. This suggests that the native language of the translator was neither English nor Japanese, but one of these other languages.

Press a ruby against the Deborah cliff, kneel, and wait for a whirlwind.

Paina rubiini Deboran kallioon ja odota myrskytuulta.

Baisse-toi devant la falaise de Deborah avec un Cristal rouge, et attends une tornade.

Hawakan ang rubi, lumuhod sa tapat ng Talampas ng Deborah at mag-abang ng ipu-ipo.

Presiona un rubí contra el acantilado Deborah, arrodíllate y espera un remolino.

Kniel met een robijn, aan de berg van Deborah, en laat je meevoeren door de wind.

Presenter en rubin for Debraklippen og be om å bli tatt av vinden.

Kniet, und haltet den Rubin gegen den Felsen von Deborah. Erwartet den Wirbelsturm.

168

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Whirlwind

Myrskytuuli

Tornade

Ipu-ipo

Remolino

De Wind

Virvelvind

Wirbelsturm

イノチアルケ゛ッケイシ゛ュナキモノヌマノノロイニイノチツキル

THE CURSE HAS KILLED THE LAUREL TREE.

In Bodley mansion. Hinted by string 104.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A person without living laurels will perish on the cursed swamp.

Comment: The original English version is total nonsense. But I do not claim to be smarter than the original translator: I, too, could not make any sense of the Japanese text, until I asked a native Japanese person about it. Turns out that this clue, too, actually makes sense and is absolutely true for most players. (The Joma swamp is huge.)
The wording of ‘living laurel’ is to be understood in conjunction with string 35, which suggests that the laurels become lively when wrapped in a silk bag. And clearly, the swamp becomes easier to cross when you have 8 laurels rather than 4, especially at lower levels.
Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 67 (laurels fix a pickle), and 91 (laurel protects from swamp poisons)

Treading through the cursed swamp without living laurels is perilous.

Kirotun suon läpi tarpominen ilman eläviä laakerin- lehtiä on hengen- vaarallista.

Traverser le marais maudit sans laurier est périlleux.

Ang paglakad sa sinumpang lati na walang baong mga buhay na laurel ay mapanganib.

Pisar a través del pantano maldito sin laureles vivientes es peligroso.

Het giftige moeras over steken, is zonder verse laurier op voorraad, uiterst gevaarlijk‼

Det å vandre gjennom den forbannede myren uten friske laur- bær er helt nyttesløst.

Ohne den veredelten Lorbeer geht Ihr im verfluchten Moor zu Grunde.

169

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Nail

Kynsi

Ongle

Kuko

Uña

De Nagel

Fingernegl

Der Nagel

マオウノツメハシ゛ャアクノカヘ゛ヲウチクタ゛クチカラヲモツ

DRACULA’S NAIL MAY SOLVE THE EVIL MYSTERY.

At Deborah cliff. Not hinted.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The claw/nail of devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil) has the power to break evil walls.

Comment: True. Equip the nail, and your whip now can destroy the same walls that the holy water can destroy. You still need the water in order to break “evil floors”, because the whip cannot be lashed vertically.
The English translation however is maliciously cryptic. You can easily fit “can break evil walls” in same space as “may solve the evil mystery”. I did not even know the nail can break walls until I began the retranslation project. I thought the nail is as useless as the ring is.

The nail of Dracula possesses the power to shatter evil walls.

Demonin kynsi antaa voiman murskata noituuden muurit.

L’ongle de Dracula permet de briser les murs maléfiques.

Ang kuko ni Dracula ay may lakas na titibag sa mga pader ng kasamaan.

La uña de Drácula posee el poder para quebrantar muros malignos.

Dracula’s nagel zal je zweep de kracht geven, om valse muren neer te halen.

Draculas fingernegl bærer evnen til å knuse ondskapens vegger.

Draculas Kralle besitzt die Macht trügerische Wände umzureißen.

170

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Living Laurel

Elävät lehdet

Lauriers

Laurel

Laurel Vivo

Verse Laurier

Laurbær

Lorbeer

シニカ゛ミカ゛カクシモツナイフニカミ-ラノヒトミハクモル

DRACULA’S EVIL KNIFE BLURS CAMILLA’S VISION.

In Debious woods. Not hinted.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The god of death (shinigami) / with a concealed knife / Carmilla’s pupil becomes dim.

Comment: This clue simply tells that Death (who is in Brahm’s mansion) is hiding the golden knife, which is the most powerful special weapon in the game. Defeat Death, and you get the knife. It also offers an explanation for the “weeping” eye of Carmilla. The English translator did not understand that this refers to the actual in-game monster called Death, and thought that it is just a title referring to Dracula, like the “king of evil” (maou) used in other clues.
The English translation had an additional layer of misdirection: The manual (at least in USA) referred to the boss Carmilla as Vampira, and there is an ingame location called Ca(r)milla cemetery, where you acquire the silver knife. (Thanks Est A)
The Finnish translation puts a surprise twist to a certain idiom, by using its literal meaning. The literal meaning is an accurate translation of the original text, though at first reading one sees the idiom, which has a different meaning.

Death poked Carmilla’s eye with a concealed knife.

Kuolema, se viikatemies, viilasi Carmillaa linssiin. Käyttäen kätkettyä puukkoa.

La Mort a piqué l’oeil de Carmilla avec un couteau caché.

Tinusok ni Kamatayan ng tagong punyal ang mata ni Camilla.

La Muerte clavó el ojo de Carmilla con un cuchillo oculto.

De Dood verblinde Camilla, met het mes, dat hij onder zijn gewaad verborgen hield.

Døden stakk Carmillas øye ut med en skjult kniv.

Gevatter Tod blendete Carmilla mit einem versteckten Dolch.

171

Comment: Name of this clue, used in the retranslation(s) if clue browser is enabled.

Death’s Ruse

Kuoleman juju

La Mort

Kamatayan

Muerte Oculta

Dood z’n list

Dødens puss

Todes List

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

ミキ゛ヨ-ハ゛ノモリヒタ゛リヘ゛ラスコノヌマ

TURN RIGHT FOR THE JOVA WOODS. LEFT FOR BELASCO MARSH.

In Jova

Comment: Forest of Jova, swamp of Belasco

┄┄┄┄┄ JOVA ┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova Woods ◄▬ Belasco Marsh

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jovan metsä ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belascon suo

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Forêt de Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Marais de Belasco

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Gubat ng Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Lati ng Belasco

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Bosque Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Pantano Belasco

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova’s Woud ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasco’s Moeras

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Jova- skogen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasko- myr

┄┄┄┄JOVA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Wälder von Jova ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Belasco Moor

ミキ゛タ゛ヒ゛ノチカト゛ウヒタ゛リヘ゛ロスノモリ

TURN RIGHT FOR DABI’S PATH LEFT FOR THE VEROS WOODS.

In Veros

Comment: Subterranean tunnel of Dabi [dah-bee], forest of Veros

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ VEROS ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabi’s Path ◄▬ Veros Woods

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabin tunneli ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Veroksen metsä

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Chemin de Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Veros

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Daan ng Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Veros

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Paso de Dabi ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Veros

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabi’s Pad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Veros Woud

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabis Vei ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Feros- skogen

┄┄┄VEROS┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dabis Grottenweg ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Wälder von Veros

ミキ゛サ゛タ゛ムノモリヒタ゛リシ゛ャムノアレチ

TURN RIGHT FOR SADAM WOODS, LEFT FOR THE JAM WASTELAND.

In Ondol

Comment: Forest of Zadam, wasteland of Jam.
The names of these places are documented in a map image that appeared in the Japanese manual of the game, and in an English publication called Nintendo Power NES Game Atlas.

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ONDOL ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam Woods ◄▬ Northern Jam Wasteland

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadamin metsä ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Pohjoinen Jamin erämaa

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Forêt de Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Terre Désolée Jam Nord

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Gubat ng Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Hilagang Parang ng Jam

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Bosque Sadam ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Baldío Jam del Norte

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam’s Woud ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Noordelijk Droogland

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadam- skogen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Nordre Ødejam

┄┄┄ONDOL┄┄┄┄ ▬► Sadams Wald ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Nördliches Jam Brachland

ミキ゛カミ-ラホ゛チヒタ゛リオルシ゛ハ゛ノモリ

TURN RIGHT FOR CAMILLA CEMETERY, LEFT FOR THE ALJIBA WOODS.

In Aljiba

Comment: Graveyard of Carmilla, forest of Aljiba

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ALJIBA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Carmilla Cemetery ◄▬ Forest of Aljiba

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillan kalmisto ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiban metsä

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Cimetière Carmilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt d’Aljiba

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Himlayan ng Camilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Aljiba

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Cementerio Carmilla ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque de Aljiba

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Camilla’s Kerkhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiba’s Woud

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillas kirkegård ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Aljiba- skogen

┄┄┄ALJIBA┄┄┄ ▬► Carmillas Friedhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Wald von Aljiba

ミキ゛テ゛ット゛リハ゛- ヒタ゛リサ゛タ゛ムノモリ

TURN RIGHT FOR THE DEAD RIVER, LEFT FOR THE SADAM WOODS.

In Aldra

Comment: Dead river, forest of Zadam

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ALDRA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dead River ◄▬ Sadam Woods

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Kuollut joki ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadamin metsä

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Rivière Morte ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Sadam

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Patay na Ilog ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Sadam

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Río Muerto ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Sadam

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Dode Rivier ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadam’s Woud

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Deaud- elv ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadam- skogen

┄┄┄ALDRA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Toter Fluss ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Sadams Wald

ミキ゛キタノハシヒタ゛リシ゛ャアクノミソ゛

TURN LEFT FOR THE WICKED DITCH , RIGHT TO GO NORTH.

In Doina

Comment: Northern bridge, ditch of wickedness. For space reasons the English version reversed the order.

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ DOINA ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Northern Bridge ◄▬ Wicked Ditch

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Pohjoinen silta ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Noiduttu korpi

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Pont Nord ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Fossé Cruel

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Hilagang Tulay ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Masamang Kanal

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Puente del Norte ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Arroyo Malvado

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Noordelijke Brug ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gevaarlijke Kloof

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Nord- broen ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Farlig grøft

┄┄┄DOINA┄┄┄┄ ▬► Brücke nach Norden ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gefährliche Brandgräben

ミキ゛ウ゛ラト゛ホ゛チヒタ゛リト゛-ラノモリ

TURN RIGHT FOR VRAD GRAVEYARD, LEFT FOR THE DORA WOODS.

In Yomi

Comment: Graveyard of Vlad, forest of Dora [dow-rah]

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ YOMI ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlad Graveyard ◄▬ Dora Woods

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vladin hautausmaa ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dooran metsä

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Cimetière Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Forêt de Dora

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Himlayan ng Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Gubat ng Dora

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Cementerio Vlad ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Bosque Dora

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlad’s Kerkhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dora’s Woud

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlads Kirkegård ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Dora- skogen

┄┄┄┄YOMI┄┄┄┄ ▬► Vlads Friedhof ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬ Doras Wald

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

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シロスイショウヲカイナサレソコカラスヘ゛テカ゛ハシ゛マル

FIRST THING TO DO IN THIS TOWN IS BUY A WHITE CRYSTAL.

monk on 2nd stair in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Go and buy a white crystal. Everything begins from there.

Comment: Arguably true. You should not skip the holy water either, though.

Go and buy a white crystal. That’s the first thing you must do, the beginning of all things.

Kaikki alkaa siitä, että menet ja ostat valkoisen kristalli- kiven.

Avant toute chose, tu dois acheter un cristal blanc.

Ang bilhin mo una ay ang puting kristal. Ang lahat ay magsisimula doon.

Primero, deberías comprar un cristal blanco. Todo empieza desde ahí.

Koop zo snel mogelijk een wit kristal. Hiermee zal je zoektocht starten.

Alle burde kjøpe seg en hvitfarget krystallkule. De er be- gynnelsen på noe stort.

Geht nun, holt einen Kristall‼ So wird es beginnen.

アルト゛ラノマチニソナタノナカマカ゛イルカナラス゛アイナサレ

YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN THE TOWN OF ALDRA. GO AND SEE HIM.

monk on ground in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A friend of yours is in the town of Aldra. No matter what, you must meet him.

Comment: True. Compare to #57.

There is a friend waiting for you in the town of Aldra. You must go and meet him.

Eräs ystäväsi odottaa sinua Aldran kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.

Un ami t’attend dans la ville d’Aldra. Tu dois aller le voir.

Mayroon kang kaibigan na naghihintay sa iyo sa bayan ng Aldra. Makipagkita ka sa kanya.

Hay un amigo esperándote en el pueblo de Aldra. Debes ir con él.

Er wacht een vriend op je in het dorp Aldra. Breng hem een bezoek als je kunt.

En venn venter deg i byen Aldra. Du burde gå og møte ham.

Ein Kamerad wartet schon in der Stadt Aldra. Geht zu ihm, lasst Euch nicht davon abhalten.

13サツノカクサレシフ゛ンケンヲヒモトクトキナソ゛ハトカレル

13 CLUES WILL SOLVE DRACULA’S RIDDLE.

monk on 1st stair in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: There are 13 hidden clues; each of them solves a mystery when read.

Comment: Completely true, at least in the Japanese version. The English version is a bit challenged in that regard.
Another possible translation: When you have read 13 hidden clues, the mystery will be solved.

Find one of the 13 hidden clues, and a riddle can be solved.

Kun löydät kätketyn vihjeen, ratkaisu arvoitukseen selviää. Vihjeitä on kolmetoista.

Le mystère sera résolu après avoir lu les 13 indices cachés.

Hanapin ang 13 lihim na bakas, at ang bugtong ay malulutas.

Encuentra una de las 13 pistas, y un acertijo podrá ser resuelto.

Vind 1 van de 13 hints, en probeer een raadsel op te lossen.

Finn en av de 13 skjul- te sporene og en gåte vil la seg løse.

Dreizehn Spuren könnt Ihr folgen, - Jede Spur lüftet ein Geheimnis.

セイスイニアクマハクルシミシ゛ャアクノカヘ゛ハクタ゛ケル

A MAGIC POTION WILL DESTROY THE WALL OF EVIL.

monk on ground in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The holy water causes agony to the evil, and breaks wicked walls.

Comment: The Japanese text is self-explanatory and completely true. The English version omits the notion that the holy water also hurts enemies, and inexplicably calls holy water “magic potion”. I can only marvel the inattention of the translator and the lack of QA at Konami’s localization team.

The Holy Water is agonizing to anything evil. It even shatters evil walls.

Demonit eivät siedä pyhitettyä vettä. Pyhä vesi sulattaa myös noidutut muurit.

L’Eau Bénite détruit le mal et brise les murs maudits.

Ang Agua- Bendita ay pasakit sa kahit anong kasamaan. Kahit pader ay kayang durugin.

El Agua Bendita es agonizante para todo ser maligno. Incluso rompe muros malignos.

Heilig water is pijnlijk voor alles wat duivels is. Het kan zelfs valse muren breken.

Vievannet er smertefullt for alt ondt. Det kan til og med knuse ondskapens vegger.

Weihwasser bereitet Dämonen Höllenpein und bricht trügerische Mauern.

テ゛ット゛リハ゛-ノセント゛ウハニンニクカ゛コウフ゛ツトキイタコトカ゛アル

RUMOR HAS IT , THE FERRY- MAN AT DEAD RIVER LOVES GARLIC.

guy on 1st stair in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have heard that the favourite dish of the ferryman at the Dead River is garlic.

Comment: The translation is correct. Total nonsense, but it does direct the mind of the player to experiment with introducing different items to the ferryman. Showing the heart to the ferryman is necessary for completing the game. Thankfully, this is not the only hint of the fact.
Other hints for the player: strings 88 (info: there is a curse at the river), 31 (clue: must solve curse at river to progress), and 34 (clue: the heart solves a curse). It was also outright spoiled in the game’s manual, both in the Japanese and English editions.
When I translated the game (into Finnish), and then made a re-translation of it (for English), an opportunity opened for me to make the ferryman actually respond to garlic. I long hesitated, fearing that if the player receives a response that way, it might discourage them from trying other items (particularly, the heart), feeling that the riddle of string 68 has been already solved. However, after months of thinking it through, I did eventually add it. Now, if you show garlic to the ferryman (you have to place it on ground first), he will be upset and rant about the curse with the implication that he wants to see a proof of a hero. There are a number of similar easter eggs that I added to the game. See if you can find them all.

You know the ferryman, at the Dead River? I heard that he loves garlic.

Tiedäthän lautturin kuolleella joella? Olen kuullut, että hän on perso valko- sipulille.

Connais-tu le passeur de la Rivière Morte? Il paraît qu’il adore l’ail.

Kilala mo ba ang bangkero sa Patay na Ilog? Mahilig daw siya sa bawang.

¿Conoces al barquero, cerca del Río Muerto? Escuché que adora el ajo.

Ken je de veerman van de dode Rivier? Ik hoorde dat dat hij gek is op‥..ehm, knoflook..?

Det sies at fergemannen ved Daulågen elsker den rike smaken av hvitløk.

Wisst Ihr, der Fährmann am toten Fluss? Man erzählt, er nähme Knoblauch fuer bare Münze.

マチニハカクレテショウハ゛イヲスルハ゛イニンカ゛イル

A CROOKED TRADER IS OFFERING BUM DEALS IN THIS TOWN.

monk on 2nd stair in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In the town (or: in towns) there are sellers who do business in hiding.

Comment: While ‘kakurete’ may also mean ‘underhanded’ ("crooked deals"), from context it should be clear that it just says that those traders are hiding. Again, the translator probably never saw the actual game, and none of the playtesters could read Japanese, so nobody could tell the translation was bad.
From my professional experience, I have come to conclude that this sort of trainwreck is very common in any highly departmentalized company. Everyone does exactly what they are paid to do, and they do it perfectly according to specifications, but still the outcome is bad — because the left hand does not know what the right hand does. Information gets lost in the process, due to no fault of any individual actor.

The crystal salesman patrols that alley all day, but most traders prefer the safety of indoors. Some even hide behind fake walls.

Kylässämme on salakaupan harjoittajia. Joissakin kylissä he lymyävät hauraiden valeseinien takana.

Des vendeurs se cachent dans notre ville. Parfois, ils se cachent derrière des faux murs.

May mga manlalako na nagtatago sa bayan. Ang iba ay nagtatago sa likod ng mga pekeng pader.

Hay mercantes escondiéndose en nuestro pueblo. En algunos pueblos, se ocultan tras muros falsos.

Er houden zich kooplui shuil in ons dorpje. In sommige dorpen vind je ze achter valse muren.

Det finnes forhandlere som tilbyr ting i skjul. I noen byer skjuler de seg bak falske murer.

In der Stadt gibt es Händler, die sich hinter falschen Wänden verstecken.

セイナルホノオカ゛テ゛ニスノモリノ 6ハ゛ンメノキノウエニアル

A FLAME IS ON TOP OF THE 6TH TREE IN DENIS WOODS.

guy on 1st stair in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The holy flame is on top of the 6th tree in Denis Woods.

Comment: Just this once, the English text is actually an accurate translation of this total nonsense.
If we look at the game map (click to view), we can notice that Denis Woods is right next to Dabi’s Path, the real location of the flame; even though the shortest path between these two places is very long in the game. My theory is that this is an actual in-joke: There was a poster-size map hung on the wall of the writing team’s office. A label for the Flame was scribbled on that general section of the map, and the text sort of looked like it pointed clearly at a certain tree in the forest. So they made an NPC say this suspiciously specific line. That is my theory, and I am sticking with it. You could also argue the same for an in-universe motivation: This NPC had looked at a similar map and came to this conclusion, without any intention to mislead anyone.
Fortunately, string 32 (clue: flame is deep in a cave) also exists. Unfortunately for English people, the translation for string 32 was totally botched, so for English players, finding the flame was left completely up to chance. Fortunately, any player quickly learns to probe any suspicious protruding surfaces and dead ends with water bottles, so most players probably did find the Flame, despite the translator’s ineptitude, even if they had to substitute brute force for ingeniousness to get it.

The Sacred Flame is on the top of the 6th tree in Denis Woods.

Pyhä soihtu sijaitsee Deniksen metsässä, kuudennen puun latvassa.

La Flamme Sacrée est en haut du 6ème arbre de la forêt de Denis.

Ang Banal na Apoy ay nasa tuktok ng ika- 6 na puno sa Gubat ng Denis.

La Flama Sagrada está en la cima del 6to árbol en el Bosque Denis.

De heilige vlam kun je vinden in de top van de 6 de boom in het woud van Denis‥.. Dacht ik‥..

Den hellige ild er i toppen av 6. tre i Denisskogen.

Man sagt, die heilige Flamme lodert in der Krone des sechsten Baumes von Denis Wald.

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ヘ゛ロスノマチニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF VEROS.

guy on ground in Jova

Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is said (or it can be told), that (some) literature/books, that clear/solve Dracula’s mystery/mysteries, lie hidden (lit. sleep) in the town of Veros.

Comment: All of these "clues to <..> are" lines are true and correct, except for #103. They also follow an identical sentence format, due to substring compression in the Japanese version.
This line refers to string 66.

It is said that in the town of Veros there is a hidden book that contains a clue to Dracula’s riddle.

Vihjeitä Draculan arvoitukseen löytyy Veroksen kylästä.

Il paraît qu’un livre caché dans la ville de Veros révèle un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula.

Ayon sa mga balita, ang bayan ng Veros ay may nakatagong aklat na naglalaman ng bakas sa bugtong.

Se dice que en el pueblo de Veros hay un libro oculto que contiene una pista sobre Drácula.

Het gerucht gaat, dat er een boek verborgen is in Veros. Zou er een hint in zijn beschreven?

Det sies at Veros har en hemmelig bok som holder en ledetråd til Draculas gåte.

In Stadt Veros liegt ein Buch versteckt, das Draculas Vermächtnis entziffern kann.

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

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オルシ゛ハ゛ノマチニソナタノナカマカ゛イルカナラス゛アイナサレ

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND WAIT- ING FOR YOU IN THE TOWN OF ALJIBA.

monk on ground in Veros

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A friend of yours is in the town of Aljiba. No matter what, you must meet him.

Comment: True. Compare to #61.

There is a friend waiting for you in the town of Aljiba. You must go and meet him.

Eräs tuttusi odottaa sinua Aljiban kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.

Un ami t’attend dans la ville d’Aljiba. Tu dois aller le voir.

Mayroon kang kaibigan na naghihintay sa iyo sa bayan ng Aljiba. Makipagkita ka sa kanya.

Hay un amigo esperándote en el pueblo de Aljiba. Debes ir con él.

Er wacht een vriend op je in Aljiba. Ga er heen en zorg dat je hem spreekt.

Du har en venn som venter deg i Aljiba. Du må gå og møte ham.

Ein Kamerad wartet in Aljiba auf Euch. Was auch passiert, sucht ihn auf‼

マオウノホネハシ゛ャアクノチカラヲフセク゛タテトナル

A RIB CAN SHIELD YOU FROM EVIL.

guy on ground in Veros

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A rib of devil (“maou”, lit. king of evil) becomes a shield that protects from the powers of wickedness/evil.

Comment: Completely true. The English translation however neglects to mention that it is Dracula’s bone that has this power, not just any random rib.

The rib of the demon king can act as a shield that protects you from powers of evil.

Demonin luu suojaa noituuden voimilta.

L’os du démon te protègera du mal.

Ang tadyang ng diyablo ang tatanggol sa iyo laban sa kasamaan.

La costilla del demonio te protegerá de la maldad.

Dracula’s rib zal je beschermen. Het werkt als een shild.

Djevelens ribbein kan beskytte deg mot ondskap.

Draculas Rippe wird Euch wie ein Schild vor den Mächten des Bösen schützen.

ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハシチュ-ニイレルトイイカオリカ゛スル

LAURELS IN YOUR SOUP ENHANCES ITS AROMA.

guy on ground in Veros

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Put laurels in a shichuu (stew, or fatal situation), and a nice scent is produced.

Comment: This Japanese line is a pun. The word “shichuu” means “stew”, but it also means “fatal situation”. The English translator was out of their wits, and what was a pun became nonsense. My re-translation, of course, uses the word “pickle”, which means both a broth and a difficult situation. The Finnish text has a similar pun.
Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 37 (laurels with life make swamp crossable), and 91 (laurel protects from swamp poisons)

A laurel in a pickle makes all your worries go away.

Laakerinlehti tekee ihmeitä liemessä kuin liemessä.

En cas de grand danger, utilise du laurier.

Maglagay ng laurel sa adobo, at ang iyong mga problema ay maglalaho.

Pon laureles en ahogos, y un buen aroma será producido.

Doe eens een laurierblad in de soep. Ze geven het een helende werking.

I nød, bruk laurbær for å unngå din død.

Lorbeer kann im Topf und im Kampf das Blatt wenden.

タヒ゛ノヒトカオイロカ゛ヨクナイネキョウカイテ゛スコシヤスミナサイ

YOU LOOK PALE,MY SON. YOU MUST REST IN THE CHURCH.

guy on ground in Veros

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The color of the traveller’s face [i.e. your face, indirectly and politely] is not really that good, is it? Please rest for a while in the church.

Comment: This subtly reinforces the theme that Simon is suffering from the curse, and also reminds the player that they can refill their HP in a church.
In the retranslation(s), I swapped this dialog with #80 in the same town, because I thought that #72 is better line for a monk.
In a hack called ‘Redaction’ they moved this line to the first town, on the basis that this town a bit too late for such basic instruction. However, the purpose of churches is already mentioned in the instruction booklet, and any honorable player has already found it out by basic exploration. I think the more pressing purpose of this line is to confirm that time is at issue for Simon. The more he wastes time, the less likely he is to survive the curse even if he manages to beat Dracula.

There are clues to Dracula’s riddle within Berkeley Mansion.

Berkeleyn kartanossa sijaitsee vihjeitä Draculan arvoitukseen.

Il y a des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula dans la demeure Berkeley.

May mga bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula sa loob ng Mansyon ni Berkeley.

Hay pistas sobre Drácula dentro de la Mansión Berkeley.

In de burcht van Berkeley, kun je hints over het raadsel van Dracula vinden.

Du kan finne ledetråder til Draculas gåte inne i Berkeley herregård.

Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis findet Ihr in der Burg Berkeley.

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛オルシ゛ハ゛ノマチニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF ALBA.

lady on ground in Veros

Comment: "ALBA" is a mistranslation. The original text says Aljiba. There is no town of Alba.
This line refers to string 92.

One of the clues to Dracula’s riddle is within the town of Aljiba.

Yksi Draculan arvoituksen vihjeistä sijaitsee Aljiban kylässä.

Un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula est dans la ville d’Aljiba.

Isa sa mga bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula ay nasa loob ng bayan ng Aljiba.

Una de las pistas sobre Drácula está dentro del pueblo de Aljiba.

1 van de hints over Dracula’s raadsel ligt verborgen in het dorpje met de naam Aljiba.

Du kan finne et hint til Draculas gåte i byen Aljiba.

Eine Spur zu Draculas Vermächtnis wurde in der Stadt Aljiba versteckt.

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ハ゛-クレイノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BERKELEY MANSION.

monk on ground in Veros

Comment: The retranslation(s) exchanged this line with #72.
This line refers to strings 30, 31 and 32.

Boy you are pale, young man‼ Please rest in a church and refresh your soul.

Nuori mies, oletpa kalpea‼ Lepää kirkossa ja virkistä sielusi.

Tu sembles souffrant‼ Soigne-toi dans une église.

Namumutla ka na, iho‼ Magpahinga ka sa loob ng simbahan at giginhawa ang iyong kaluluwa.

¡¡Vaya que te ves pálido‼ Por favor, descansa en la iglesia y refresca tu alma.

Tjonge, wat zie jij er bleek uit‼ Rust wat in onze kerk om op krachten te komen.

Du store‼ Så blek du er, unge mann‼ Finn ro i kirken og forbered deg på å møte verden på ny.

Gütiger Himmel‼ Seid Ihr blass‼ Bitte ruht Euch in der Kirche aus‼

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アルト゛ラノマチノキョウカイノマエテ゛ヨシミ‼ トサケフ゛トライフカ゛マンタンニナルヨ‼

TO RESTORE YOUR LIFE, SHOUT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.

guy on 2nd stair in Aljiba

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Shout "yoshimi!" in front of the church in Aldra, and life becomes refilled (lit. "life" becomes マンタン, a full tank).

Comment: Background information: There is a church in Aldra, but this guy is in Aljiba. There is no church in Aljiba. Thus, the NPC might not know exactly how they work. So he relays this rumor.
This may be a pun. The word, “Yoshimi” is a Japanese male’s given name, but it also means intimacy or kindness. So it kind of makes sense. Maybe. Maybe it’s an inside joke. The English version loses this connotation, and thereby became plain nonsense. The English version also omits the town name, Aldra, which does have a church.
I do not know whether there was a staff member with name "Yoshimi". It might also have been an inside joke.
The word “life” was used as an English loanword in the Japanese version. The word “mantan” means full tank, as in literal refilling: think a milk jug. It’s a Konami thing. They use it in many games, such as Goonies II.

In the retranslation the boy says, “priests don’t pray at nights. That’s why the forests are full of demons.”, because I thought it would be funnier than an attempt at a direct translation. Either way, it is nonsense.

The priests don’t pray at night. That’s why the forests are full of demons.

Papit eivät rukoile öisin. Siksi metsät ovat täynnä demoneja.

Les prêtres ne prient pas la nuit. De ce fait, les forêts sont toutes infestées de démons.

Ang mga pari ay hindi nagdarasal sa gabi. Kaya ang gubat ay puno ng mga aswang.

Los clérigos ya no rezan por la noche. Es por eso que los bosques están llenos de demonios.

De priesters bidden nooit in de nacht. De demonen zullen in de nachten dus krachtiger zijn‥..

Presten kan ikke hjelpe deg om mør- ket har falt. Så pass deg for faren som lurer i natten.

Au weh. Die Hand die einen nährt, sollte man nicht beißen‼ Vermaledeite Vampire‼

ノロワレシテ゛ット゛リハ゛- イマナオノロイヲトクモノマチワヒ゛ルカワ

THE DEAD RIVER WAITS TO BE FREED FROM THE CURSE.

lady on 2nd stair in Aljiba

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The accursed Dead River. A river that still desperately waits for that which will break the curse.

Comment: In Japanese, this is the only line that contains more than one sentence and where one of the sentences is without a predicate. This made it a bit difficult to parse… In any case, the lady seems to be lost in thought, pondering about the Dead River.

The accursed Dead River‥. A river that still awaits the one who frees it from the curse.

Kuollut joki ‥. Joki, joka yhä odottaa kipeästi kaivaten vapauttajaa kirouksesta.

La maudite Rivière Morte‥. Une rivière qui attend toujours son sauveur.

Ang Patay na Ilog‥. Ang ilog ay naghihintay sa sinumang magpapalaya sa sumpa nito.

El condenado Río Muerto... Un río que espera a aquel que lo libere de su maldición.

De vloek op de dode rivier‥. Wie oh wie, zal hem verlossen van zijn vloek?

Daulågen ‥. En elv som fortsatt venter på den som kan løfte for- bannelsen som hviler over den.

Dieser verdammte, tote Fluss‼ Der Damm bricht mit dem Fluch des Flusses.

ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュハヌマノト゛クヨリミヲマモル

A LAUREL WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE POISON MARSH.

monk on 2nd stair in Aljiba

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A laurel protects you from the poisons of a swamp.

Comment: True, though not restricted to marshes in particular.
Related hints: strings 35 (silk bag makes life), 37 (laurels with life make swamp crossable), and 67 (laurels fix a pickle)

If you plan to trek through a swamp, eat laurels. It neutralizes the poison.

Jos aiot tarpoa suolla, syö laakerin- lehtiä. Laakeri neutralisoi suossa olevat myrkyt.

Si tu veux traverser un marécage, mange du laurier. Il stoppe le poison.

Kung balak mo maglakbay sa mga lati, kumain ka ng laurel. Pangontra ito sa lason.

Si planeas atravesar el pantano, come laureles, te protegen y neutralizan el veneno.

Mocht je van plan zijn om door het moeras te reizen, eet dan laurier tegen het vergif.

Vil du vade gjennom en hel sumpmyr? Spis litt laurbær‼ De motvirker giftgassene.

Mit einem Lorbeerblatt erträgt man die Fäule in den Sümpfen.

ココノトクサンフ゛ツハニンニクシ゛ャカッテユキナサレ

BUY SOME GARLIC. IT HAS SPECIAL POWERS.

guy on ground in Aljiba

Literal translation of original Japanese text: The specialty of this place is garlic. Go and buy some.

Comment: The English version is a mistranslation, though it makes enough sense that it might have been deliberate.

In Aljiba we pride on our garlic. It is our specialty. Have you tried it yet? If not, hurry up and buy some‼

Kylässämme arvostetaan valkosipulia. Se on hyvin voimakas ja terveellinen yrtti. Osta ja ihastu‼

L’ail est la spécialité de notre ville. Cours en acheter‼

Natatangi sa bayan namin ay bawang. Mahalagang sahog ito sa sinangag at adobo.

El especial de nuestro pueblo es el ajo. ¡¡Ve y compra un poco‼

Knoflook is echt onze specialiteit hier. Het is fantastisch, dus ga snel wat kopen‼

Byen vår har spesialisert seg på hvit- løk. Kjøp deg en smaksprøve. Den er noe for seg selv.

Die Spezialität unserer Stadt ist frischer Knoblauch. Holt Euch welchen‼

103

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ヘ゛ロスノモリニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE VEROS WOODS.

guy on 1st stair in Aljiba

Comment: All of the “clues to <..> are” lines are true and correct, except for this one. It should refer to Aljiba woods, not to Veros woods. The original text has the same error.
This line refers to string 13.

Clues to the riddle of Dracula? I know one of them is in the forest of Aljiba.

Draculan arvoituksen vihjeitä? Tiedän, että yksi niistä sijaitsee Aljiban metsässä.

Des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula? Je sais que l’un d’eux est dans la forêt d’Aljiba.

Bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula ba? Alam ko na ang isa ay nasa Gubat ng Aljiba.

¿Pistas sobre Drácula? Sé que hay una de ellas en el Bosque de Aljiba.

Hints over het raadsel van Dracula? zoek er naar in Aljiba’s woud.

Ledetråder for Draculas gåte? Jeg vet du kan finne en av dem i Aljibaskogen.

Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis? Sucht im Wald von Aljiba.

105

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ロ-ハ゛-ノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN ROVER MANSION.

monk on 2nd stair in Aljiba

Comment: This line refers to strings 33 and 34.

Clues to Dracula’s riddle‥. Search in the Rover Mansion. I have heard some are hidden there.

Draculan arvoituksen vihjeitä‥. Etsi Roverin kartanosta. Olen kuullut, että niitä on siellä.

Des indices sur l’énigme de Dracula‥. Cherche dans la demeure Rover. Il paraît que certains sont là-bas.

Bakas sa bugtong ni Dracula‥. Maghanap ka sa Mansyon ni Rover. Nadinig ko may natatago pa doon.

Pistas sobre Drácula... Busca en la Mansión Rover. Escuché que hay algunas ocultas ahí.

Hints over Dracula’s raadsel? ‥..Zoek in Rover’s Burcht. Daar kun je vast een paar vinden.

Ledetråder til Draculas gåte ‥.? Gi Rover herregård et besøk. Jeg har hørt de skjuler noe der.

Spuren zu Draculas Vermächtnis? In Schloss Lauber findet man welche.

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ノロイニヨリトサ゛サレシモノト゛ラキュラノメタ゛マニヨリウツシタ゛サレル

DRACULA’S EYEBALL REFLECTS THE CURSE.

guy deep in house in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In Dracula’s eyeball, a reflection can be seen of something that has been trapped because of curse.

Comment: The English version is mistranslated into nonsense. The original text reveals that the eyeball helps see hidden things, such as clue scrolls.
Oddly though, the invisible floating platform in Berkeley mansion is made visible by a crystal, not Dracula’s eye.

A thing cursed away from sight can be seen as a reflection in Dracula’s eyeball.

Jos on jotain minkä kirous on kätkenyt näkyvistä, sen voi nähdä heijastuksena Draculan silmämunassa.

Une chose touchée par la malédiction se reflète dans l’oeil de Dracula.

Ang bagay na isinumpang maglaho sa paningin ay makikita sa aninag ng mata ni Dracula.

En el ojo de Drácula puede verse un reflejo de todo aquello sumerso en maldición.

Dingen, die gewoonlijk niet te waarnemen zijn, worden weerspiegeld in Dracula’s oogbal.

Er noe usyn- lig for det blotte øye, kan Draculas øye se det klart og tydelig.

Draculas Auge übersieht die Zierden des Fluches.

コ゛メンネアタイヒマシ゛ャナイノマタコント゛ネ

SORRY, PAL. NO TIME NOW, MAYBE LATER.

lady on 3rd stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I’m sorry, you see… I don’t have time now; perhaps another time.

Comment: Rather accurate translation. The English “, pal” attempts to convey the softening “ne” particle in Japanese.

Sorry, pal. No time now, maybe tomorrow.

En nyt oikein ehdi. Ehkä huomenna.

Désolé, je n’ai pas le temps. Demain, peut-être.

Paumanhin. Wala akong oras. Pwede sa ibang araw araw na lang?

Lo siento, amigo. No tengo tiempo ahora, quizás mañana.

Sorry‥. Ik heb nu geen tijd om te praten, vriend. Misschien later?

Beklager. Det passer litt dårlig akkurat nå. Kanskje i morgen.

Vergebung‼ Es sind sehr schlechte Zeiten. Ich hoffe es endet bald.

テ゛ホ゛ラノカ゛ケヲス゛ツキテ゛キリヒラケスルトオオキナアナカ゛アク

HIT DEBORAH CLIFF WITH YOUR HEAD TO MAKE A HOLE.

lady on 3rd stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Open up the Deborah cliff by headbutting, and a large hole opens.

Comment: This text is complete nonsense, although it does (vaguely) hint that there is a way to progress at Deborah cliff.
Chances are that this was another one of those false rumors. However, I deliberately chose an alternative interpretation: This lady thinks Simon is trying to hit on her, and assumes an antagonistic attitude. She suggests Simon smash his head against a rock. I think I managed to convey this passive-aggressive meaning well in both Finnish and English.

Go and hit the Deborah Cliff with your head. See which one gives first.

Mene ja lyö pääsi Deboran kallioon. Katso, kumpiko antaa ensin periksi.

Frappe la Falaise Deborah avec ta tête. Nous verrons qui est le plus robuste.

Untugin mo ang Talampas ng Deborah at tingnan natin kung sino ang unang babagsak‼

Ve y golpea el Acantilado Deborah con tu cabeza. Ve qué se da primero.

Stoot je kop aan de berg van Deborah, en kijk wie het langst zal standhouden. De berg of jij?

Gå og deng hodet ditt i Debraklippen. Se hva som gir etter først.

Für ein großes Loch schlagt doch Euren Kopf gegen die Felsen von Deborah‼

アナタッテハンサムネワタシアナタノヨウナヒトヲマッテタノ

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR A GOOD LOOKING GUY LIKE YOU.

lady on 2nd stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Aren’t you ‹handsome›, huh! I have been waiting for a person like you.

Comment: The word “handsome” is used as an English loanword in the Japanese text (i.e. it says “hansamu” instead of some Japanese word). The “ne” particle also appears here.

I’ve been waiting for a good looking guy like you.

Olet todella komea‼ Olen unelmoinut tapaavani sinunlaisesi ihmisen.

J’attendais un bel homme comme toi.

Naghihintay ako ng isang guwapong lalaki na kagaya mo.

Eres guapo. He estado buscando una persona como tú.

Lang heb ik gewacht op zo’n knappe vent als jij.

Heisann, kjekken‼ Hvor har du vært hele livet mitt?

Ihr seid eine Augenweide‼ Ich sehne mich so nach einem Mann wie Euch.

アナタカ゛ホシイ

I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.

lady on 1st stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I lust you!

Comment: The Finnish version diverges from the original meaning here for no particular reason. I used the same line in the re-translation. “I really hope to meet a smart man some day.”

I really hope to meet a smart man some day.

Toivon vielä joskus tapaavani fiksun miehen. Onko sellaisia?

J’espère rencontrer un jour un homme intelligent.

Umaasa akong makakatagpo ako ng isang matipunong lalaki‥. tulad mo.

Realmente espero conocer a un hombre inteligente algún día.

Hopelijk ontmoet ik ooit een intelligente man in mijn leven‥.

Jeg vil ha deg i mørket hos meg.

Bitte bleibt heute Nacht bei mir. Ich meine es gut mit Euch‼

コンヤ 12シ゛カワノホトリテ゛

I’LL SEE YOU AT MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER BANK.

lady on 3rd stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Tonight, at 12am, near the river (in the vicinity of the river).

Comment: The dialog of this lady is very terse, as if she was passing you a secret note on paper. The words do not form a sentence. It is just the location and the time, with implication that she will meet you there. Which is false, of course.

Tonight. At midnight. The river bank. Be there.

Tavataan keskiyöllä jokirannassa.

Rends-toi à minuit sur la berge.

Ngayong Hatinggabi. Sa tabing ilog. Walang indyanan‼

Esta noche, 12 A.M. A la orilla del río. No faltes.

Vannacht, om 12 uur, aan de oever van de rivier‥. Zorg dat je er bent‥.

I kveld. Ved midnatt. Møt meg ved elvebredden.

Heute. Zu Mitternacht. Am Ufer des Flusses. Seid dort.

102

ストリコ゛イホ゛チテ゛アヒルカラキヌノフクロヲモラウトナカ゛イキスル

GET A SILK BAG FROM THE GRAVEYARD DUCK TO LIVE LONGER.

lady on 2nd stair in Aldra

Literal translation of original Japanese text: When you receive a silk bag from a duck [man who waddles around] at the Strigoi graveyard, living long happens.

Comment: This has been one of the most criticized translations in Simon’s Quest.
Yes, it explicitly says ahiru, meaning domestic duck, in the original text. However, the word “ahiru” in Japanese also appears to be a slang term, that refers to e.g. an uniformed policeman that walks a beat slowly, like a duck.
The English line was an accurate literal translation of the original text. It was not an accidental concatenation of two dialog items. The translator just did not know this expression.
For length limitations, the name of the graveyard (Strigoi) was omitted in the English version. My re-translation does not suffer from such limitations.

Addendum: While the “patrolling man” word was found in a Japanese slang word list, it has been brought to my attention that this theory might still be wrong, if for nothing else but that the existence of ducks is allegedly a sort of in-joke in other Konami games. Apparently “ahiru” also refers to a particular style of waddling walk, rather than the act of patrolling. In any case, I feel that the current translation is the best possible compromise between translation accuracy and not sticking out (breaking the game immersion).

If you find the patrolling man at the Strigoi Cemetery, ask for a silk bag. It will help you live longer.

Elääksesi pitkään mene Strigoin hautuumaalle. Siellä asuu joku, joka antaa sinulle silkkilaukun.

Si, au Cimetière Strigoi, tu obtiens d’un homme un sac de soie, tu vivras plus longtemps.

Kapag nakuha mo na ang sedang supot mula sa tanod sa Himlayan ng Strigoi, mabubuhay ka ng mas matagal.

Al recibir una bolsa de seda del hombre que patrulla el Cementerio Strigoi, seguro vivirás más.

Als je een zijden zak ontvangt, op het kerkhof van Strigoi, zul je zeker langer leven.

Legg turen til Strigoi kirkegård og få deg en silketaske fra han som patrulerer, så lever du nok lenger.

Der Seidenbeutel vom Wächter der Strigoi verlängert Euer Leben‼

104

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛ハ゛ト゛リ-ノヤカタニネムルトツタエラレテイル

CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BODLEY MANSION.

lady on 3rd stair in Aldra

Comment: This line refers to string 37.

There is a clue to Dracula’s riddle within the Bathory Mansion.

Yksi vihje Draculan arvoitukseen sijaitsee Bathoryn kartanossa.

Un indice sur l’énigme de Dracula se trouve dans la demeure Bathory.

Ang bakas para malutas ang bugtong ni Dracula ay natutulog sa Mansyon ni Bathory.

Una pista sobre Drácula reside dentro de la Mansión Bathory.

In de burcht van Bathory, Kun je een hint vinden om Dracula’s raadsel op te lossen.

En del av svaret på Draculas gåte ligger i Bathory herregård.

Draculas Letzer Wille weilt in Burg Bathory.

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ムチニフシキ゛ナチカラヲアタエルヒトカ゛クラヤミニスム

A MAN LIVING IN DARKNESS CAN GIVE YOUR WHIP POWER.

monk on 3rd stair in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: A man dwelling in darkness can apply a mysterious power into your whip.

Comment: Which is true, though a little unhelpful. The man lives in Uta lower road 2: between Bodley mansion and Debious woods.

There is a hermit, living in a cave, who can empower a whip in a peculiar manner.

Eräs luolassa asuva erakko kykenee antamaan ruoskalle erikoisen voiman.

Un ermite vivant dans une cave peut donner à ton fouet une force mystérieuse.

Ang pantas na nakatira sa yungib ay kayang palakasin ang iyong latigo.

Un ermitaño que vive en una cueva puede darle poder a tu látigo.

Een in een grot levende kluizenaar, kan je zweep veel krachtiger maken.

Einstøingen som bor for seg selv i en hule, kan forbedre pisken din på en snodig måte.

Der in der Grotte lebende Einsiedler vermag Eure Peitsche zu entflammen.

ストリコ゛イホ゛チノアルハカヲホルトチョウコウセキカ゛テ゛ルトイウ

DIG UP THE 4TH GRAVE IN THE CEMETERY FOR A DIAMOND.

guy on 3rd stair in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is said that if you excavate a certain grave at Strigoi graveyard, a mineral chunk ("diamond") appears.

Comment: Something happens at Strigoi graveyard, yes. But it is not the diamond, and it is not the digging of a grave. (It is the silk bag, which you acquire by "summoning a stranger" with a garlic.)
Often, in RPGs, all rumors, tales and prophecies are completely true. Not so in Simon’s Quest. Every time someone says ’I have heard’ or ’it is said’, it is NEVER true, or at least it is a heavily altered truth. When such words are not used, the statement is usually honest and true, assuming it contains a verifiable claim to begin with. Unfortunately in the English version, the distinction of when something is a rumor or not, was not always indicated.

According to a rumor, there is a colossal diamond buried in a grave at the Strigoi Cemetery‼

Jos kaivaa hautoja Strigoin hautuumaalla, voi löytää timantin. Kuulemma.

Selon la rumeur, un diamant est caché dans une tombe du Cimetière Strigoi.

Ayon sa mga sabi-sabi, sa Himlayan ng Strigoi ay may mahuhukay na malaking diamante‼

Se dice que si cavas en cierta tumba dentro del Cementerio Strigoi... ¡¡Aparece un diamante‼

Men zegt dat grafschennis op Strigoi’s kerhof, je een enorme diamant kan opleveren‼

Ryktet sier at om man graver på Strigois kirkegård finner man en stor diamant‼

Es geht das Gerücht, am Friedhof der Strigoi seien auch Edelsteine verscharrt.

コンニチハアナタハカミヲシンシ゛マスカ? シンシ゛ルモノハミナスクワレル

BELIEVE IN MAGIC AND YOU’LL BE SAVED.

guy on 2nd stair in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Greetings. Do you believe in God? What you believe in decides everything.

Comment: Because of political reasons, explicitly religious dialog was changed in the USA release. Oddly, believing in magic was considered OK, but believing in God was not.

Hello. Do you believe in God? Everything depends on that.

Hei. Uskotteko Jumalaan? Kaikki on siitä kiinni mihin uskoo.

Bonjour. Crois- tu en Dieu? Tout part de là.

Kamusta. Naniniwala ka ba sa Diyos? Ang lahat ay nakabatay doon.

Saludos. ¿Crees en Dios? Tus creencias deciden todo.

Goedendag. Geloof je in God? Alles is daarvan afhankelijk.

God dag. Er du en troende? Det er troen som avgjør alt.

Grüß Gott‼ Nun sagt, wie habt Ihr es mit Gott?

モラッテヤッテクタ゛サイウチノムスメヲイマナラタタ゛タ゛ヨ

TAKE MY DAUGHTER, PLEASE‼

monk on 2nd stair in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Please take my daughter. Right now I won’t ask for anything else.

Please, take my daughter. That’s all I am asking.

Ota tyttäreni ja vie. En pyydä mitään muuta.

Prends ma fille. C’est tout ce que je demande.

Pakiusap‼ Kunin mo ang aking anak na babae‼

Por favor, llévate a mi hija. Eso es todo lo que pido.

Neem, alsjeblieft mijn dochter. Dat is alles wat ik wens.

Jeg ber deg, ta med deg min datter. Det er alt jeg ber om.

Nehmt meine Tochter an Euch‼ Das sei mein einziger Wunsch...

シチョウセイカ゛ミエルテ゛アロウオワッタナ‼

DON’T LOOK INTO THE DEATH STAR, OR YOU WILL DIE.

guy in house in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: If the Death Omen Star (star of death) is sighted, it’s over!

Comment: This is a Hokuto no Ken reference. If the star of death (死兆星) is shining in the sky above two warriors engaged in a battle of destiny, one of those two men shall die. (Thanks RahanAkero!) The reference was lost on western people unfamiliar with this manga, and I doubt the translator understood it either. I certainly did not. I am not sure if the apparent allusion to Star Wars was intentional by the translator.
My own interpretation, before the above bit was brought to my attention, was this: “if you witness four deaths, you are likely to be the next.” Four is a number associated with death in superstition in Japan and China. However, because of ambiguousness in the Japanese text (lack of kanji), this sentence can be translated in a number of different ways.
The Japanese text begins with “shichousei”, which consists of three syllables, “shi”, “chou” and “sei”. There is no indication where the word break is.
· “shichou” (シチョウ) means attention, city hall, and mayor.
· “chousei” (チョウセイ) means passing away, longevity, government, and the action of adjusting something.
· “shi” (シ) can mean four, death, poem, and pride.
· “chou” (チョウ) means chief, tempo, agency, omen, and a counter for guns, tools, levers, leaves or cakes of something, servings in a restaurant.
· “sei” (セイ) means planet/star, government, life, gender and other things.
So there are actually dozens of different ways to translate this sentence.
In the Finnish version, I wrote “death follows that who sees death”, which sounds like a proverb and fits the mood of the game. In the retranslation I put different flavor.

There is so much battle in the world. I used to be a fighter myself, but I realized I need to live my life.

Kuolema seuraa sitä joka kuolemaa näkee.

Il y a tant de combats à mener dans le monde. Aujourd’hui, j’ai compris que je devais mener ma vie.

Napakaraming digmaan sa mundong ito. Mandirigma ako noon, gayonpaman, pinili ko ang mabuhay ng matiwasay.

Hay tantas batallas en el mundo. Solía ser un caballero, pero ahora necesito hacer mi propia vida.

Er is zoveel oorlog in de wereld‥. Vroeger was ik soldaat, maar koos ervoor, om mijn leven nu te leven.

Som soldat styrte jeg hvordan folk skulle leve sine liv, men glemte helt å leve mitt eget.

Was tot ist, beißt nicht mehr‼ Lasst die Toten ruhen.

ワシヲヒキトメンテ゛クレンカネワシハトマルトシヌンシ゛ャ

DON’T MAKE ME STAY. I’LL DIE.

monk on ground in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Would you take me with you? If I stay here, I will die.

Would you please take me with you? If I stay here, I will die‼

En halua jäädä tänne. Ota minut mukaasi‼

Puis-je venir avec toi? Si je reste ici, je vais mourir‼

Pakiusap, isama mo ako‼ Mamamatay ako kapag nanatili pa ako dito‼

¿Me llevarías contigo, por favor? Si me quedo aquí, ¡¡moriré‼

Wil je mij alsjeblieft meenemen? Als ik hier blijf zal ik zeker de dood vinden‼

Kan du ta meg med vekk her fra? Om jeg blir, kommer jeg til å dø‼

Ich flehe Euch an‼ Bringt mich weg von hier‼ Ich will hier nicht sterben‼

シ゛マンシ゛ャナイカ゛コレテ゛モワシハムカシオンナニヨクモテタモノシ゛ャ

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, WOMEN LOVED ME.

monk on 3rd stair in Ondol

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Not to brag, but though you might not believe it from how I look now, a long time ago I was very popular with women.

Comment: English could have added “not to brag” in the dialog box and it would still have fit. I don’t know why the translator did not think of that.

My English re-translation is quite true to the original, but I added a bit of flavor in the Finnish version. It says approximately “when I was young, I sat on beaches together with ladies, looking at stars. They downright flocked around me.”

Not to brag, but when I was your age, I was really popular with the ladies.

Nuorena katselin öisin tähtiä rannalla naisten kanssa‥. He suorastaan parveilivat ympärilläni.

Sans me vanter, étant jeune, j’avais du succès auprès des femmes.

Hindi sa nagyayabang, noong kasing gulang kita, sikat ako sa mga bebot.

No es por presumir, pero cuando, tenía tu edad era muy popular con las mujeres.

Ik wil niet, opscheppen, maar op jouw leeftijd was ik erg in trek bij de dames‼

Ikke for å skryte, men da jeg var på din alder flokket alle damene seg rundt meg.

Damals konnte ich Frauenherzen im Sturm erobern. Damals war ich noch ansehnlich.

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1ネンマエモココテ゛ミカケタネマサカライネンモシ゛ャナイタ゛ロウネ

AFTER CASTLEVANIA I WARNED YOU NOT TO RETURN.

monk on ground in Doina

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I happened to see you here last year. I cannot bear the thought that (it would happen) next year, too.

Comment: The villager is not pleased to see Simon there again. He expresses deep contempt in a read-between-lines manner that is very typical to Japanese language. The fourth-wall breaking reference to "Castlevania" is an invention of the English translator.
In the re-translation, I made this very blunt: “You again‼ Last year I was hoping to never see you again.” It still fit in five lines. The Finnish version did not.

You again‼ Last year I was hoping never to see you again.

Taasko sinä olet täällä. Viime vuonna, kun lähdit, luulimme päässeemme sinusta eroon.

Encore toi‼ Depuis notre dernière rencontre, j’espérais ne jamais te revoir.

Aba‼ Ikaw na naman‼ Sa nakaraang taon, umaasa akong di ka na makikita‼

¡¡Otra vez‼ El año pasado esperaba no volverte a ver de nuevo.

Jij weer‼ Vorig jaar hoopte ik je nooit meer te hoeven zien.

Deg igjen‼? Du er som et symbol på problemer‼ Jeg håpet at aldri kom til å se deg igjen‼

Ihr schon wieder‼ Ich hatte so innig gehofft Euch nie wieder zu begegnen.

100

カエレ‼

GET BACK‼

guy in house in Doina

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Return‼ (Go back, don’t come, get lost, etc.)

Go away‼

Mene muualle‼

Va-t’en‼

LAYAS‼

¡¡Vete‼

Ga weg‼

Forsvinn‼

Verschwindet‼

101

アンタノセイテ゛コノアタリカ゛サワカ゛シクナッタテ゛テイッテクレ

YOU’VE UPSET THE PEOPLE. NOW GET OUT OF TOWN‼

monk on 1st stair in Doina

Literal translation of original Japanese text: It is your fault our neighborhood has become filled with noise (trouble, annoyance). Go away.

Comment: The villager is blaming Simon for the appearance of demons all around.
The Japanese text says, ‘this area has become noisy’. The English translation was probably a deliberate choice given the lack of space within the dialog box.

It’s your fault that it’s not safe around here anymore. Please, just leave and never return.

Sinun takiasi täällä ei ole enää rauhallista. Ole hyvä ja lähde. Mene matkojasi.

A cause de toi, ce lieu est devenu dangereux. Va-t’en, et ne reviens plus.

Kasalanan mo kaya hindi na ligtas manirahan dito. Kaya lumayas ka at huwag ka nang babalik.

Es tu culpa que ya no sea seguro por aquí. Por favor, solo vete, y no regreses.

Het is jouw schuld dat het niet meer veilig is‥. Alsjeblieft, ga weg en kom nooit meer terug‼

Det er din skyld at det nå ikke er trygt her. Bare dra din vei og aldri kom tilbake.

Euretwegen sind die Blutsauger erst hier‼ Verlasst die Stadt, geht wieder‼

106

ラルハ゛ノヤカタテ゛ロサ゛リオヲカナラス゛テニイレルンシ゛ャソ゛

THE CROSS IN LARUBA’S MANSION MUST BE FOUND.

monk on ground in Doina

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In the mansion of Laruba, no matter what, you must possess (receive into your hands) the rosary (magic cross).

When you go to Laruba’s Mansion, you must find the Rosary. Do not exit without it.

Kun menet Laruban kartanoon, älä poistu sieltä ilman ruusukkoa.

Tu dois trouver le chapelet dans la demeure Laruba. Ne repars pas sans lui.

Kapag pumunta ka sa Mansyon ni Laruba, kuhanin mo ang Krusipiho at huwag na huwag kang lalabas nang wala iyon‼

Cuando vayas a la Mansión Laruba, debes encontrar el Rosario. No te vayas sin él.

Als je naar de Laruba’s Burcht gaat, zorg dan dat je de hem NIET zonder het kruis verlaat‼

Før du drar fra Laruba herregård, må du finne rosenkransen. Ikke forlat herregården uten den.

Verlasst die Raubersburg nicht ohne das geweihte Rosenkreuz. Ihr sollt es dort finden‼

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ココテ゛フタリテ゛クラサンカ

LET’S LIVE HERE TOGETHER.

guy in house in Yomi

Comment: In the Finnish version and in the re-translation I added a number of context-sensitive dialog options to this character (and many others). This is no longer the only line he can say. The context-sensitive dialog options are triggered by various conditions depending on character. Conditions such as items you are carrying and the day number.

Let’s live here together.

Jää tänne asumaan kanssani. En pärjää enää yksin.

Vivons ici ensemble.

Mabuhay tayo dito nang magkasama.

Vivamos aquí juntos para siempre.

Laten we hier gaan samenwonen. ..hips‼..

Her kan vi dele våre dager sammen.

Es ist sehr behaglich hier. Setz Dich doch zu mir.

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シロトアオノスイショウヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ

I’D LIKE TO EXCHANGE A WHITE CRYSTAL FOR A BLUE ONE.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have an idea: Let’s exchange our crystals, white and blue.

Comment: Hints for the player: string 61 (info: a friend awaits you in Aljiba)
This text is only shown if you have the required crystal. The exchange is being performed as the text is output, with no possibility to cancel it.

Is that a sparkling shiny white crystal? I want it‼ You can have my blue sapphire instead.

Minulla on sininen safiiri, mutta haluan vaihtaa sen kirkkaaseen kristalliisi.

Je souhaite échanger mon saphir bleu contre ton étincelant cristal blanc.

Meron akong sepiro. Ibig kong ipagpalit ito sa iyong kumikinang na puting kristal.

Tengo un safiro azul, pero quisiera cambiarlo por tu brillante cristal blanco.

Ik heb een mooie blauwe saffier maar, wil deze wel ruilen tegen jouw witte sprankelende kristal.

Jeg har en blå safir, men jeg vil gjerne bytte den mot en blank, hvit krystallkule.

Ich besitze einen Saphir‼ Ich überlasse ihn Euch gerne im Tausch für Euren Bergkristall.

アオトアカノスイショウヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ

I’D LIKE TO EXCHANGE A BLUE CRYSTAL FOR A RED ONE.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I have an idea: Let’s exchange our crystals, blue and red.

Comment: Hints for the player: string 57 (info: a friend awaits you in Aldra)

Is that a, a blue sapphire? I have always wanted one‼ Let’s swap. You can have my red ruby instead.

Minulla on punainen rubiini, mutta haluan vaihtaa sen kauniiseen siniseen safiiriisi.

Je souhaite échanger mon rubis rouge contre ton magnifique saphir bleu.

Meron akong dalang rubi. Ibig kong ipagpalit ito sa iyong maganda at makintab na sepiro.

Tengo un rubí rojo, pero quisiera cambiarlo por tu hermoso safiro azul.

Ik heb een rode robijn maar, wil deze graag ruilen tegen jouw mooie, blauwe, saffier.

Jeg har en rød rubin, men jeg vil gjerne bytte den mot din vakre, blå fair.

Ich besitze einen Rubin‼ Ich überlasse ihn Euch gerne im Tausch für Euren Saphir.

107

ワタシトアナタノスイショウトテ゛ハコウカンテ゛キヌ

I REFUSE TO EXCHANGE MY CRYSTAL FOR YOURS.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I don’t want to exchange my crystal with yours.

Comment: Both collectors use this same message, if you don’t have the exact type of crystal that triggers their exchange. A bit blunt for a “friend” if you ask me.

I love gem stones. If you find something more interesting than what you have now, come back and we might barter a bit.

Rakastan jalokiviä. Mutta sinulla ei ole sellaista kuin mistä haaveilen‥.

Je souhaite échanger ma pierre gemme, mais tu n’as pas le type de cristal que je recherche.

Ibig kong ipagpalit ang batong hiyas ko‥. Pero hindi mo dala ang nais kong kristal.

Me gustaría cambiar mi piedra preciosa... Pero no tienes el cristal que yo quiero.

Ik zou graag mijn juweel ruilen tegen die van jou. Je hebt alleen niet het soort dat ik zoek.

Jeg har lyst til å bytte bort edel- steinen min. Men du har ikke den krystall- typen jeg vil ha.

Ich bereite Edelsteine zum Tausch vor. Doch Ihr habt kein Juwel von Wert für mich.

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ココテ゛カラタ゛ヲヤスメテイキナサレチチトコトセイレイノナニオイテア-メン

REST HERE FOR A WHILE.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Let your body rest here and then go. In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Comment: Due to politics, the prayer was censored in the English version.
In the Finnish version, I initially considered adding a more elaborate prayer along the lines of ‘heavenly Father, please bless this weary traveller’, but I think it would not have been fitting for a catholic priest.

Rest here for a while. In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Lepää täällä hetki. Isän, Pojan ja Pyhän Hengen nimeen, aamen.

Tu peux te reposer ici. Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit, amen.

Magpahinga ka muna dito, iho. Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo, Amen.

Descansa aquí un momento. En el nombre del Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo, amén.

Rust hier een poosje In de naam de Vader, Zoon en Heilige geest, amen.

Hvil her en stund. I Faderen, sønnen og den hellige ånds navn. Amen.

Weile hier, bete mit mir mein Sohn. Gottes Segen sei mit Dir. Amen.

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117

ソノムチテ゛ハワシノシ゛ュモンニタエラレヌテ゛アロウテ゛ナオスカ゛ヨイ

TO BREAK MY SPELL, COME BACK WITH A POWERFUL WEAPON.

At Lower Uta Road (large blue-toned cave)

Literal translation of original Japanese text: You better replace that whip [lit. repair/heal], for it probably will not withstand my spell.

Comment: See string 14 below. (Same NPC.) The person uses old-man’s language. The English translator botched this line but it still manages to be convey the important bit.

Sorry, but your whip is too weak to withstand the power that I would bestow. Can you not find a better one?

Ruoskanne ei kestäne loitsuni voimaa. Teidän olisi hyvä hankkia vahvempi ruoska.

Désolé, ton fouet est trop faible. Il ne peut supporter le pouvoir que je veux te transmettre.

Ang latigong hawak mo ay napakahina para sa kapangyarihan na igagawad ko. Magdala ka ng matibay na latigo.

Lo siento, pero tu látigo es muy débil para aguantar el poder que le otorgo. ¿No tienes un látigo mejor?

Sorry, maar je zweep is te zwak voor de kracht die ik hem kan geven. Vind eerst een betere‥.

Beklager‼ Pisken din tåler ikke de magiske kreftene jeg kan gi den. Du må gjøre noe med det først‼

Eure Peitsche sollte man gut stählen. Brüchig wird sie meinem Zauber nicht standhalten können.

ソナタノフント゛ウノムチニシ゛ャアクヲヤキツクスチカラヲサス゛ケヨウ

I’LL GIVE YOUR MORNING STAR POWER TO BURN AWAY EVIL.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award your morning star (“whip of weight”) the power to burn the wickedness into nothing.

Comment: Hints for the player: string 63 (info: A man in darkness empowers your whip)
These five strings all used the sentence format of 「ｿﾅﾀ～ｻｽﾞｹﾖｳ」, but substring compression was not used.

I will give your Morning Star the power to burn away evil.

Annan aamu- tähdellenne voiman polttaa pimeyden tieltään.

Je vais donner à ton Etoile du Matin le pouvoir du feu.

Gagawaran ko ang iyong Buntala ng kapangyarihan na palingasin ang kasamaan.

Le daré a tu Estrella Matutina el poder para quemar la maldad.

Ik zal je Morgenster de kracht geven om het kwaad weg te branden.

Jeg kan opp- gradere din morgen- stjerne med ondskaps- brennende kraft.

Ich verleihe Eurem Morgenstern die Kraft, Geister zu verbrennen‼ Mögen sie brennen wie Zunder‼

ソナタニキヌノフクロヲサス゛ケヨウ

I’LL GIVE YOU A SILK BAG.

At Strigoi cemetary

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a silk bag.

Comment: Hints for the player: strings 33 (clue: drop garlic at graveyard, and a stranger appears), 35 (clue: there is a benefit to acquiring silk bag), 102 (info: stranger at Strigoi graveyard gives silk bag) and 69 (rumor: you get something at Strigoi graveyard)

Please accept this gift, a fine silk bag.

Lahjoitan teille tämän silkkilaukun.

Je te prie d’accepter ce présent. C’est un sac en soie.

Tanggapin mo ang aking alay sa iyo. Isang bagong sedang supot.

Por favor, acepta este regalo, una fina bolsa de seda.

Accepteer alstublieft mijn gift, het is een zijden zak.

Her har du en gave. En flott silketaske.

Herr, Ich vermache Euch diesen wertvollen Seidenbeutel.

ソナタニキ゛ンノナイフヲサス゛ケヨウ

I’LL GIVE YOU THIS SILVER KNIFE TO SAVE YOUR NECK.

At Carmilla cemetary

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a silver knife.

Comment: The “to save your neck” was added in the English translation for some reason.
Hints for the player: string 33 (clue: drop garlic at graveyard, and a stranger appears)

Please take this silver knife. It may save your life some day.

Ottakaa tämä hopeinen puukko. Se voi pelastaa henkenne.

Accepte ce couteau d’argent. Il peut te sauver la vie.

Tanggapin mo itong pilak na punyal. Matutulungan ka nito.

Por favor, toma este cuchillo de plata. Puede salvar tu vida.

Alstublieft, neem dit silveren mes. Wellicht kan het uw leven redden.

Ta denne sølvkniven. Den kan bli din redning.

Bitte nehmt diesen silbernen Dolch. Er möge Euch stets den Hals retten.

ソナタニチョウコウセキヲサス゛ケヨウ

I’LL GIVE YOU A DIAMOND.

In front of south Deborah cliff

Literal translation of original Japanese text: I will gift/grant/award you a mineral chunk ("diamond").

Comment: Hints for the player: string 92 (clue: gypsy at Deborah cliff has diamond)

I would like to give you this giant diamond.

Olkaa hyvä. Annan teille tämän timantin.

Je souhaite t’offrir cet énorme diamant.

Nais kong ihandog sa iyo itong malaking diamante.

Me gustaría darte este diamente gigante.

Ik geef je graag mijn enorm grote diamant‥. Pas op je rug‼

Jeg ønsker å gi deg denne diamanten.

Ich werde Euch meinen Rosenstein überlassen.

120

ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュヲサス゛ケヨウ

I BEG OF YOU TO TAKE THESE LAURELS.

In Laruba mansion

Literal translation of original Japanese text: Laurels will be gifted/granted/awarded.

Comment: This text is different from the others in that it lacks the word "ソナタニ", "sonata ni", meaning "to you".

Please have these laurels. God bless you.

Lahjoitan teille nämä laakerin- lehdet. Olkaa siunattu.

Prends ces lauriers, je t’en prie.

Tanggapin mo itong mga laurel. Pagpalain ka nawa ng Maykapal.

Por favor, ten estos laureles. Dios te bendiga.

Alsjeblieft. Neem mijn laurier. God zij met u.

Her‼ Ta noen laurbær. Må Gud være med deg.

Bitte, Junge, nimmt Dir soviel Lorbeerblatt Du kannst. Gott segne Dich‼

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コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノアハ゛ラホ゛ネヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S RIB.

Found in Berkeley mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s rib bone was placed in your hand.

Comment: The Japanese version used this complicated sentence for Dracula’s body parts. The English version used the word "possess" to convey the abnormality of the wording.
The NTSC English version had the word "possess" misspelled as "prossess". The PAL release had that fixed.

You now possess Dracula’s rib.

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan kylkiluun kantaja.

Tu obtiens l’os de Dracula.

Nakamtan mo ang Tadyang ni Dracula‼

Ahora posees la Costilla de Drácula.

Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s rib.

Draculas ribbein funnet.

Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Rippe.

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノシンソ゛ウヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S HEART.

Found in Rover mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s heart was placed in your hand.

You now possess Dracula’s heart.

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan sydämen kantaja.

Tu obtiens le coeur de Dracula.

Nakamtan mo ang Puso ni Dracula‼

Ahora posees el Corazón de Drácula.

Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s hart.

Draculas hjerte funnet.

Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Herz.

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノメタ゛マヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S EYEBALL.

Found in Brahm’s mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s eyeball was placed in your hand.

You now possess Dracula’s eyeball.

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan silmämunan kantaja.

Tu obtiens l’oeil de Dracula.

Nakamtan mo ang Mata ni Dracula‼

Ahora posees el Ojo de Drácula.

Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s oogbal.

Draculas øye funnet.

Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Auge.

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノツメヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S NAIL.

Found in Bodley mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s fingernail (or claw or talon) was placed in your hand.

You now possess Dracula’s nail.

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan kynnen kantaja.

Tu obtiens l’ongle de Dracula.

Nakamtan mo ang Kuko ni Dracula‼

Ahora posees la Uña de Drácula.

Vanaf nu bezit je Dracula’s nagel.

Draculas fingernegl funnet.

Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Kralle.

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノユヒ゛ワヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS DRACULA’S RING.

Found in Laruba mansion, after smashing the stake at the right thing.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, Dracula’s ring was placed in your hand.

You now possess Dracula’s ring.

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan sormuksen kantaja.

Tu obtiens l’anneau de Dracula.

Nakamtan mo ang Singsing ni Dracula‼

Ahora posees el Anillo de Drácula.

Vanaf nu Bezit je Dracula’s ring.

Draculas ring funnet.

Ihr verfügt nun über Draculas Ring.

118

コノシュンカンソナタハセイナルホノオヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS THE SACRED FLAME.

Found in a cave.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: In this instant, the sacred flame was placed in your hand.

Comment: Text follows the same pattern as with Dracula’s body parts; however, no version had the "prossess" typo here.
Hints for the player: string 32 (clue: flame is in cave), string 77 (info: flame is in the next forest (which is false))

Obtained the Sacred Flame‼

Käsissäsi on nyt pyhä soihtu.

Tu obtiens la Flamme Sacrée‼

Nakamtan mo ang Banal na Apoy‼

¡¡Obtuviste la Flama Sagrada‼

Je hebt het Heilige Vuur gevonden‼

Den hellige flamme funnet‼

Ihr nehmt Die Heilige Flamme an Euch.

コノトキソナタハロサ゛リオヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS THE MAGIC CROSS.

This item is acquired by killing Carmilla/Vampira.

Literal translation of original Japanese text: At this time, the rosary ("magic cross") was placed in your hand.

Comment: The text pattern for this and the next is different from the previous six.

Obtained the Rosary‼

Käsissäsi on nyt ruusukko.

Tu obtiens le Chapelet‼

Nakamtan mo ang Krusipiho‼

¡¡Obtuviste el Rosario‼

Je hebt het Kruis verkregen‼

Rosenkransen funnet‼

Ihr nehmt Das Rosenkreuz an Euch.

119

コノトキソナタハキンノナイフヲテニイレタ

YOU NOW POSSESS THE GOLDEN KNIFE.

This item is acquired by killing Shinigami (Death).

Literal translation of original Japanese text: At this time, the golden knife was placed in your hand.

Obtained the Golden Knife‼

Käsissäsi on nyt kultainen puukko.

Tu obtiens le Couteau Doré‼

Nakamtan no ang Gintong Punyal‼

¡¡Obtuviste el Cuchillo Dorado‼

Je hebt het Gouden Mes verkregen‼

Den gylne kniv funnet‼

Ihr nehmt Das Goldene Messer an Euch.

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カシノキノクイヲカッテユカヌカ?

INVEST IN AN OAK STAKE?

Exists in all five mansions. Cost: 50 ♥, one-time use

Comment: All of these Japanese texts follow the pattern, “<item> wo katteyukanuka” (which I think is short for more modern “<item> wo katte ikanai ka”, meaning literally "Would it not be good for you to buy <item>" said in a humble, indirect manner typical to Japanese). The English versions have more variance to them, but are still restricted to the two lines of text. In the Finnish version, I have up to five lines of text (or six, if I want to sacrifice the top margin).

Would you like to invest in an oak stake?

Myyn ikivihreästä tammesta veistettyjä vaarnoja.

Veux-tu investir dans un pieu en chêne?

Gusto mo bang bumili ng isang ensinang tulos?

¿Te gustaría invertir en una estaca de roble?

Voelt u wat voor de aanschaf van een eiken staak?

Ønsker du å investere i en eikestake?

Asche für den Pflock aus Eiche?

ニンニクヲカッテユカヌカ?

WILL YOU BUY SOME GARLIC?

Exists in Aljiba and Aldra. Cost: 50 ♥ for 2

Comment: Because this same dialog item (and the above, and the below) is used by multiple vendors, it cannot be made too personal.

Garlic‼ Get your best quality garlic here, while supplies last.

Myyn itse kasvatettua valkosipulia.

Je vends de l’ail. Veux-tu en acheter?

Bawang ang tinda ko. Bibili ka? Maganda ang klase nito.

Vendo ajo. ¿Quieres un poco? Te garantizo la calidad.

Wilt u wat knoflook kopen? De kwaliteit is uitstekend.

Jeg selger hvitløk. Vil du ha? De har full smaksgaranti.

Ich biete frischen Knoblauch an. Wollt Ihr welchen?

ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュヲカッテユカヌカ?

BUY SOME OF MY LAURELS?

Exists in Aljiba, Aldra, Ondol and Doina. Cost: 50 ♥ for 2

Would you buy some of my laurels?

Myyn laakeripuun lehtiä. Ostatteko muutaman?

Veux-tu m’acheter du laurier?

Bibili ka ba ng mga tinda kong laurel?

¿Comprarás algunos de mis laureles?

Wilt u wat van mijn laurier kopen?

Vil du kjøpe noen av mine laurbær?

Wollt Ihr Lorbeer erstehen?

シロスイショウヲカッテユカヌカ?

BUY A WHITE CRYSTAL?

In Jova. The only outdoors vendor. Cost: 50 ♥

Would you like to buy a white crystal? It has untold magical powers.

Ostatteko minulta kirkkaan, valkoisen kristallin?

Veux-tu acheter un cristal blanc?

Bibili ka ba ng isang puting kristal?

¿Comprarás un cristal blanco?

Belang bij een wit, sprankelend kristal?

Vil du kjøpe en hvit krystall?

Wollt Ihr meinen weißen Bergkristall erstehen?

セイスイヲカッテユカヌカ?

WANT TO BUY HOLY WATER?

In Jova. Cost: 50 ♥

I sell Holy Water. It is very potent‼ Are you interested?

Minä myyn pyhitettyä vettä. Erittäin riittoisaa.

Je vends de l’Eau Bénite. N’hésite pas.

Tinda ko ay Agua-Bendita. Bilhin mo na at hindi ka magsisisi.

Vendo Agua Bendita. Compra, y no te arrepentirás.

Ik verkoop Heilig water. Je zult geen spijt van je koop krijgen.

Jeg selger vievann. Kjøp litt‼ Du vil ikke angre på det.

Wollt Ihr Weihwasser erstehen? Es wird Euch helfen‼

イハ゛ラノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?

BUY A THORN WHIP?

In Jova. Cost: 100 ♥

Home-made thorn whips for sale. Buy one?

Ostakaa hyvä piikkiruoska.

Je vends mon fouet d’épines. Veux- tu l’acheter?

Ang tinda ko ay latigong tinik. Bibilhin mo ba?

Estoy vendiendo este látigo de espinas. ¿Vas a comprarlo?

Ik verkoop mijn oude doorn-zweep. Wil jij hem kopen?

Jeg har en tornepisk til salgs. Vil du kjøpe den av meg?

Ich biete diese Dornen-Peitsche an. Wollt Ihr sie erwerben?

クサリノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?

PURCHASE A CHAIN WHIP?

In Veros. Cost: 150 ♥

This chain whip is worth its price. Are you interested?

Tämä vahva ketjuruoska on hintansa arvoinen. Kiinnostaako?

Ce fouet chaîne est incroyable. Es- tu intéressé?

Sulit ang halaga ng latigong kadena ko. Bibilhin mo?

Este látigo de cadena vale todo su precio. ¿Estás interesado?

Deze ketting zweep is z’n geld waard. Heb je interesse?

En kjetting- pisk er prisen verdt. Har du lyst til å kjøpe en av meg?

Diese Ketten- Peitsche ist ihren Preis wert.

フント゛ウノムチヲカッテユカヌカ?

MORNING STAR - BUY ONE?

In Ondol. Cost: 200 ♥

This is the Morning Star. Its tip has a spiky steel ball.

Tämän ruoskan päässä on piikkipallo. Kutsun sitä aamutähdeksi.

l’Etoile du Matin a des épines en acier.

Ang Buntala ay kadenang may bakal na bola sa dulo. Walang tawad‼

La punta de la Estrella Matutina tiene una bola de acero con puntas.

De morgenster heeft een gepunte ijzeren bal aan het eind.

Ytterst på morgen- stjernen sitter en ball med pigger. Er det noe du vil ha?

Der Kopf des Morgensterns ist wuchtig‼ Wollt Ihr ihn erwerben?

タンケンヲカッテユカヌカ?

WILL YOU BUY A DAGGER?

In Veros. Cost: 50 ♥

Awesome daggers for sale‼ Super cheap‼

Ostakaa hyvä tikari‼ Ei maksa paljoa.

Dagues à vendre‼ Petit prix‼

Bili na ng astig na mga punyal‼ Murang mura‼

¡¡Asombrosas dagas en venta‼ ¡¡Muy baratas‼

Prachtige dolken te koop‼ Super goedkoop‼

Kule kniver til salgs‼ Superbillig‼

Wollt Ihr Wurf- Dolche von mir erwerben?

These strings never appear in dialog in the English version. They could be used as substrings (and indeed were used as such in the Japanese version), but the English translators did not utilize that feature (which still remains in the game). For no reason at all, they entered "NOTHING" into those table items, probably for the poor translator not understanding what they are used for. The engine of the English versions still had support for the substrings (despite being never used), and I utilized it in the retranslation(s) just for fun.

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

NOTHING.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

▬►

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

NOTHING.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

◄▬

┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ ◄▬

アュオ

NOTHING.

Substring: <garbage>

you

alkosipuli

demeure

ala

acertijo

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

NOTHING.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

Mansion

kantaja.

laurier

úñ

acht

Ihr

ヲテニイレタ

NOTHING.

Substring: was placed in your hand.

You

sijaitsee

eñt

s Woud

スイショウ

NOTHING.

Substring: crystal

sta

ayan

Bosqúe

aar

sch

ヲカッテユカヌカ?

NOTHING.

Substring: -the-buying-of would be okay, no? (i.e. will you buy)

laurels

metsä

ais

Mansyon ni

la Mañsióñ

ijn

ケ゛ッケイシ゛ュ

NOTHING.

Substring: laurel

indice

laúreles

Verlasst die Raubersburg ni

ミキ゛

NOTHING.

Substring: Right

laakerin- leh

imetière

aghihintay

ista

ヒタ゛リ

NOTHING.

Substring: Left

Dracula

ristal

kristal

maldicióñ

Knoblauch

ヲトリカエアナタニワタシノオモイヲタクソウ

NOTHING.

Substring: would like to exchange with that of yours.

here

sinu

Veux-tu

laurel

qúisiera cambiarlo por tú

noflook

Draculas

ト゛ラキュラノナソ゛ヲトクフ゛ンケンカ゛

NOTHING.

Substring: Clues to Dracula’s riddle are

Please

est

cht

ニネムルトツタエラレテイル

NOTHING.

Substring: -in-something sleeps, it is said.

crystal

┄┄┄

acheter

púeblo

van

en.

108

NOTHING.

täällä

ang

¡¡Obtúviste

raadsel

109

NOTHING.

will

ihjeitä

aka

┄┄┄

erwerben?

110

NOTHING.

with

est

ito

esper

eilig

┄┄┄

111

NOTHING.

lla

┄┄┄

kasamaan.

añt

lsjeblieft

Seidenbeutel

112

NOTHING.

curse

attend

ver

Ein Freund wartet in

113

NOTHING.

┄┄┄

taa

ivière

┄┄┄

van

Fluss

114

NOTHING.

ight

Olen kuullut, että

mga

a. Debes ir coñ él.

┄┄┄

versteck

115

NOTHING.

that

Joudutaanpa sitten

lijk

ist

128

must go and meet him.

uolema

e gústaría

Rosenkreuz

129

really

kirouks

d’Aljiba

Mansyon ni Berkeley.

Friedhof

130

ould

Kun menet Laruba

e re

bugto

eñ

Het

überlass

131

pyhitettyä vettä

ant

ako

para

oor

Woll

132

some

nne

que

ocúlt

Je hebt

die

133

ver

voi

ille

Estrella Matútiña

das

134

garlic

orêt

iyo

n Pflock aus Eiche

135

kaa

pouvoir

doon.

, pero

zal

nehmt

136

have

ssa

La Flamme Sacrée

latigo

dat

si.

nde

137

Obtained

lle

Bibil

ompra

vloek

138

and

stä

demoñio

kristal

ristall

139

Woods

ssä

pag

met

140

emetery

si.

ama

múros maligños.

cht

che

141

Let’s

hin

coñ

lauri

auf

142

ruusukko

cach

púed

niet

. Viel Erfolg.

143

one

tteko

our

eñ

lt u wat

ver

144

sapphire

lli

ita

Edelst

145

giant diamond.

emon

paraît

Krusipiho

ñdo

diamant

Aljiba

146

joka

awa

ill

147

for

ruosk

end

ata

úñ

ann

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 1.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

You now possess Dracula’s

Nyt olet kreivi Draculan

sur l’énigme de Dracula

Drácúla

Dracula’s

Ihr besitzt nun Draculas

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 2.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

the

Draculan arvoitukse

Tu obtiens l

Ahora posees

Draculas Vermächtnis

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 3.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

to Dracula’s riddle

Nakamtan mo a

qúe

Vanaf nu bezit je

Ich

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 4.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

you

an kylässä. Muista käydä tapaamassa häntä.

Dracula

eine

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 5.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

the

Käsissäsi on nyt

Je souhaite échanger m

en.

Euch

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 6.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

ing

n kartano

dans

het

t Ihr

コノシュンカンソナタハト゛ラキュラノ

YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL HAS INCREASED TO 7.

Substring: At this instant, Dracula’s

Comment: The maximum level is actually 6. Attempting to invoke level 7 by cheat codes will cause out-of-bounds array access at a few places.
In any case, these seven texts are never used in the game, as explained earlier.

The

malédiction

Por favor

het

Japanese text

English text

Explanations

Re EN

Re FI

Re FR

Re TL

Re ES

NL (WIP)

NN (WIP)

DE (WIP)

end1

AND THE BATTLE ENDED. SIMON BELMONT PUT AN ETERNAL PERIOD TO THE LEGEND OF DRACULA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT PENETRA- TED INTO THE GROUND OF TRA- NSYLVANIA WILL BRING US FULL- BLOWN FLOWERS WITH HAPPINESS IN NEXT SPRING . TOAST TO YOUR 0DAYS’ BATTLE PROGRAMMED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTIC INVINCIBILITY AKAMATSU PERMANENCE IWASA PHILOSOPHY TOGAKUSHI MASTERPIECE KAWANISHI SENSITIVITY HATANO EXCELLENCE TERASHIMA AMBIVALENCE KUWAHARA FLOURISH HIGASA ADMIRATION OHYAMA WARM-HEART MATSUOKA SUPERIORITY MURATA SYNCHRONISM MATSUBARA CIRCUMSTANCE KONAMI

THE ENCOUNTER WITH DRACULA IS TERMINATED. SIMON BELMONT HAS PUT AN END TO THE ETERNAL DARKNESS IN TRANSYLVANIA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT HAVE PENETRATED THE EARTH AND WILL INDUCE MAGIC & HAPPINESS FOR THOSE WHO WALK ON THIS LAND.

Beat game at day 0—7. String numbers: Japanese=0—15; 48—80, English=0—15

Comment: Yes, the Japanese version is in English, and it is also longer than the English version. The ending also includes the number of days it took to beat the game. To compensate for the longer duration it takes to display the text, the Japanese ending song also includes multiple stancas. Both songs last for the duration of their respective texts.

Note: There are no “good” or “bad” endings. There are three endings. They are:
Ending 1 (<9 days): Simon won. But in an ironical twist, Dracula still wakes up.
Ending 2 (9…23 days): Simon won, but it took him just a bit too long and he did not make it.
Ending 3 (≥ 24 days): Simon won, but it was way too late for him personally. The ending text is an eulogy.

Currently the ending texts in the re-translation (both English and Finnish) are a bit mis-adjusted to account for these descriptions.

Interestingly the crew roles are replaced with characteristics. I have heard a theory that this was to avoid headhunters. Konami wanted to keep their workers.

THE BATTLE WITH DRACULA HAS CONCLUDED. SIMON BELMONT HAS PUT AN END TO THE ETERNAL DARKNESS IN TRANSYLVANIA. HIS BLOOD AND SWEAT HAVE PENETRATED THE EARTH AND WILL INDUCE PEACE & SERENITY FOR THOSE WHO WALK ON THIS LAND. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 0 DAYS.

JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. DRACULAN KIROUS ON PÄÄTTYNYT IKIAJOIKSI, JA RAUHA JA ONNI OVAT PALANNEET TRANSYLVANIAAN. SANKARIN NIMI ON IKIAJOIKSI PAINETTU KAN- SAN SYDÄMIIN. SE NIMI, JOKA ON SINUN NIMESI, ON: SIMON BELMONT. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 0 PÄIVÄSSÄ.

LE COMBAT CONTRE DRACULA EST TERMINE. SIMON BELMONT A MIS FIN A L’ETERNELLE OBSCURITE EN TRANSYLVANIE. SON SANG A PENETRE LA TERRE, ET VA APPORTER MAGIE ET BONHEUR A CEUX QUI MARCHERONT ICI. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 0 JOURS.

ANG LABAN KAY DRACULA AY NAGWAKAS. NAWAKASAN NI SIMON BELMONT ANG SUKDULANG KADILIMAN SA TRANSYLVANIA. ANG DUGO’T PAWIS NIYA AY TUMAGOS SA LUPA AT MAGPA- PANATILI SA KAPAYAPAAN AT KATAHIMIKAN SA LUPAING ITO. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 0 NA ARAW.

LA BATALLA CON DRACULA HA CONCLUIDO. SIMON BELMONT HA PUESTO UN FIN A LA ETERNA OSCURIDAD. SU SANGRE Y SUDOR HAN PENETRADO LA TIERRA E INDUCIRAN PAZ Y SERENIDAD PARA AQUELLOS EN ESTA TIERRA. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 0 DIAS.

HET GEVECHT MET DRACULA IS GEEINDIGD. SIMON BELMONT HEEFT EEN EIND GEMAAKT AAN DE DUISTERNIS IN TRANSYLVANIE. ZIJN BLOED EN ZWEET ZIJN DOOR DE AARDE OP GENOMEN EN ZORGEN VOOR RUST EN VREDE VOOR WIE HET LAND BETREED. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 0 DAGEN.

JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 0 TAGEN.DER KAMP’ MIT DRACULA IST GESCHLAGEN. SIMON BELMONT BEENDETE DIE EWIGE ’INSTERNIS TRANSSYLVANIENS. SEIN BLUT UND SEIN SCHWEISS DWNGTEN DIE ERDE UND SCHA’’TEN ’RIEDE UND RUHE ’WR JENE, DIE DURCH DAS LAND SCHREITEN.

end2

AND THE BATTLE ENDED. BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY SUFFER- ED DURING THE BATTLE,SIMMON BELMONT PASSED AWAY. UNTIL A YOUNG MAN TO FIGHT AGAINST EVILS LIKE HIM COMES AGAIN TO THIS WORLD, TRANSYLVANIANS WILL KEEP PRA- YING FOREVER. TOAST TO YOUR 9DAYS’ BATTLE <credits>

ALTHOUGH THE CONFONTATION BETWEEN SIMON AND DRACULA HAS CONCLUDED, SIMON COULDN’T SURVIVE HIS FATAL WOUNDS. TRANSYLVANIA’S ONLY HOPE IS A YOUNG MAN WHO WILL TRIUMPH OVER EVIL AND RID THE CITY OF DRACULA’S DEADLY CURSE.

Beat game at day 8—14. String numbers: Japanese=16—31; 48—80, English=16—31

Comment: The English version is a horrible mistranslation. It makes it look like Simon did not accomplish anything. The original intention appears to have been moreover, that the world lost a great hero. The concept of praying was removed for political reasons.

AND THE BATTLE ENDED. BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY SUFFE- RED DURING THE BATTLE, SIMON BELMONT PASSED AWAY. UNTIL A YOUNG MAN TO FIGHT AGAINST EVILS LIKE HIM COMES AGAIN TO THIS WORLD, TRANSYLVANIANS WILL KEEP PRAY- ING FOREVER. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 9 DAYS.

JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. MUTTA VAIKKA DRACULA ONKIN VOITETTU, SIMON BELMONT MENEHTYI KÄRSIMIINSÄ HAAVOIHIN. TRANSYLVANIA RUKOILEE, ETTÄ NOUSEE UUSI NUORUKAINEN, SANKARI, JOKA TAISTELEE PI- MEYTTÄ VASTAAN KUTEN HÄN TEKI. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 9 PÄIVÄSSÄ.

LE COMBAT EST TERMINE. SIMON BELMONT N’A CEPENDANT PAS SURVECU A SES BLESSURES. LE PEUPLE DE TRANSYLVANIE CONTINUE DE PRIER, EN ATTENDANT QU’UN AUTRE HOMME COMME LUI VIENNE COMBATTRE LE MAL. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 9 JOURS.

AT ANG LABANAN AY NAGWAKAS. GAYONMAN, SA NATAMONG PINSALA SA LABANAN, SI SIMON BELMONT AY PUMANAW. HANGGA’T MAY TAONG LALABAN SA KASAMAAN KAGAYA NIYA, ANG MGA TAO’Y MAGHIHINTAY SA KANYA NG HABAMBUHAY. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 9 NA ARAW.

Y LA BATALLA TERMINO. PERO DEBIDO A LAS HERIDAS SUFRIDAS EN BATALLA, SIMON BELMONT HA FALLECIDO. HASTA QUE OTRO JOVEN QUE LUCHE CONTRA LA MALDAD VENGA A ESTE MUNDO, LA GENTE SEGUIRA ORANDO. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 9 DIAS.

HET GEVECHT IS TEN EINDE. MAAR DOOR DE GELEDEN VERWONDINGEN OVERLEED SIMON BELMONT. TOT DAT EEN JONGE MAN HET GEVECHT TEGEN HET KWAAD OPNIEW AANGAAT ZULLEN DE TRANSYLVANIERS VOOR ALTIJD BLIJVEN BIDDEN. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 9 DAGEN.

JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 9 TAGEN.DIE SCHLACHT ENDET. ABER SIMON BELMONT IST SEINEN VERLETZUNGEN ERLEGEN. BIS NUN WIEDER EIN JUNGER MANN DIE KWHNHEIT BESITZT, SICH DER MACHT DES BQSEN ZU STELLEN, WERDEN DIE BWRGER VON TRANSSYLVANIEN BETEN MWSSEN.

end3

AND THE BATTLE ENDED. NOW THE PEACE AND CALM HAVE ARRIVED BACK AT TRANS- YLVANIA JUST LIVE BEFORE. THE NAME OF THE HERO WILL BE ETCHED UPON OUR MIND DEEP- LY. HIS NAME IS SIMMON BEL- MONT,THAT IS THE NAME OF YOURSELF. TOAST TO YOUR 24DAYS’ BATTLE <credits>

THE BATTLE HAS CONSUMMATED. NOW PEACE AND SERENITY HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO TRANSYLVANIA AND THE PEOPLE ARE FREE OF DRACULA’S CURSE FOREVER. AND YOU, SIMON BELMONT, WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE.

Beat game at day 15—99. String numbers: Japanese=32—47; 48—81, English=32—47

Comment: The word, “live”, is an authentic typo in the Japanese version.
The Japanese version contains an easter egg: If the game was beat exactly on day 69 (not before, not later), an extra line is displayed after the text: SEE YOU AGAIN. The English version still contains this check, but it does not work, because the text is shorter and thus never reaches line number 80.

THE BATTLE HAS CONSUMMATED. NOW PEACE AND HAPPINESS HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO TRANSYLVANIA AND THE PEOPLE ARE FREE OF DRACULA’S CURSE FOREVER. AND YOU, SIMON BELMONT, WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE. TOAST, TO THE VICTORY, ACHIEVED IN 24 DAYS.

JA NIIN PÄÄTTYI TAISTELU. DRACULAN KIROUS ON PÄÄTTYNYT IKIAJOIKSI, JA TRANSYLVANIA, JONKA MAAHAN SANKARI SIMON BELMONT HAUDATTIIN, TULEE KEVÄÄNÄ KUKKIMAAN JA KUKOISTAMAAN ONNEA JA RAUHAA SYMBOLISOIDEN. KOHOTTAKAAMME MALJA VOITOLLE, JOKA ON SAATU 24 PÄIVÄSSÄ.

LE COMBAT EST TERMINE. LA TRANSYLVANIE A RETROUVE PAIX ET SERENITE. LE PEUPLE EST LIBERE DE LA MALEDICTION DE DRACULA POUR TOUJOURS. LA BRAVOURE ET LE COURAGE DE SIMON BELMONT MARQUERONT LES ESPRITS A JAMAIS. BRAVO POUR CETTE VICTOIRE OBTENUE EN 24 JOURS.

ANG LABANAN AY NAGWAKAS. KAPAYAPAAN AT KALIGAYAHAN AY NANUMBALIK SA TRANSYLVANIA AT ANG MGA TAO AY MALAYA NA SA SUMPA NI DRACULA NANG HABAMBUHAY. AT IKAW, SIMON BELMONT, AY MAALALA SA IYONG GITING AT TAPANG. ANG TAGUMPAY AY NAKAMTAN SA LOOB NG 24 NA ARAW.

LA BATALLA HA TERMINADO. AHORA LA PAZ Y LA FELICIDAD HAN SIDO RESTAURADOS A TRANSILVANIA Y LA GENTE ESTA LIBRE DE LA MALDICION. Y TU, SIMON BELMONT, SERAS RECORDADO SIEMPRE POR TU VALENTIA Y CORAJE. SALUD, POR LA VICTORIA, LOGRADA EN 24 DIAS.

HET GEVECHT EINDIGD HIER. GELUK EN VREDE ZIJN HERSTELD IN TRANSYLAVIE DE MENSEN ZIJN VOOR ALTIJD VERLOST VAN DRACULA’S VLOEK. JIJ SIMON BELMONT, ZAL ALTIJD WORDEN HERINNNERD VOOR JE HELDHAFTIGHEID EN MOEDIGHEID. PROOST,OP DE OVERWINNING, BEHAALD IN 24 DAGEN.

DIE SCHLACHT IST GESCHLAGEN. ’RIEDE UND ’REUDE SIND NACH TRANSSYLVANIEN ZURWCKGEKEHRT. DRACULAS ’LUCH IST ’WR IMMER GEBANNT. UND IHR, SIMON BELMONT, WERDET ’WR IMMER ’WR EURE HELDENTATEN IN ERINNERUNG BLEIBEN. JUBEL ’WR EUREN ER’OLG, ERREICHT IN 24 TAGEN.

Truthfulness analysis on dialog text

Legend

Total nonsense / irrelevant text

Minor misinformation

True, but incomprehensible

True, but a bit vague

True and clear

Re.	String ID	Japanese	English	Difference	Explanations
NPCS THAT APPEAR TO PROVIDE GAME-APPLICABLE ADVICE
✓	102: GET A SILK BAG FROM THE GRAVEYARD DUCK TO LIVE LONGER.	vague	cryptic	-1	Translation neglects detail: Graveyard name. Japanese idiom does not exist in English.
?	72: YOU LOOK PALE,MY SON. YOU MUST REST IN THE CHURCH.	vague	vague	0	Flavor; ok in any case
?	88: THE DEAD RIVER WAITS TO BE FREED FROM THE CURSE.	vague	vague	0
?	63: A MAN LIVING IN DARKNESS CAN GIVE YOUR WHIP POWER.	vague	vague	0
✓	65: A MAGIC POTION WILL DESTROY THE WALL OF EVIL.	good	vague	-1	Translation neglects detail: hurts enemies. Strange wording
✓	64: A RIB CAN SHIELD YOU FROM EVIL.	good	vague	-1	Translation neglects detail: Dracula’s bone, not just any bone
✓	61: YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN THE TOWN OF ALDRA. GO AND SEE HIM.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	57: YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND WAITING FOR YOU IN THE TOWN OF ALJIBA.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	78: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF VEROS.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	79: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE TOWN OF ALBA.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness; Typo: should be Aljiba
✓	80: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BERKELEY MANSION.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	104: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN BODLEY MANSION.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	105: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN ROVER MANSION.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	49: REST HERE FOR A WHILE.	good	good	0	Victim of policies
✓	117: TO BREAK MY SPELL, COME BACK WITH A POWERFUL WEAPON.	good	good	0	Translation is different
?	96: BUY SOME GARLIC. IT HAS SPECIAL POWERS.	cryptic	good	2	Minor mistranslation actually improves text
✓	56: FIRST THING TO DO IN THIS TOWN IS BUY A WHITE CRYSTAL.	good	good	0
✓	106: THE CROSS IN LARUBA’S MANSION MUST BE FOUND.	good	good	0
✓	91: A LAUREL WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE POISON MARSH.	good	good	0
✓	62: 13 CLUES WILL SOLVE DRACULA’S RIDDLE.	good	false	-4	Translation errors falsify this
✓	76: A CROOKED TRADER IS OFFERING BUM DEALS IN THIS TOWN.	good	false	-4	Lost in translation
✓	89: DRACULA’S EYEBALL REFLECTS THE CURSE.	good	false	-4	Lost in translation
✓	103: CLUES TO DRACULA’S RIDDLE ARE IN THE VEROS WOODS.	false	false	0	Lack of map degraded usefulness; Error in original text. Fixed in retranslation.
!	93: HIT DEBORAH CLIFF WITH YOUR HEAD TO MAKE A HOLE.	false	false	0
!	68: RUMOR HAS IT , THE FERRYMAN AT DEAD RIVER LOVES GARLIC.	false	false	0
!	77: A FLAME IS ON TOP OF THE 6TH TREE IN DENIS WOODS.	false	false	0
!	69: DIG UP THE 4TH GRAVE IN THE CEMETERY FOR A DIAMOND.	false	false	0	Translation neglects detail: Graveyard name
!	87: TO RESTORE YOUR LIFE, SHOUT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.	false	false	0	Possible pun not translated
STATUS
Re.	String ID	Japanese	English	Difference	Explanations
✓	0: WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE.	good	good	0	Minor translation difference
✓	1: THE MORNING SUN HAS VANQUISHED THE HORRIBLE NIGHT.	good	good	0	Minor translation difference

Re.	String ID	Japanese	English	Difference	Explanations
CLUES
✓	13: TO REPLENISH EARTH ,KNEEL BY THE LAKE WITH THE BLUE CRYSTAL.	good	good	0	Strange wording; erroneous placement of comma
✓	30: A SYMBOL OF EVIL WILL APPAER WHEN YOU STRIKE THE STAKE.	good	good	0	Translation neglects detail: Symbol of Dracula; Contains a typo
✓	33: GARLIC IN THE GRAVEYARD SUMMONS A STRANGER.	good	good	0	Translation neglects detail: Kills enemies
✓	66: CLEAR A PATH AT BERKELEY MANSION WITH A WHITE CRYSTAL.	good	good	0	Translation neglects detail: Crystal is related to sight.
✓	92: AN OLD GYPSY HOLDS A DIAMOND IN FRONT OF DEBORAH CLIFF.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness
✓	36: WAIT FOR A SOUL WITH A RED CRYSTAL ON DEBORAH CLIFF.	good	vague	-1	Lack of map degraded usefulness; strange wording
✓	20: DRACULA’S NAIL MAY SOLVE THE EVIL MYSTERY.	good	cryptic	-2	Lost in translation
✓	31: DESTROY THE CURSE AND YOU’LL RULE BRAHM’S MANSION.	good	cryptic	-2	Lost in translation
?	34: DESTROY THE CURSE WITH DRACULA’S HEART.	vague	cryptic	-1	Translation neglects detail: The curse of someone particular
?	35: PLACE THE LAURELS IN A SILK BAG TO BRING THEM TO LIFE.	vague	cryptic	-1	Translation error in #37 makes this less useful
?	17: DRACULA’S EVIL KNIFE BLURS CAMILLA’S VISION.	vague	nonsense	-4	Lost in translation
✓	32: A FLAME FLICKERS INSIDE THE RING OF FIRE.	good	nonsense	-5	Lost in translation
✓	37: THE CURSE HAS KILLED THE LAUREL TREE.	good	nonsense	-5	Totally lost in translation
TANGENTIAL NPCS
Re.	String ID	Japanese	English	Difference	Explanations
?	67: LAURELS IN YOUR SOUP ENHANCES ITS AROMA.	vague	nonsense	-4	Pun lost in translation; as result, actual gameplay hint was lost, too
‽	73: DON’T LOOK INTO THE DEATH STAR, OR YOU WILL DIE.	nonsense	nonsense	0	Lost in translation, but meaningless in any case
‽	70: BELIEVE IN MAGIC AND YOU’LL BE SAVED.	nonsense	nonsense	0	Victim of policies
‽	75: WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, WOMEN LOVED ME.	nonsense	nonsense	0	Terser than original
‽	90: LET’S LIVE HERE TOGETHER.	nonsense	nonsense	0
‽	95: SORRY, PAL. NO TIME NOW, MAYBE LATER.	nonsense	nonsense	0
‽	97: I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR A GOOD LOOKING GUY LIKE YOU.	nonsense	nonsense	0
‽	98: I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.	nonsense	nonsense	0	Translation is different
‽	100: GET BACK‼	nonsense	nonsense	0
‽	94: AFTER CASTLEVANIA I WARNED YOU NOT TO RETURN.	nonsense	nonsense	0	Translation is different
‽	101: YOU’VE UPSET THE PEOPLE. NOW GET OUT OF TOWN‼	nonsense	false	1	Translation is different
!	71: TAKE MY DAUGHTER, PLEASE‼	false	false	0
!	74: DON’T MAKE ME STAY. I’LL DIE.	false	false	0
!	99: I’LL SEE YOU AT MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER BANK.	false	false	0

Title screens.
	Japanese version This was the original animated title screen of Castlevania II, only seen in the Famicom Disk System version of the game.
	North-American English version (NTSC) Published one year after the Japanese version. Likely due to political reasons, the blood effect from the Japanese version was not preserved in overseas releases. Aside from changing a period to a comma, the prologue text was however kept completely unchanged, despite the occurrence of the word “hell”. The nice-looking apostrophe in the word “you’ve” is actually a comma that is on the preceding line. The Konami logo and the filmroll are placed eight pixels lower on the screen than in the FDS version, most likely due to attribute table limitations in the console hardware, and also to make sure that if something ends up being clipped because of overscan (cheap TVs render part of the content outside their own viewport), it is not the Konami logo that gets clipped.
	International English version (PAL) Published two years after the USA version. The reference to Nintendo was made simply, “Nintendo”, rather than “Nintendo of America, Inc.”
	Finnish version I included the Japanese release year, 1987, and the two English release years in the Konami copyright year listing, because I incorporated features from all three releases. The name of the company, Konami, was stripped of the extra legalese to match the Japanese version, and because of layout reasons. The filmroll is eight pixels taller than in the other versions in order to make room for the version information textbox. As a consequence, the filmroll now nearly touches the edge of the Konami logo.

Simon's Quest (Castlevania II / ドラキュラII 呪いの封印) version differences and translation mysteries dissected

Images

Dialog text

Truthfulness analysis on dialog text

Simon's Quest (Castlevania II / ドラキュラII 呪いの封印)
version differences and translation mysteries dissected