Hiya DLBP et al,
Been an avid lurker of this project for a while but have decided to speak only now that I've had the opportunity to start going through the retranslated version of the game. I've been taking notes as I go along and here's what I have so far:
Beginning of game: “Ex-Soldier, huh? Don't trust ya!”
How about..: “Ex-Soldier, huh? Well I don't trust ya.”
The quote above represents an entire subject area rather than just an individual change. I know you've been trying to implement broken British slang into the project to add flavour but I'm finding that a few other testers think they're grammatical errors instead. Sorry to say but I don't think it's worked as well as you intended and would at least recommend changing such lines for the US version.
Fight for Sector 7 Pillar: “If things get too hairy, we'll scarper”
How about..: “If things get too hairy, we'll scamper”
Yet again, as scarper is British slang I'd recommend changing the phrase above at least in the US version. Having never heard the phrase before, an American colleague thought it was a spelling mistake.
Beginning of the Nibelheim Flashback: “Up until then.”
How about..:“Up until one day...”
Sounds slightly odd. Although the alternative I've suggested sounds cheesy, I feel it would go down better with players. If you do change it, don't forget to also change Aerith's repeat line after to match it.
Nibelheim Flashback: “He was a walking mass of complexes”
How about..: “He is a walking mass of complexes” or “I remember him being a walking mass of complexes”
Misused tense - possibly infers that Hojo is dead. Depending on how much you think Hojo is still a part of Sephiroth's life I would recommend either of these lines instead.
Nibelheim Flashback: “What are you going to do about this grief!?'”...
How about..: “What about all of my grief?”...
I think that's what is meant, right?
Mythril Cave: “Leno sends his warm regards. He's hoping to meet you again after the wounds heal up.”
How about..: “Leno sends his warm regards. He's looking forward to crossing your path again, after his wounds heal up.”
Just some grammatical changes here.
Mythril Cave: “Now that you're best friends he wants to share his new weapon with you all”
How about..: “Now that you're best friends, he wants you to be the first to meet his new weapon.”
This one's a bit petty but I think it reads slightly better.
Fort Condor 1st time - Red XIII: “Yes, We'll lend a hand.”
How about..:“Yes, we'll lend a paw.”
This last request is another petty change but I think from Red XIII's view it would be what he'd say.
That's as far as I have played up to.
Haha I definitely got a bit carried away. Part of it is that it's only been recently that I fully understood that Jenova had shapeshifted at all. When I was younger I thought that the Sephiroth that was walking around was a telepathic projection. When I found out how wrong I was, it just got me really curious into how that had all worked out, and it's kinda fascinated me since.
...
I've long felt that the sword used to kill President Shinra is indeed a shape-shifted part of Jenova, rather than the actual Masamune. I get the impression that Jenova doesn't have a problem being physically separated for long periods of time and that through 'reunion' she can command her various strands to travel and reform when desired.
In the game, it is Sephiroth who controls Jenova. He has a remarkable strength-of-will, which is part of the reason he wasn't fully disseminated into the lifestream and it was this willpower that allows him to control Jenova, rather than vice-versa. When Cloud comes into close-contact with Jenova in the Shinra building, the meeting actually triggers Sephiroth into slowly awakening from his slumber in the northern crater. That night he tells Jenova to break free and take on his original appearance as she works her way up to the top floor. Hence the notable claw marks and blood trail slowly desisting as you work your way up the building, after being released.
EDIT: As for what I remember about the Masamune you can win at the Gold Saucer, isn't it noted as being a replica while highlighted in the inventory?
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