Which of the Two Retranslations of Chrono Trigger should I use?

[AceofWind]

There are two finished retranslations of Chrono Trigger available here, one by Kajar Laboratories and one by Doctor L. I want to make sure I don't get too far in either game only to find out several errors have been implemented making me want to switch to the other translation and start over for near perfection sake. So does anyone know which I should choose?

[Ryusui]

If you want a Chrono Trigger retranslation, play the DS version. Ignore the bonus content if you like; the only "new" thing you can't avoid is a fifteen-second cutscene showing the bonus dungeons opening up the first time.

[Jorpho]

I suppose the question is whether you want something absolutely literal or not.  The Kajar Laboratories patch spawned a lengthy discussion on whether literal translations are inherently bad, with one argument being that it was never so much intended to provide a quality gaming experience as much as it was to provide a solid reference for any questions regarding the true intent of lines in the released version.

But indeed, there's nothing wrong with the DS version.

[Dwedit]

What's wrong with the original SNES version?

[Ryusui]

Nothing. Personally, I'd recommend it over the fan retranslations, which are more concerned about mechanical accuracy than quality of dialogue. It has its glitches, but it's got the best script of any SNES RPG. (Arguably, FFVI has a larger number of memorable lines, but its glitches are more annoying overall.)

[Jorpho]

What's wrong with the original SNES version?

"One of you is close to someone who needs help. Find this person, fast." is pretty infamous.

[Ryusui]

Yeah...the original is more a general suggestion, rather than an urgent exhortation.

[Geiger]

While Woolsey made a few errors here and there in his translations, they still tend to be significantly warmer, more vibrant, and generally better than any fan translation I have ever seen.  The people behind these translations don't seem to understand how localization is supposed to work.

I would have never purchased Final Fantasy VI if it had the fan translation dialogue.

[Jorpho]

True, but it's a pretty terrible mistake there and I can understand why it might really put people off.  There's a bit in http://www.socksmakepeoplesexy.net/index.php?a=trigger that sums it up nicely, I think.

[AceofWind]

I ended up going with Doctor L's translation since it's the newest, there are few spelling and grammer issues here and there but nothing to fret over. As some of you may not have thought, I've already played the original snes game but I didn't beat it yet. I got up to the point after beating the first Lavos form but the blue screen of death ended up claiming the previous game play.

As far as I got in the retranslation (up to the point of the party in the prehistoric time) there are a lot of things that were censored, such as..

1. Cursing
2. Alcoholic References, the main characters can get drunk as well
3. Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender references

And that's as far as I know or remember

[BRPXQZME]

There is no cursing in CT to be censored. This is because swearing in Japanese is nothing like swearing in English. The context is totally different.

You may hear it said that there are no curse words in Japanese. This is partially true in the sense that there aren't really words that have no meaning but are offensive, but there are, in fact, words that are inherently offensive in Japanese because of their meaning (these aren't used in things like SNES RPGs and quite often remain blotted even in some of the dirtiest reading on Earth) and the spectrum goes all the way down to words that upper-crust types would shake their fingers at if their kids said them (these ones go unbleeped on TV... imagine someone scolding you for saying the word "freaky" in an innocent context and you'll get the idea).

When you see curse words used in an English translation of Japanese media, it is because the translator decided that that's how a point would be made if it were said in English. This usually happens with language that is merely rude in Japanese; the "crude" is added in translation. There isn't really much in CT that would justify anything rougher than "damn" (which you can hear on talk radio every day), and it doesn't take much effort to just not use that word, hence why it is absent from the original translation.

[Ryusui]

As for #3 on that list, I'm pretty sure the original goes into about as much detail as Woolsey on that subject - Flea is just a crossdresser who can really pull it off. (Or whatever your particular retranslation called him. In the original, Ozzie, Flea and Slash are Mayonnaise, Vinegar and Soysauce in some order; as much as I appreciate Toriyama's theme naming, I'm afraid I have to give the point to Woolsey here.)

The only thing on that list that counts as actual censorship is #2: there are booze references in the original that are missing from Woolsey's translation, such as the drinking contest in 65 Million B.C. or Toma's request to pour a bottle of liquor on his grave. The DS version fixes that nicely, and without the spelling and grammar issues you've taken note of.

Bottom line: if the translation has cursing and glaring typos, odds are it's not a very good one. (Official translations are not immune. Final Fantasy VII, anyone?)

[AceofWind]

When I said few spelling and grammar errors here and there, I meant there are barely any in this translation but they do appear sometimes. O.K, I'm now up to Zeal Palace, at this point, there doesn't seem to be anything changed gameplay wise but I did find a bit more things about this game and and I'm going to elaborate more on my previous findings

This translation does have a few strong words every now and then, such as the typical "damn" and "bastard" being thrown around, you even see Janus call his mother a bitch. lol

Any religious context such as Crono's magic element that were taken out of the game in the North American localization was restored

Different types of sexual orientation that may or may not have been included in the NA version such as Flea/Mayonnaise being transgender or flamboyant and gay and Ayla seemingly showing romantic preference in both male and female is made obvious

Lots of character and weapon names have been restored to their Japanese equivalent most notably Masamune, Janus, Schala, and Marle's real name Nadia restored to Grandleon, Jyaki, Sara and Marledia

Stereotypical dialect such as Frog's is now in normal english

Alcohol references like I said before is included in the game, not only can the NPC get drunk but even the main characters can as well at certain times. Surprisingly, Chrono Trigger is one of the few games even if unofficially translated to allow character below the age 18 (21 here in the US) to drink without another NPC telling them that they are too young.

If there are any mistakes I've made above, I'll try to fix them when I'm in the right state of mind

[Jorpho]

O.K, I'm now up to Zeal Palace, at this point, there doesn't seem to be anything changed gameplay wise

I cannot comprehend why you would expect any such thing in a retranslation, particularly one resulting from a patch to the English ROM.  (Long ago on a long-dead website I saw an analysis that suggested quite strongly that the Japanese version is in fact more difficult than the US version, but as I've never seen that analysis repeated I'm not sure how big the difference is.)

Different types of sexual orientation that may or may not have been included in the NA version such as Flea/Mayonnaise being transgender or flamboyant and gay and Ayla seemingly showing romantic preference in both male and female is made obvious

...

Alcohol references like I said before is included in the game, not only can the NPC get drunk but even the main characters can as well at certain times. Surprisingly, Chrono Trigger is one of the few games even if unofficially translated to allow character below the age 18 (21 here in the US) to drink without another NPC telling them that they are too young.

These are indeed all present in the DS version.

[Deathlike2]

I'd care about a retranslation of CT if it were for the Japanese version. Unfortunately, these efforts are wasted on the English version.

[justin3009]

The only good "real retranslation" would be the DS one.

Kajar Labs literal translation is that, literal.  It's kind of disgusting in gameplay but it gives more detail (If it's comprehendable) in game about specific things and leaves others uncensored.

Dr L.'s is based off Kajars but made so it'd sound more English and overall make it more fluid, though I've never checked.

You're honestly better off with the DS version or the regular Woosley one.

[BRPXQZME]

I'd care about a retranslation of CT if it were for the Japanese version. Unfortunately, these efforts are wasted on the English version.

Square Enix lost all their translators for Angelic in an accident known as "Second Impact" in the year 2000. It was covered up by some real bigwigs, so maybe you never heard of it. Billions were sacrificed in the name of human betterment, but the real tragedy is the living death of their mainstay intellectual properties ever since.

[AceofWind]

O.K, all you guys seem to be doing is recommending me the DS port regardless of whether you played one or both of the unofficial translations or not, though it's too late now, those of you who've actually played both the DS port and the retranslation (Doctor L's version mostly since his is a fix to Kajar's who I didn't know he was referring to since he kept calling him KWhazit) recommend me or someone else which version is worth the time playing "besides" the extra features in the DS version.

[Ryusui]

"We really can't recommend any of the retranslations apart from the official one for Nintendo DS."

The retranslations lack the polish of both Woolsey's version and the retranslation. Accuracy is all well and good, but the bottom line is, neither of the translation patches feature the dialogue quality of the official versions. The DS version eatures the definitive localization: it reads as well as Woolsey's (even better in many cases), but restores the material he was forced to omit, and fixes the errors in his script (such as Gaspar's enigmatic clue about sidequests, or Melchior's description of Dreamstone).

If you are absolutely hellbent that you won't play any version of Chrono Trigger save for the original SNES version, then we recommend Woolsey's translation over any of the translation patches. Otherwise, the DS version has the single best translation of Chrono Trigger currently available.

[Jorpho]

O.K, all you guys seem to be doing is recommending me the DS port regardless of whether you played one or both of the unofficial translations or not

I could be mistaken, but it's just that I for one get the impression that in reporting your experiences in detail you wish to emphasize that these unofficial translations are superior to the officially-released alternatives, when this is not the case.

though it's too late now [...] recommend me or someone else which version is worth the time playing

But isn't it too late now?

"besides" the extra features in the DS version.

Really, the extra features in the DS version are kind of, well, "shite" sums it up nicely.