Hello everyone, Tom from Censored Gaming here.
Hello everyone, Tom from Censored Gaming here.

The Persona series, and by extension the Shin Megami Tensei franchise as a whole, had a
The Persona series, and by extension the Shin Megami Tensei franchise as a whole, had a

rocky launch in the Western world.
rocky launch in the Western world.

Back in 1996 a then inexperienced Atlus USA would handle the localization of Megami Inbunroku
Back in 1996 a then inexperienced Atlus USA would handle the localization of Megami Inbunroku

Persona, a title which literally translates to Goddess Odyssey: Persona, a derivative
Persona, a title which literally translates to Goddess Odyssey: Persona, a derivative

of its parent series’ title, Shin Megami Tensei, which itself translates to True Reincarnation
of its parent series’ title, Shin Megami Tensei, which itself translates to True Reincarnation

of the Goddess.
of the Goddess.

It seems Atlus deemed this title a little too complicated as it was changed to Revelations:
It seems Atlus deemed this title a little too complicated as it was changed to Revelations:

Persona in the US.
Persona in the US.

“Revelations” was clearly intended to be the Western branding of Shin Megami Tensei,
“Revelations” was clearly intended to be the Western branding of Shin Megami Tensei,

as it was the title of the first localized SMT title: Revelations: The Demon Slayer for
as it was the title of the first localized SMT title: Revelations: The Demon Slayer for

Game Boy, known as Last Bible in Japan.
Game Boy, known as Last Bible in Japan.

The efforts to westernize the first Persona game don’t end with just the title, however.
The efforts to westernize the first Persona game don’t end with just the title, however.

Many alternations were made to remove its Japanese origins.
Many alternations were made to remove its Japanese origins.

Many of the characters have radically different redesigns from their Japanese originals, and
Many of the characters have radically different redesigns from their Japanese originals, and

they have been given different names.
they have been given different names.

The protagonist has been given lighter skin, a different hair style and colour and his
The protagonist has been given lighter skin, a different hair style and colour and his

ear ring removed.
ear ring removed.

Kei Nanjo, renamed Nate Trinity here, has also had his skin lightened and his hair colour
Kei Nanjo, renamed Nate Trinity here, has also had his skin lightened and his hair colour

changed.
changed.

A similar treatment was also given to Eriko, renamed Ellen; and Maki, renamed Mary.
A similar treatment was also given to Eriko, renamed Ellen; and Maki, renamed Mary.

The main cast that retain their original character designs are Brown, renamed Brad; Ayase, renamed
The main cast that retain their original character designs are Brown, renamed Brad; Ayase, renamed

Alana; Yukino, renamed Yuki; and Reiji, renamed Chris.
Alana; Yukino, renamed Yuki; and Reiji, renamed Chris.

Most of the minor cast have had their names changed too.
Most of the minor cast have had their names changed too.

The list is slightly too long to go through individually [a scrolling list will go into
The list is slightly too long to go through individually [a scrolling list will go into

the video here] but the main ones are the villain Kandori being renamed Guido Sardinia
the video here] but the main ones are the villain Kandori being renamed Guido Sardinia

and the names of the two little girls Mai and Aki.
and the names of the two little girls Mai and Aki.

Both names are an anagram of Maki since they are both part of her in the story.
Both names are an anagram of Maki since they are both part of her in the story.

In the English version they are called Mae and Maggie instead, using the first two letters
In the English version they are called Mae and Maggie instead, using the first two letters

of Mary.
of Mary.

Humorously, some of the names changes are likely Batman references.
Humorously, some of the names changes are likely Batman references.

Nate’s butler is named Alfred, and a couple of its minor cast are named Bruce and Selina.
Nate’s butler is named Alfred, and a couple of its minor cast are named Bruce and Selina.

The biggest and most controversial of these changes is the character Mark, who is, ironically,
The biggest and most controversial of these changes is the character Mark, who is, ironically,

one of the few characters to retain his name from the Japanese version.
one of the few characters to retain his name from the Japanese version.

Mark is black in the US release and everything about his design, sans his pose, has been
Mark is black in the US release and everything about his design, sans his pose, has been

radically changed.
radically changed.

Since black people are significantly more common in the US than Japan this is suspected
Since black people are significantly more common in the US than Japan this is suspected

to be another result of transposing its setting.
to be another result of transposing its setting.

The original setting was a fictional, yet very Japanese town called Mikage-cho.
The original setting was a fictional, yet very Japanese town called Mikage-cho.

Here it’s renamed to Lunarvale, possibly as a reference to the moon phase mechanic
Here it’s renamed to Lunarvale, possibly as a reference to the moon phase mechanic

in the game.
in the game.

This trend of renaming aspects of the game is absolutely everywhere and doesn’t apply
This trend of renaming aspects of the game is absolutely everywhere and doesn’t apply

exclusively to Japanese words and names.
exclusively to Japanese words and names.

The Agastya tree is now the Augustus tree, and many of the demons, personas, skills and
The Agastya tree is now the Augustus tree, and many of the demons, personas, skills and

items have different names.
items have different names.

This video would be far too long if we went through them individually but you can read
This video would be far too long if we went through them individually but you can read

many of them onscreen now.
many of them onscreen now.

A recurring theme with the name changes is that they are somewhat ‘dumbed down’ and
A recurring theme with the name changes is that they are somewhat ‘dumbed down’ and

trade their original name, which usually has mythological roots, for a name that is easier
trade their original name, which usually has mythological roots, for a name that is easier

to understand.
to understand.

For example, Titania, the queen of the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, becomes
For example, Titania, the queen of the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, becomes

simply “Queen Fly”.
simply “Queen Fly”.

Moh Shuvuu becomes Kimono, Leprechaun becomes Ghoul, possibly because of its appearance,
Moh Shuvuu becomes Kimono, Leprechaun becomes Ghoul, possibly because of its appearance,

Duergar becomes Dwarfen, and so on.
Duergar becomes Dwarfen, and so on.

Although some of the changes seem to come from lack of research and are direct Romanized
Although some of the changes seem to come from lack of research and are direct Romanized

translations.
translations.

For example, Armati is called Allmighty.
For example, Armati is called Allmighty.

Armati is the wise patroness of the earth in Zoroastrianism mythology.
Armati is the wise patroness of the earth in Zoroastrianism mythology.

It is not a clumsy Japanese rendering of the word almighty, as the localizers may have
It is not a clumsy Japanese rendering of the word almighty, as the localizers may have

assumed.
assumed.

Anyone familiar with more recent Persona or Shin Megami Tensei titles may be confused
Anyone familiar with more recent Persona or Shin Megami Tensei titles may be confused

by the different skill names.
by the different skill names.

Agi, bufu, zio and garu are now fire, chill, force and wind respectively.
Agi, bufu, zio and garu are now fire, chill, force and wind respectively.

Mudo and hama skills are now also holy and death skills.
Mudo and hama skills are now also holy and death skills.

Changes were also made to the game balance itself.
Changes were also made to the game balance itself.

The encounter rate was lowered and the amount of experience gained was increased, possibly
The encounter rate was lowered and the amount of experience gained was increased, possibly

to make the game easier for new players.
to make the game easier for new players.

Also, the in-game currency was changed from yen to dollars and the price of items has
Also, the in-game currency was changed from yen to dollars and the price of items has

been dropped.
been dropped.

Many lines of dialogue are different from how they are in the Japanese version.
Many lines of dialogue are different from how they are in the Japanese version.

A plot point in the original game about Nate wanting to become the number one in Japan
A plot point in the original game about Nate wanting to become the number one in Japan

has been removed.
has been removed.

The riddle outside of the school is a particularly infamous localized line.
The riddle outside of the school is a particularly infamous localized line.

In order to get into the school your party must prove they are not the demons or zombies
In order to get into the school your party must prove they are not the demons or zombies

that have invaded Lunarvale.
that have invaded Lunarvale.

To convince them they use the poem, “Roses are red, zombies are blue, but my face is
To convince them they use the poem, “Roses are red, zombies are blue, but my face is

white, so you know I'm true.”
white, so you know I'm true.”

This line is slightly unfortunate with the race change made to Mark.
This line is slightly unfortunate with the race change made to Mark.

In the PSP version, which is a much more faithful translation, that part of the poem is rendered
In the PSP version, which is a much more faithful translation, that part of the poem is rendered

as “I don’t want brains,”.
as “I don’t want brains,”.

Finally, we get to perhaps the biggest change from the Japanese version; the removal of
Finally, we get to perhaps the biggest change from the Japanese version; the removal of

the snow queen quest.
the snow queen quest.

The snow queen quest is the game’s second route that is completely different but just
The snow queen quest is the game’s second route that is completely different but just

as long as the main SEBEC route.
as long as the main SEBEC route.

It follows a different story and has different dungeons and characters.
It follows a different story and has different dungeons and characters.

That’s right, owners of the game back in 96’ were essentially missing half the content
That’s right, owners of the game back in 96’ were essentially missing half the content

from the Japanese version.
from the Japanese version.

Remnants of it still remain in the game, such as this FMV cut scene showing the three towers
Remnants of it still remain in the game, such as this FMV cut scene showing the three towers

from the quest.
from the quest.

The content still remains on the disc but it is untranslated and dummied out.
The content still remains on the disc but it is untranslated and dummied out.

There are two reasons why it was removed.
There are two reasons why it was removed.

One reason is that Atlus wanted the game out before Christmas and the snow queen quest
One reason is that Atlus wanted the game out before Christmas and the snow queen quest

was simply too time consuming to translate.
was simply too time consuming to translate.

The other reason is that Atlus themselves found it too difficult, and the method the
The other reason is that Atlus themselves found it too difficult, and the method the

player uses to use to unlock the quest was found to be too obtuse.
player uses to use to unlock the quest was found to be too obtuse.

The quest was restored in the 2009 rerelease for the PSP, titled Shin Megami Tensei: Persona.
The quest was restored in the 2009 rerelease for the PSP, titled Shin Megami Tensei: Persona.

This new version sports a more faithful localization than its 1996 release, with all of the names,
This new version sports a more faithful localization than its 1996 release, with all of the names,

portraits, demons and items retaining their original names and appearances.
portraits, demons and items retaining their original names and appearances.

The series has since embraced its Japanese roots, with later games making no effort to
The series has since embraced its Japanese roots, with later games making no effort to

disguise its Japanese setting.
disguise its Japanese setting.

In spite of its highly criticized localization, Revelations: Persona remains something of
In spite of its highly criticized localization, Revelations: Persona remains something of

a cult classic, with copies of the game being highly sought after by collectors.
a cult classic, with copies of the game being highly sought after by collectors.

With Persona 5 releasing April 14th 2017, with a confirmed faithful localization and
With Persona 5 releasing April 14th 2017, with a confirmed faithful localization and

zero cut content, it’s interesting to go back and see how the series was initially
zero cut content, it’s interesting to go back and see how the series was initially

launched in the West, and how Atlus USA has improved its localization practices.
launched in the West, and how Atlus USA has improved its localization practices.