This page details the changes made to the gameplay and writing ofFire Emblem: Path of Radiance during its localization from Japanese to US English, and later from US English to the five PAL localizations.

Name changes

Main article:Name chart/Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

NTSC-J to NTSC-U changes

Gameplay changes

• The Maniac Modedifficulty setting was removed and replaced with Easy Mode.
• An innate +15crit bonus was added toSnipers,Swordmasters, andBerserkers.
• TheHeal staff had itsdurability increased from 30 uses in the Japanese version to 40 in all other versions; consequently, as its worth per use was not changed, its total worth increased from 600G to 800G.
• Extra costs for Forging weapons were halved, making it cheaper to forge weapons.
• TheSoldier Band, which went unused in the Japanese version, can now be obtained by defeatingKamura from second playthrough onwards.
• In the Japanese version, theRenewal scroll can only be assigned toEna andElincia, both of whom already have the skill when recruited. It has this in common with numerousunused scrolls, which can only be taught to the original bearers of the skills in question. The localization corrected this to allow Renewal to be assigned to any unit, although the other skill scrolls were not altered in this way.
• In the Japanese version, using aSeraph Robe while at the base will not increase the character's current HP to their increased max HP (for example, using a Seraph Robe on Elincia with 34 max HP will raise her max HP to 41 but her current health will remain at 34). This oversight was fixed in localization.
• Sephiran can learn the Vigilance skill in the Japanese release but not the localizations.
• Some glitches that existed in the Japanese version were fixed in localization:
  • In the Japanese version, if the player recruits a unit right after leaving the base, has only Ike deployed, then immediately returns to the base and saves, the number of available units at advance preparations will be reduced.
  • The Japanese version has aThe 255-crit error in theforge system.
  • InChapter 18 of the Japanese version,Shinon will not drop theBrave Bow if the player saves at the preparations screen; if the player resets the game, then Shinon will drop the Brave Bow as usual.

Dialogue changes

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Other changes

• The icon for forging tomes was changed from a staff to a tome.
• The allowed length of forged weapon names was expanded from seven characters to twelve.
• The extra content obtained by linking copies ofThe Binding Blade withPath of Radiance was altered to accommodate the game's absence outside of Japan:
  • Its entries in the Character Portraits gallery were removed entirely, although the images all remain on the disc.
  • TheTrial Map "Desperation" is now obtained by connecting linking copies of eitherFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade orThe Sacred Stones withPath of Radiance.

NTSC-U to PAL changes

Unless otherwise stated, all changes made between the NTSC-J and NTSC-U releases are retained in the PAL version.

Graphics

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Text changes

For dialogue, only the relevant portion of the string is displayed here.

File	String	NTSC-U	PAL	Notes
common	MJID_MAGE/F		Mage	String not present in NTSC-U version.
	MJID_SAGE/F		Sage	String not present in NTSC-U version.
	MT_柵	Fence	Barrier
	MH_J_SAGE	Advanced scholars of arcane lore. Although they specialize in magic tomes, they can also wield any staves they acquire.	Advanced scholars of arcane lore. Although they specialize in magic tomes, they can choose to wield staves or knives.
	MH_I_REBLOW	A staff that restores 10 HP plus the wielder's Mg (converted to HP) to a unit 5 spaces away.	A staff that restores 10 HP plus the wielder's Mg (converted to HP) to a far unit.
	MH_I_SILENCE	A staff that prevents enemies from using magic. Minimum range is 5 spaces.	A staff that prevents enemies from using magic, it can strike enemies from afar.
	MH_I_SLEEP	A staff that puts enemy units to sleep for a short time. Minimum range is 5 spaces.	A staff that puts enemy units to sleep for a short time, it can strike enemies from afar.
	Mess_Help_skill_SkyBlessing	Restores HP to a unit in an adjacent space.	Restores HP to the units in adjacent space
	Mess_Help2_skill_Impact	In certain instances, immobilizes an enemy unit for 1 turn after being hit. Falcon Knight Wyvern Rider	In certain instances, immobilizes an enemy unit for 1 turn after being hit. Falcon Knight Wyvern Lord
	Mess_Help2_skill_SkyBlessing	Restores HP to a unit in an adjacent space. Reyson	Restores HP to the units in adjacent spaces. Reyson
	MESS_SHOPINFO_BEXP		P	String not present in NTSC-U version.
	MESS_INFO_HELP01	SelectOKHelpBack	SelectOKHelpBack
	MESS_INFO_HELP02	SelectOKCancel	SelectOKCancel
	MESS_OUTFIT_ITRADE_HELP01N	SelectOKView UnitsCancel	SelectOKView UnitsCancel	The PAL version redundantly sets the red text color again before "⁠⁠View Units".
	MDIE_JANAFF_05	Beorc general! Look after my son!	Beorc general! Look after the prince!
c05	MS_05_BT_TI	The Imperial Guard has some skill,	The Royal Guard has some skill,
c10	MS_10_ED01	The strength of your mecenary band, Ike,	The strength of your mercenary band, Ike,
	MS_10_REPO_DIE	Do you mean the casualites and refugees?	Do you mean the casualties and refugees?
c18	MS_18_EV_C_op_000	Nasir! What have you found?	Nasir! What have you found?	The PAL version removes an erroneous "freeze mouth" command for Ike after the question mark.
c21	MS_21_ED_02	Sir Bryan will serve as your deputy.	Sir Bryce will serve as your deputy.
c23	MS_23_ED_02A	...	...	The PAL version adds missing freeze mouth and unfreeze mouth commands before and after the ellipsis, respectively.
	MS_23_ED_02B	...	...
c25	MS_25_ED_02B	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	The PAL version removes a smile command before "Thanks".
	MS_25_ED_02C	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
	MS_25_ED_02D	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
	MS_25_ED_02E	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
	MS_25_ED_02F	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
	MS_25_ED_02G	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
	MS_25_ED_02H	Thanks to your words, both of my friends	Thanks to your words, both of my friends
c28	MS_28_OP_04	MESSAGE HAS BEEN DELETED!!!	MESSAGE HAS BEEN DELETED!!!	The PAL version removes an erroneous requirement to press the A Button before the text appears.
tut	MS_T_demo	- Demonstration -	- Demonstration -
videomode	MESS_EURGB60HZ_ASK	This game is compatible with 60Hz mode. Please select mode. If your television does not display correctly in 60Hz mode, please select 50Hz mode.	This game is compatible with 60Hz mode. Please select mode. If your television does not display correctly in 60Hz mode, please select 50Hz mode.
yell	MYELL_GATRIE_STELLA_A	But... I do have a fiance.	But... I do have a fiancé.
		A fiance?!	A fiancé?!
		She said she had a fiance, didn't she?	She said she had a fiancé, didn't she?
	MYELL_SOTHE_STELLA_B	arranged a fiance for me. I've heard he is	arranged a fiancé for me. I've heard he is
	MYELL_SOTHE_STELLA_A	promised to fiances they don't even know.	promised to fiancés they don't even know.

Additionally, the staff credits were added to theending text file.

Miscellaneous

• The PAL version runs at a resolution of 576i and a refresh rate of 50 Hz (576i50) by default, rather than 480i and 60 Hz (480i60). The higher resolution is achieved through scaling the picture, rather than rendering the game at a higher resolution. The lower refresh rate is achieved through slowing the game down to five-sixths of the speed (aside from playback of audio and video files).
• Upon startup, the game prompts the player to use 60Hz mode, which causes the game to run at 480i and 60 Hz.
• The PAL version removes the option to use Progressive Mode (480p).

References