- This article is about Pocket Monsters Crystal Version. For games with a similar title, see Pocket Monster (disambiguation).
Pocket Monsters Crystal Version (popularly known as "Pokémon Vietnamese Crystal") is a bootlegged version of Pokémon Crystal which achieved quite the status among Pokémon fans due to its poorly translated script turning every bit of text into mainly nonsensical and unintentionally humorous Engrish.
Translation Quirks
This game has some oddities in its story thanks to its poor translation, such as referencing that Professor Elm and Professor Oak is the same person. Some items, moves and trainer class names have not been translated and instead are left blank; while many others seem to refer to something completely different, for instance the item "OLD ROD" is called "CLOTHBAG" and the Water-type Pokémon move "WATER GUN" is called "FLAME". However many of these wrong names are actually reasonable translations of other existing items/moves/trainers from the game, which probably indicates a mistake in indexing at some point, causing all the names after that point to be shifted up or down by one.
In battle, some moves have a nonsensical suffix attached to them. This is due to a function in the Japanese release that appends the proper grammatical suffix to move names when used in battle. This causes, for example, using the move LICK (translated to "AGAIN") to print "AGAIN AH". Pokémon moves aren't the only victims to this kind of quirks, as Pokémon names are also subject to the 5 letter limit of the Japanese version rather than the 10 letter limit of international versions.
As expected, profanity is also quite common in this version of the game, the F-word for example appearing quite frequently as it is used in the message that appears when you collect items (which in terms can give results such as "DRUG BAG FUCK!").
Examples of Poor Translation
In the Xiaojin Broadcasting Tower (aka Goldenrod Radio Tower) quiz, you need to answer a series of questions correctly, which is made almost impossible by the poor translation:
- Question 1: IS IT THE MONSTER COMING ONLY IN THE MORNING THAT EXISITS?
- Question 2: CAN YOU BUY IT IN SHUDONG'S STORE?
- Question 3: MAY THE SECRET MACHINE BE NOT CONSULTED?
- Question 4: IS IT HEYADUO THAT CAN CONTROL THE BIRD MONSTER AND THE GYMNASIUM LEADER OF MUQIANG TOWN?
- Question 5: IS IT A PORTRAIT ON THE COIN OF THE GAME STORE IN XIAOJIN TOWN?
Answers are, in order: Yes, Yes, No, Yes, and No.
Pokémon Names
Chikorita - Qiaok
Bayleef - Beil
Meganium - Mukei
Cyndaquil - Rided
Quilava - Madam
Typhlosion - Bagep
Totodile - Croc
Croconaw - Alige
Feraligatr - Oudal
Pidgey - Lap
Pidgeotto - Pige
Pidgeot - Pijia
Spearow - Bird
Fearow - Baboo
Hoothoot - Hehe
Noctowl - Yedea
Ratatta - Caml
Raticate - Lat
Sentret - Oud
Furret - Dada
Pichu - Piqi
Pikachu - Pikaq
Raichu - Rye
Caterpie - Pedal
Metapod - Delan
Butterfree - B-Fly
Weedle - Bide
Kakuna - Keyu
Beedrill - Fork
Ledyba - Nuxi
Ledian - Nuxin
Spinarak - Rouy
Ariados - Aliad
Geodude - Sicib
Graveler - Gelu
Golem - Neluo
Zubat - Zhib
Golbat - Gelu
Crobat - Stick
Cleffa - Pi
Clefairy - Pip
Clefable - Pikex
Igglybuff - Pupi
Jigglypuff - Pud
Wigglytuff - Bude
Togepi - Deke
Togetic - Dekej
Sandshrew - San
Sandslash - Bread
Ekans - Viv
Arbok - Aboke
Dunsparce - Yehe
Mareep - Mali
Flaaffy - Pea
Ampharos - Elect
Wooper - Wuy
Quagsire - Luo
Gastly - Ges
Haunter - Fant
Gengar - Quar
Unown - Annan
Onix - Yihe
Steelix - Yehe
Bellsprout - Madaq
Weepinbell - Wuci
Victreebel - Wuci
Hoppip - Yuzi
Skiploom - Popoz
Jumpluff - Duzi
Paras - Ath
Parasect - Bala
Poliwag - Nilem
Poliwhirl - Nile
Poliwrath - Nilec
Politoed - Nilee
Magikarp - Carp
Gyarados - Jinde
Goldeen - Dasaj
Seaking - Dongn
Slowpoke - Yed
Slowbro - Yede
Slowking - Yadeh
Oddish - Gras
Gloom - Flow
Vileplume - Laful
Bellossom - Flowe
Drowzee - Swab
Hypno - Slipp
Abra - Kezi
Kadabra - Yongl
Alakazam - Hude
Ditto - Mude
Pineco - Hulu
Forretress - Hudel
Nidoran F - Lidel
Nidorina - Lidel
Nidoqueen - Lide
Nidoran M - Lidel
Nidorino - Lidel
Nidoking - Lide
Yanma - Yeyea
Sunkern - Xian
Sunflora - Shan
Exeggcute - Some
Exeggutor - No
Sudowoodo - Hushu
Wobbuffet - Suoni
Venonat - Corn
Venomoth - Moluf
Scyther - Zenda
Scizor - Nip
Pinsir - Kail
Heracross - Helak
Koffing - Deji
Weezing - Macid
Grimer - Badeb
Muk - Badeb
Magnemite - Clo
Magneton - Scare
Voltorb - Biliy
Electrode - Yuano
Aipom - Heba
Snubbull - Blu
Granbull - Gelan
Vulpix - Rok
Ninetales - Jugen
Growlithe - Gedi
Arcanine - Wendi
Stantler - Hede
Marill - Mal
Azumarill - Mali
Diglett - Desp
Dugtrio - Daked
Mankey - Monk
Primeape - Sumoy
Meowth - Mimi
Persian - Bolux
Psyduck - Koda
Golduck - Gelud
Machop - Wanli
Machoke - Geli
Machamp - Guail
Tyrogue - Liby
Hitmonlee - Zecun
Hitmonchan - Xiahe
Hitmontop - Jiapa
Girafarig - Kyli
Tauros - Jiand
Miltank - Milk
Magby - Buhu
Magmar - Ofenb
Smoochum - Meji
Jynx - Luzel
Elekid - Hele
Electabuzz - Hele5
Mr. Mime - Baliy
Smeargle - Defu
Farfetch'd - Aoco
Natu - Nadi
Xatu - Nadio
Qwilfish - Boat
Tentacool - Mujef
Tentacruel - Jelly
Krabby - Clu
Kingler - Depos
Shuckle - Poit
Staryu - Ricul
Starmie - Minxi
Shellder - Hole
Cloyster - Balux
Corsola - Rive
Remoraid - Fish
Octillery - Aogu
Chinchou - Qiang
Lanturn - Laand
Seel - Bawu
Dewgong - Jiug
Lickitung - Bolel
Tangela - Menji
Eevee - Yifu
Vaporeon - Linli
Jolteon - Sandi
Flareon - Husi
Espeon - Kefe
Umbreon - Hula
Horsea - Deci
Seadra - Xide
Kingdra - Huan
Gligar - Gulae
Delibird - Delie
Swinub - Wuli
Piloswine - Yide
Teddiursa - Bear
Ursaring - Linb
Phanpy - Huma
Donphan - Dongf
Mantine - Mante
Skarmory - Konmu
Doduo - Dede
Dodrio - Dedei
Ponyta - Boli
Rapidash - Jiale
Cubone - Yela
Marowak - Empt
Kangaskhan - Gelu
Rhyhorn - Xihon
Rhydon - Xito
Murkrow - Crow
Houndour - Delu
Houndoom - Helu
Slugma - Mageh
Magcargo - Magej
Sneasel - Xinl
Misdreavus - Mow
Porygon - Jinc
Porygon2 - Jinca
Chansey - Luck
Blissey - Habi
Lapras - Lapu
Omanyte - Oumu
Omastar - Oumux
Kabuto - Cap
Kabutops - Kuiza
Aerodactyl - Pud
Snorlax - Tiao
Bulbasaur - Seed
Ivysaur - Grass
Venusaur - Flowe
Charmander - Shad
Charmeleon - Cabr
Charizard - Snake
Squirtle - Gold
Wartortle - Cow
Blastoise - Guiki
Articuno - Frman
Zapdos - Clau
Moltres - Spark
Raikou - Thun
Entei - Gard
Suicune - Don
Dratini - Drago
Dragonair - Boliu
Dragonite - Guail
Larvitar - Yangq
Pupitar - Sanaq
Tyranitar - Banq
Lugia - Luj
Ho-Oh - Phix
Mewtwo - Miyou
Mew - Miy
Celebi - Siei
Bugs
The game crashes 95% of the time when trying to take part in the "National Park Bug Catching Contest" north of Goldenrod City between Route 35 and 36, however saved data is not affected by this crash. Initiating the Bug Catching Contest dialogue with the other guard does not trigger this glitch. Occasionally, players will be able to get through the guards dialogue but often one of three things will happen:
- The game will hang and does not recover.
- The game soft resets and thinks it is being used in a monochrome Game Boy and gives a poorly translated version of the normal statement "This Game Pak is designed for Game Boy Color Only".
- The game will restart and the sprites will be stuck.
Judging by the text string just before the crash, it seems that the text is overflowing and causing the game to crash when the text box is filled with junk characters. This is, however, unsurprising, as it is assumed the translation was done by copying all the game's text out of the actual game, ran through a computer translator, dumped back without care for size of the text being put back in, and data leaking into the text strings.
Other things that can cause the game to crash are interaction with the POINTUP, CUREINGI, and DRINKIN items (Elixir, Burn Heal, and Calcium); the use of the moves MIXING and CLIP (Rest and Spike Cannon), speaking to the Super Nerd closest to the Goldenrod Tunnel's north stairs after defeating him, and entering the Goldenrod City Pokémon Center.
Cartridge Hardware
The cartridge itself has the silk screen "28f800" which is a 1MByte flash ROM and saves correctly however it does not support the "Real Time Clock". The game never notices that its time is not running and is thought that the ROM has been customized more beyond its initial translation to ignore the fact the clock is not running correctly.
As with most pirate and unlicensed Game Boy cartridges, its battery is not the standard CR1616 employed commonly in licensed battery backed save games, but instead a CR2032 - a far more common 3V battery. It is also not soldered to the motherboard in the same way and is instead held in place with a cage system from which the CR2032 can be easily replaced by sliding the battery out of the top.
Screenshots
