Your post grabbed my attention because you mentioned Alexander O. Smith, the translator. That guy is a god. He translated Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII; needless to say they are two of the finest video game translations ever (with the bizarre exception of everyone pronouncing the "quis" in "marquis" the wrong way in FFXII...I have to think it was on purpose). Vagrant Story's amazing dialog and downright Shakespearean translation--even down the items and menus--is just awesome.

So yeah, Alexander O. Smith is awesome.