They're also not usually all that good for how much time is put into them. Mind you it's not as bad as a machine translation or something, but it seems like most amateur translators have a great grasp of Japanese > English translation, but not so much a grasp on English grammar.
No matter; Dejap's Tales of Phantasia translation is *totally* the superior fan translation even compared to the official one. x)

fo sure
Some people argue that they took too many liberties with the script, but sometimes, between a terrible well translated joke or a new joke with liberties that's actually funny... you're better with the later.
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Heck, I'm actually going to go deeper in my argument here.
Having done translation once, I can fully understand what went through their minds.
Take this example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14011431@N04/2705889296/in/set-72157603569309062The original text was about 2 JAPANESE books with different styles that are in JAPANESE only and the only reason JAPANESE people read these books is that most school make students read them.
I could have translated this faithfully... but that would just be a big wtfnofunny.
So I took liberties. I considered that I am reaching to an English speaking audience around the world who's only common point is that they played Persona 3. From there, I valued that the most common trait would be to play jRPGs. Among jRPGs, most people know at least a bit about FFVIII and FFX. So, instead of Japanese books, it's now about FFVIII and FFX.
The raw essence of the joke is about the same, but now people can actually A) understand it B) think it's slightly funny.
On the other hand... this one I'm ashamed of:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14011431@N04/1480093758/in/set-72157603569309062That one is just impossible to localize well and it just sucks... I ended up putting an explanation page after explaining who that guy is and that he does flower arrangement. Not funny at all.
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And then there's this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14011431@N04/2584684870/in/set-72157603569309062That's another one that was untranslatable and I just went f-it... I'm making a Tsukihime joke here because it just fits so well.
It has nothing at all to do with the initial joke, but this one at least can potentially be pretty funny.
So, ahoy to Arche and nuptial tiger-like behaviours.