Neil Broadley, SaGa Localization Director

Treatment #2 at the hospital done and successful. It’s usually a very simple 30 minute procedure, but my situation made it far from a sure thing. This combined with the first treatment means that barring anything major I should be able to make it to TGS this year!

More about N1: Be proud if you have it. It’s is an achievement and shows you’ve succeeded. But every success should inspire you to go to the next level and do something even better. I love seeing people turn past successes into future victories!

N1 is but a point on a never-ending line. It’s been 24 years since I passed ikkyu (the N1 precursor) and I continue to learn each and every day. It’s a test that opens doors, but is only one pit stop on a lifelong journey.

One thing that always freaks me out is that in the JP versions, SaGa Frontier 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics have the same font. For some reason it just makes my skin crawl. Fonts are such an underrated aspect of a game’s identity that you don’t tend to notice right away.

It’s kind of like if in minstrel song it was just “Geckling” instead of “Guella Ha.” A lot of stuff is lost of our characters (who aren’t just throwaways) don’t have their own name and personality. And who doesn’t love Guella Ha?

In Romancjng SaGa 3, we gave Peony, Rukh, and Flurry proper names because it felt weird for only one non-human to have a name (Boston) while the rest were defined only by their species. I think it made them easier to relate to as well.

In Romancing SaGa 2, the various classes all had character names assigned around a given theme, helping to add some flavor while preserving their individuality. For some, the emperors may as well be nameless, but for me, I will never forget how Gemini fell in love with a mermaid.

If there’s one thing my cancer has taught me, it’s to be thankful for those around me. My family of course, that goes without saying, but my health care workers. Even though they see many patients, when they’re with me, I’m the only person who matters. That feels so reassuring.

If there one consistent thing about SaGa, it’s that the music is always an absolute banger. Definitely check it out!

Hospital treatment no. 1 all done. In the words of Pokémon, “it’s super effective!” My pain levels have plummeted thanks to the nerve blocker, so much so that it’s all I can do keep from crying

I asked for the basic room for the hospital (6-8 people per room in the old ward with no wifi) but evidently those rooms were all full so I got upgraded to the swanky 4-person room in the good ward with wifi access. Good times!