Dragon Quest, Metaphor: ReFantazio Creators on Silent Protagonists in RPGs

Yuji Horii, the visionary behind Square Enix's "Dragon Quest," and Katsura Hashino, the director of Atlus' eagerly anticipated "Metaphor: ReFantazio," have engaged in a compelling dialogue about the role of silent protagonists in today's RPGs. This conversation, highlighted in the "Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlas Brand 35th Anniversary Edition" booklet, delves into the evolving challenges of game development and storytelling, particularly as technology advances.

Silent Protagonists Seem Increasingly Out of Place in Modern Games

image (c) Den Faminico Gamer

Horii, the mastermind of the Dragon Quest series, candidly shared his thoughts on the use of silent protagonists, or as he terms them, "symbolic protagonists." These characters, devoid of spoken lines, allow players to project their own emotions and reactions onto them, enhancing immersion within the game's universe. This approach has been a cornerstone of the Dragon Quest series, where the protagonist primarily interacts through dialogue options.

Reflecting on the past, Horii noted that the simplicity of early game graphics made silent protagonists a practical choice. "As game graphics evolve and grow increasingly realistic, if you make a protagonist who just stands there, they will look like an idiot," he humorously remarked. Horii's journey into game development was fueled by his passion for storytelling and fascination with computers, leading to the creation of Dragon Quest, where narrative unfolds primarily through interactions with townspeople.

However, the rise of detailed graphics and audio in modern games poses new challenges for maintaining the effectiveness of silent protagonists. In the era of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the minimalistic visuals allowed players to easily fill in the emotional gaps left by the silent protagonist. Now, as games become more lifelike, Horii admits that the traditional Dragon Quest protagonist becomes harder to justify. "That’s why, the type of protagonist featured in Dragon Quest becomes increasingly difficult to depict as games become more realistic. This will be a challenge in the future too," he concluded.

Metaphor ReFantazio Director Thinks Dragon Quest Puts Players' Feelings First

While Dragon Quest remains steadfast in its use of a silent protagonist, other series like Persona have shifted towards fully voiced protagonists, a trend that Hashino's "Metaphor: ReFantazio" will follow. Hashino praised Horii for the emotional depth Dragon Quest achieves through its silent protagonist approach. "I think Dragon Quest puts a lot of thought into how the player will feel in a given situation," Hashino remarked, appreciating the series' focus on player empathy and emotional engagement, even in interactions with ordinary NPCs.