Dragon Quest and Metaphor: ReFantazio Creators Discuss Silent Protagonists in Modern RPGs

RPG veterans Yuji Horii and Katsura Hashino, creators of Square Enix's Dragon Quest and Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio, respectively, recently discussed the enduring—and evolving—role of the silent protagonist in modern RPGs. Their conversation, excerpted from the Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlas Brand 35th Anniversary Edition booklet, offers a fascinating look at the challenges and rewards of this classic design choice.

The Silent Protagonist: A Dragon Quest Perspective

Yuji Horii, the visionary behind the Dragon Quest series, describes his silent protagonist as "symbolic." This approach allows players to fully immerse themselves, projecting their own feelings and reactions onto the character. The silent protagonist acts as a blank canvas, their interactions driven by player choices rather than pre-scripted dialogue.

Horii notes that the simplicity of early game graphics made the silent protagonist a natural fit. "As graphics become more realistic," he quips, "a protagonist who just stands there looks like an idiot!" His background as an aspiring manga artist, coupled with a passion for storytelling and computers, led him to create Dragon Quest. The game's structure, built around dialogue and boss interactions, emphasizes narrative progression through conversation. "Dragon Quest is largely about talking to people," Horii explains, "the story unfolds through dialogue. That's the fun of it."

However, Horii acknowledges the growing difficulty of maintaining this approach in the age of high-fidelity graphics. The minimalist visuals of the NES era allowed players to easily fill in the blanks, but the increasing detail in modern games makes a non-reactive protagonist feel increasingly out of sync. "The kind of protagonist in Dragon Quest is becoming harder and harder to depict as games get more realistic," he concludes. "It will continue to be a challenge."

A Different Approach: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Dragon Quest's continued use of the silent protagonist stands in contrast to many modern RPGs, such as the Persona series, which feature fully voiced protagonists. Katsura Hashino, director of Metaphor: ReFantazio, which will feature a fully voiced protagonist, offers a different perspective.

Hashino praises Horii's approach, emphasizing the emotional intelligence built into Dragon Quest. "I think Dragon Quest puts a lot of thought into how the player will feel," Hashino observes, "even in interactions with ordinary townspeople. The games consistently consider the player's emotional response."