by Olivia Mar 15,2025
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 silent protagonists 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 storytelling approach.
Image (c) Den Faminico Gamer
Yuji Horii, the visionary behind the Dragon Quest series, describes his silent protagonist as a "symbolic protagonist"—a blank slate onto which players project their own feelings and experiences. This design choice fosters immersion, allowing players to truly inhabit the game world. The character interacts primarily through dialogue choices, letting the player's decisions shape the narrative.
Horii notes that the simplicity of early game graphics—the limitations of the NES era, for example—made silent protagonists a natural fit. The lack of detailed facial expressions or animations meant players readily filled in the emotional blanks. However, he humorously acknowledges the challenge posed by today's hyper-realistic visuals: "As game graphics evolve and grow increasingly realistic, if you make a protagonist who just stands there, they will look like an idiot."
Horii, whose background includes aspirations to be a manga artist, credits his love of storytelling and computers for his path into game development. Dragon Quest's core, he explains, lies in its dialogue-driven narrative: "Dragon Quest basically consists of dialogue with townspeople, with very little in the way of narration. The story is created using the dialogue. That’s what’s fun about it."
The evolution of game technology, with its increasingly sophisticated visuals and audio, presents a significant hurdle for maintaining this approach. The silent protagonist, once a natural choice, now requires careful consideration in a world of detailed character animations and expressive performances. Horii concludes, "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."
Dragon Quest remains a notable exception in the modern RPG landscape, largely sticking to its silent protagonist tradition. In contrast, series like Persona have embraced fully voiced protagonists, a trend that Katsura Hashino's Metaphor: ReFantazio will continue.
While acknowledging the challenges of the silent protagonist in a modern context, Hashino praises Horii's approach for its unique emotional resonance: "I think Dragon Quest puts a lot of thought into how the player will feel in a given situation," Hashino stated, "even when it's to do with a regular townsperson. I feel like the games are consistently created with the player in mind, thinking about what emotions will arise when someone says something."
Serial Cleaner is out now on iOS and Android for fast-paced freshening up in aid of crime
Popular PC Metroidvania Blasphemous Is Out Now on Android
Zenless Zone Zero Update Cycle Leak Hints at Future Content cadence
Pokémon Adds Another Game to the NSO Library
Diablo 4 Unveils Exciting Unique Items for Season 5
Rise of the Ronin Devs' Unannounced AAA Title in the Works
Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller Review – Customizable, Comfortable, but Lacking in Ways
Balatro adds 8 franchises and more madcap mayhem with Friends of Jimbo 3 update
How To Increase Ranks In Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Mar 15,2025
Should You Free Ilora in Avowed?
Mar 15,2025
Is Activision Planning to Create New Big Games Using AI?
Mar 15,2025
‘Genshin Impact’ Version 5.0 Update Is Now Available Worldwide on iOS, Android, PC, PS5, and More
Mar 15,2025
Best Gathering Armor Set in Monster Hunter Wilds
Mar 15,2025