Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii believes modern advancements in game graphics make silent protagonists “look like an idiot”.
Horii recently discussed the topic of RPGs with Metaphor: ReFantazio director and producer Katsura Hashino, an excerpt of which was published by Denfaminicogamer (thanks Automaton).
One challenge Horii believes the Dragon Quest franchise is facing is how a protagonist should be depicted now that graphics have become more realistic – allowing for more detailed and expressive designs.
The Dragon Quest games have had silent protagonists, or “the symbolic protagonist” as Horii puts it, which allows players to see themselves as the main character and project their own emotions. This choice was partly due to technological restrictions at the time.
Now, though, graphics are more lifelike and detailed. Horii joked: “As game graphics evolve and grow increasingly realistic, if you make a protagonist who just stands there, they will look like an idiot.”
On the other hand, a speaking protagonist can be hard for players to relate to. “That’s why, the type of protagonist featured in Dragon Quest becomes increasingly difficult to depict as games become more realistic,” said Horii. “This will be a challenge in the future too.”
Horii’s comments could easily apply to a number of major series, including the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, which have historically all had silent protagonists.
With Link in particular, Nintendo have found ways to make the character expressive within the confines of the visual aesthetic, without the need for speech. That rings true for the detail of Tears of the Kingdom as much as the minimalist approach for Wind Waker.