Dragon Quest creator discusses silent protagonists in modern 3D games

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

https://mynintendonews.com/2024/07/25/d ... -3d-games/

Video gaming has changed a lot in the last 25 years. Games, including Nintendo‘s, have switched from mainly 2D to mainly 3D, and the graphics have gotten increasingly more realistic and detailed with every new video gaming console generation. This has created some new challenges for video game developers. However, you might be surprised to learn of a challenge in particular that the creator of Dragon Quest has mentioned.

Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii and Metaphor: ReFantazio producer Katsura Hashino recently participated in a dialogue event about RPGs. At one point, Horii talks about “the symbolic protagonist”, one of the core aspects of Dragon Quest. At the time, graphics were 2D and not as detailed, meaning that it was easier for players to insert themselves into the game as the silent protagonist and project their own emotions and reactions onto the character. However, Horii says that “as game graphics evolve and grow increasingly realistic, if you make a protagonist who just stands there, they will look like an idiot”.

Horii also notes that there isn’t an easy solution to this problem. The reason for that is because having the protagonist clearly react to events can risk immersion being lost as the players may have a difficult time relating and connecting with the character. Horii said that “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,”

I think it just depends on a game-by-game basis. A retro style game can make it work, but not a more cinematic RPG.