Square Enix's Dragon Quest and Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio creators, Yuji Horii and Katsura Hashino, respectively, recently discussed the evolving role of silent protagonists in modern RPGs. Their conversation, excerpted from the "Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlas Brand 35th Anniversary Edition" booklet, explores the challenges of this classic RPG trope in the face of increasingly realistic graphics.

The Silent Protagonist: A Dragon Quest Legacy and Modern Hurdle

Horii, the mastermind behind Dragon Quest, refers to his series' protagonist as a "symbolic protagonist." This silent character allows players to project their own feelings into the game, enhancing immersion. In the early days of the series, the NES's limited graphics made this approach practical. However, Horii jokingly admits that a silent protagonist in today's high-definition games might simply look "like an idiot."

Horii, a former aspiring manga artist, attributes Dragon Quest's design—relying heavily on dialogue-driven storytelling with minimal narration—to his passion for storytelling and computers. The game's narrative unfolds through interactions, primarily with NPCs.

The simplicity of NES graphics allowed players to fill the emotional void left by the silent protagonist's lack of expression. This, Horii notes, is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve with modern visuals and audio fidelity. He concludes that depicting this type of protagonist in increasingly realistic games presents a significant ongoing challenge.

A Different Approach: Metaphor: ReFantazio and the Voiced Protagonist

Dragon Quest remains a notable exception among major RPG franchises, largely sticking to the silent protagonist. In contrast, series like Persona, starting with Persona 3, feature fully voiced protagonists. Hashino's Metaphor: ReFantazio will also utilize a fully voiced lead character.

Despite the challenges, Hashino praises Horii's approach, highlighting its focus on player emotion. He observes that Dragon Quest meticulously considers how each interaction, even with minor NPCs, will impact the player's feelings, emphasizing a player-centric design philosophy.