The Evolving Role of the Silent Protagonist in Modern RPGs: A Conversation Between Dragon Quest and Metaphor: ReFantazio Creators
Veteran RPG developers Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Katsura Hashino (Metaphor: ReFantazio) recently discussed the challenges of utilizing silent protagonists in today's advanced gaming environment. Their conversation, excerpted from the "Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlas Brand 35th Anniversary Edition" booklet, explores the changing dynamics of storytelling in RPGs.
Horii, creator of the iconic Dragon Quest series, explained the series' reliance on the "symbolic protagonist"—a silent character allowing players to project themselves into the game. This approach worked well with the simpler graphics of earlier games, where limited animations didn't highlight the lack of character expression. "With increasingly realistic graphics," Horii quipped, "a silent protagonist just standing there looks like an idiot!"
Horii, a former aspiring manga artist, emphasized Dragon Quest's narrative structure, built upon dialogue and player interaction, minimizing direct narration. The minimalist graphics of the NES era allowed players to easily fill in the emotional gaps left by the silent protagonist. However, with today's advanced visuals and audio, maintaining this approach presents significant challenges. Horii acknowledged this, stating, "The type of protagonist in Dragon Quest becomes increasingly difficult to portray as games become more realistic. This will be a challenge in the future too."
In contrast to Dragon Quest's continued use of a silent protagonist, other RPG series, such as Persona, have embraced fully voiced protagonists. Hashino's upcoming title, Metaphor: ReFantazio, also features a fully voiced protagonist.
Despite the limitations of silent protagonists in modern gaming, Hashino praised Horii's approach, highlighting Dragon Quest's focus on the player's emotional experience: "I think Dragon Quest puts a lot of thought into how the player will feel in a given situation... consistently created with the player in mind, thinking about what emotions will arise when someone says something." This conversation underscores the evolving relationship between game design, technological advancements, and the player's emotional engagement in RPGs.
