Silent Protagonists: Unveiled in Modern RPGs by Dragon Quest Creators

Veteran RPG developers Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Katsura Hashino (Metaphor: ReFantazio) recently discussed the evolving role of silent protagonists in modern RPGs, a topic highlighted in the "Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlas Brand 35th Anniversary Edition" booklet. Their conversation explored the challenges of this classic trope in a landscape of increasingly realistic graphics.

Horii, creator of the iconic Dragon Quest series, explained the series' reliance on a "symbolic protagonist"—a silent character allowing players to project their own emotions. This approach, he noted, was more practical in the simpler graphics of earlier games where limited animation didn't highlight the lack of vocalization. "With realistic graphics," Horii quipped, "a silent protagonist just looks like an idiot."

He attributed Dragon Quest's narrative structure—reliant on dialogue and minimal narration—to his background in manga and his passion for storytelling. The game's core, he emphasized, is built on player interaction through dialogue, creating a unique narrative experience. However, he acknowledged the growing difficulty of maintaining this approach as visuals and audio become more sophisticated, making a non-reactive protagonist increasingly jarring. "As games become more realistic," Horii concluded, "this type of protagonist becomes harder to depict—a future challenge indeed."

Hashino, whose upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio features a fully voiced protagonist, contrasted this with Dragon Quest's unique approach. He praised Horii for prioritizing player emotional engagement, even in seemingly minor interactions. "Dragon Quest carefully considers the player's feelings," Hashino observed, "even in dialogue with ordinary NPCs. The games consistently prioritize the player experience and the emotions evoked by the narrative." This highlights the contrasting design philosophies between games utilizing silent versus voiced protagonists, each aiming for different levels of player immersion and emotional connection.