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 reveals the challenges of maintaining this classic trope in an era of increasingly realistic graphics.

Horii, creator of the iconic Dragon Quest series, explains the silent protagonist as a "symbolic protagonist," allowing players to project themselves into the game. This approach worked well with the simpler graphics of earlier games, where limited animation didn't highlight the lack of character expression. However, he acknowledges that in today's visually rich environments, a completely silent protagonist can appear jarring, even absurd. He humorously notes that a silent protagonist in modern games might simply look like "an idiot."

Horii, whose background includes aspirations to be a manga artist, emphasizes the narrative focus of Dragon Quest, built primarily on dialogue interactions rather than extensive narration. The game's story unfolds through conversations, a design choice that he finds particularly engaging. He admits that maintaining this style in the face of advanced graphics presents a significant challenge, concluding that depicting a silent protagonist effectively in increasingly realistic games will continue to be a hurdle.

In contrast to Dragon Quest's enduring silent protagonist, Hashino's upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio features a fully voiced protagonist. Despite this difference, Hashino praises Horii's approach, highlighting Dragon Quest's consistent focus on the player's emotional experience, even in seemingly mundane interactions with non-player characters (NPCs). He emphasizes the series' dedication to crafting scenarios that resonate with player emotion, a testament to the thoughtful design philosophy behind Dragon Quest's enduring appeal. This discussion underscores the ongoing evolution of storytelling in RPGs and the creative challenges faced by developers in balancing classic design elements with modern technological advancements.