The Epic Saga of Two Titans: Dragon Quest vs. Final Fantasy
Ah, the age-old question that has plagued gamers since the dawn of time—or at least since the creation of 8-bit graphics: What separates the grand masterpiece that is Dragon Quest from the equally monumental Final Fantasy? This query was presented to none other than the legendary Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind Dragon Quest, who graciously decided to shed some light on this phenomenon.
Not Quite Rivals—More Like Friendly Neighbors
In a riveting interview with Game Informer (for reference, and purely for entertainment!), Horii was asked if he thinks there’s a competitive vibe between Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Picture this: two gaming giants casually waving at each other from across the street, not plotting a showdown but rather exchanging friendly pleasantries. Horii responded that he never saw them as outright competitors. Instead, he was the vigilant neighbor, peeking through the curtains to see what the Final Fantasy folks were up to.
“Way back then, when Final Fantasy originally came out, I was definitely paying attention to it because it was something we needed to look out for,” he elaborated. On one hand, that sounds like classic rivalry; on the other, it’s more like a friendly sibling relationship where one brother is better at sports and the other excels at picking the worst video game titles.
Silent Protagonists vs. Chattier Friends
The fundamental distinction, according to Horii, lies in how these games handle their main characters. Enter stage left: the heroes of Final Fantasy, who can’t shut up! That’s right! In the world of Final Fantasy, protagonists engage in all kinds of banter, building friendships and spouting the occasional life lesson. Meanwhile, in Dragon Quest, the protagonist is as silent as a ninja on a stealth mission.
“In Final Fantasy, you kind of observe the protagonist, but you’re not necessarily becoming the protagonist in the games,” Horii noted. Isn’t that a lovely way of saying players are more like fly-on-the-wall observers rather than intrepid heroes in their own right? So, while players in Dragon Quest take on the mantle of hero, the Final Fantasy player is more like that one friend who always has to narrate every adventure instead of participating.
Why So Silent?
Horii made it crystal clear why his characters keep their lips zipped: “I didn’t have the protagonists in my games just start talking on their own because the player was supposed to be playing that role.” Aha! A revelation! In contrast, Final Fantasy seems to have adopted the philosophy that the more dialogue, the merrier—or at least, the more melodrama. In a world where every NPC babbles incessantly, it’s hard to tell who’s got the real emotional weight and who just likes to hog the mic.
A Fan of the Rival? Say it Ain’t So!
Despite the choice to keep heroes mum, Horii still holds a fondness for the Final Fantasy series. “I do like Final Fantasy, though,” he casually mentioned. Who knew a quiet guy could appreciate a chatty neighbor, right? He reminisced about the moment he laid eyes on Final Fantasy X. “I recall feeling this was the ultimate perfection of Final Fantasy.” A commendation from the dragon himself; one can only dream of such accolades from the gaming gods!
A Royal Recognition
As if to top it all off, Horii received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the Japanese government. Yes, you read that right! Horii is the first game designer to achieve such a high honor—pretty impressive for a guy who prefers his characters to stay silent. This award recognizes distinguished service, particularly in projects that don’t involve swinging swords or firing magical spells at one’s enemies.
With a storied career that stretches back to the original Dragon Quest in 1986, and as co-owner of the franchise alongside Square Enix, it’s safe to say Horii is living a fantasy of his own—one that is a distinct cut above merely talking about talking.
