Jin Fujisawa, former director of the Dragon Quest saga, has revealed that Yuji Horii prioritizes the player's experience over the narrative. According to Fujisawa, Horii believes that if the game is fun, the story tells itself, without needing to force lengthy dialogues or cutscenes that interrupt the game's rhythm.
Gameplay as the narrative engine 🎮
This approach translates into a design where gameplay dictates the pace. Instead of rigid scripts, developers adjust the plot to fit combat and exploration systems. Horii reviews each scene asking himself if it adds value to the player's action. If a dialogue doesn't contribute to immediate fun, it gets cut. Thus, Dragon Quest prioritizes direct interaction over passive exposition.
The story is for those in no hurry ⏳
In other words, if you're expecting an epic drama with plot twists every two minutes, you'd better play something else. Here, the plot advances at the pace of your walks and battles. And if you get lost, no problem: the game forgives you everything as long as you keep pressing the controller. After all, that's what books are for.