You can’t imagine what this interview means to us. One of pillars of RPG games has dedicated a few minutes of his time to an account like this, it is something we could never have imagined. But you know how we are, we try to make dreams come true, and the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, has been the perfect excuse for Square Enix to give the green light and they have been kind enough to let us cross a few words with the father of Dragon Quest. Many questions have been left unanswered due to lack of time or other reasons (we have not been able to talk about the future of the saga, for example), but it is an immense honor to bring the words of this legend to our website. In addition, Kento Yokota, producer of this latest installment and other games in the series, also answered some of our questions about the game.
For this special occasion, we count on the wonderful Spanish Dragon Quest community that has also participated in the elaboration of the questions, we thank you again from here. We hope you like it!
RPG Spain: Dragon Quest as a franchise is magical for many reasons. What elements do you think are essential in a Dragon Quest game?
Yuji Horii: There are many different elements to a DRAGON QUEST game, but what I value first and foremost is that they should be easy to understand. I am not the sort of person who sits down to read through a manual before playing a new game, so I try to make it so that players coming into one of my games can instinctively work out how to play and what they need to do without an explanation. On top of that, I would probably say that a warm and cheery setting and a sense of excitement are the key factors. By a “sense of excitement”, I mean making it so the players’ imagination is stimulated while they play, and they can wonder what would happen next if they do a certain thing or other.
RPG Spain: What surprises and new features can we expect from this new release? Will it have a clear relationship with Dragon Quest IV?
Yuji Horii: Thank you so much for playing DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince. In this new entry in the series, we refreshed the monster synthesis mechanics so players can enjoy putting together many new combinations. The story also stars the immensely popular Psaro from DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen and tells an alternative tale from the DRAGON QUEST IV world that was not seen in that game. The timeline for this story overlaps with some of the events seen in DRAGON QUEST IV, so you may well encounter the heroes you played as (and other characters) somewhere along the road!
RPG Spain: The changes in the world depending on the season we are in (summer, winter…) it’s a great idea. How did this idea come about? Was it not too difficult to develop for each scenario?
Kento Yokota: The monsters that are featured in the game vary hugely in appearance and character, so we felt that putting in changing seasons would bring even more life to the environments you encounter them in and how they interact with their homes. The development team discussed how we should make the seasons change in each different region of Nadiria, and we reached the conclusion that it would be best if they didn’t all change in a uniform manner and instead decided to make unique seasonal variations and changes for each one.
RPG Spain: Can you tell us which monster team you plan to use most often, or are you more of a frequent changer?
Yuji Horii: I use different monsters in different games in the series, but a team I often employ involves taking durable monsters like the Metal King Slime, who can shrug off enemy attacks and magic, and giving them healing spells. I don’t tend to switch the members of my party around very frequently though.
RPG Spain: If any fan of the main Dragon Quest games has not played any «Monsters» yet, why would you tell them to play this new installment?
Kento Yokota: In the main DRAGON QUEST series the monsters are enemies that you must defeat, but in the DRAGON QUEST Monsters series they are your dependable allies and comrades. You can recruit over five hundred different species of characterful creatures and use the synthesis system to develop them to be even more powerful, customising your own unique monster team to take into battle. This kind of gameplay is not something that is found in the main DRAGON QUEST games. In addition, the star of this game is Psaro from DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen and the story follows in his footsteps, so I really want fans of DRAGON QUEST IV in particular to check it out.
RPG Spain: Separately for returning fans, what would be a great reason to jump into this latest entry that different from what you’re saying to new fans?
Kento Yokota: In this game we have renewed and refreshed many of the gameplay systems and mechanics from the previous DRAGON QUEST Monsters games. Everything has been improved, made streamlined and easier to understand for those who have perhaps not played a DRAGON QUEST Monsters game in a while. So, if you are interested then I invite you to give our free demo a try.
RPG Spain: Have you been inspired by our country for more Dragon Quest locations?
Yuji Horii: I have studied many places and things in Spain, including the Sagrada Familia, various other designs by Gaudi and the Palace at Alhambra, etc. It would be difficult to point out which specific elements of those are used in which towns in DRAGON QUEST, but we really did refer to Spanish cultural elements for lots of different places and objects across the series. When I was in Spain, I went to see Flamenco at a certain bar and was surprised that the patrons of the bar also joined in with the dancing. I also got up on stage and have great memories of trying to copy everyone and dance along too (laughs).
RPG Spain: In fact a commercial that is quite popular among Spanish fans was filmed in Antequera, we are talking about Dragon Quest VI. We go there a lot! Have you visited it?
Yuji Horii: I have been to Spain twice now, but unfortunately, I have never visited Antequera. It must be a really nice town though, so I would love to go if I have the chance.
RPG Spain: If you could work on a project other than Dragon Quest, what would it be? Whatever genre or franchise.
Yuji Horii: I am not sure about what the genre would be, but I am definitely interested in the kinds of games where the virtual impinges on reality. Sort of like something where playing that game will change you in the real world. Online games definitely have those kinds of elements to them, such as when you see people who met each other while playing getting married in real life. Of course, people who go as far as marriage are not the majority, so I don’t really want to do something along those lines, but instead create a game that would have an effect on the real lives of the majority of people who played it.
RPG Spain: As a person, you inspire us and make us dream with your video games and your work. What is the secret to keep succeeding and keeping that smile on your face for so many years in this job?
Yuji Horii: I am delighted to be referred to as someone who inspires and gives people dreams. Thank you so much for the compliment. If you ask me what the secret is, then unfortunately I do not know that myself, but If I had to say something then it is probably that I just really like games and also that I surf the internet a lot and constantly absorb all kinds of new information.
RPG Spain: Thank you so much for everything! It is an immense honour for us to be able to talk to one of the pillars of the RPG. As a Spanish media specialized in this kind of videogames, we still can’t believe it. Thank you very much for this opportunity, we will never forget it!
Yuji Horii: Thank you too. Please keep supporting the DRAGON QUEST series in future!
RPG Spain 