I think one of the great appeals of Japanese role playing games is that their length allows for more long-term character development. After 40 to 60 hours, you’re invested in them and gain a significant understanding of their personality and traits. So it surprises me that Dragon Quest Swords, which is only 10 hours long, has a cast as likeable as a full-length RPG.
Each character is built around a stereotype, although it’s subtly infused into their personality. Prince Anlace never seems like the stuck up royal type, but his dialog and tone feels out of place and awkward when talking to townsmen or the rest of your ragtag team. Although higher than the main character in the class system, he acts as your peer in terms of combat skill.
The player character’s dad, Claymore, is a bar-going ladies man who is cheating on his out-of-town wife. It’s pretty sleazy, but he comes off as a genuinely caring father who wants to see you succeed. Fleurette’s an energetic mage who has a strong French accent and jumps back and forth between speaking in French and English. She’s almost like a cheer leader with her enthusiasm in encouraging the silent protagonist.
Dragon Quest Swords is built around simplicity. The designers boiled the RPG genre to its essential elements. So, in tune with the rest of the game, each character has compact story arcs. What they lack in depth is made up by highlighting their personalities through well-written cutscene and battle dialog.
Other RPGs will have more complicated and interesting plots, but Swords found a way to make theirs just as memorable in a fraction of the time.
(Header Image Source: ManaJournal)
