There’s no denying thatDragon Questis a crucial part of the video game industry. It’s one of the longest-lived RPG franchises on the market, and one of the foundational games in the JRPG subgenre. The work of series founder Yuji Horii and Square Enix has created a celebrated series of games that keeps picking up new generations of fans. Said fans are always interested in seeingwhereDragon Questwill go next, so it’s no surprise that fans were very excited to celebrateDragon Quest’s 35th anniversary. After plenty of other announcements, the stream announced the long-awaited mainline continuation:Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate.
Dragon Questfans have only waited a few years for a new game, since the fairly recent release ofDragon Quest 11,but that doesn’t makeDragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fateless exciting. It’s proof thatDragon Questis a truly timeless franchise that’s nowhere near dying out.Dragon Quest 12sounds like it’s something very different, though. Yuji Horii made it clear that it’s trying some new things withDragon Quest 12.Although the hints he’s given so far are vague, they thoroughly establish that the next game will be a big departure from many franchise traditions.
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Making a Mature Dragon Quest
Perhaps the biggest upcoming change is thatDragon Quest 12will supposedly be much more maturethan previous entries.Dragon Questis a lighthearted series that’s known for its bright colors and upbeat attitude. WhileDragon Questisn’t necessarily designed to be specifically for children, it’s always been aesthetically inviting, and didn’t try too hard to tell dark or heavy stories. Now it seems like Square Enix and Horii want to try something new.Dragon Quest 12will somehow be an installation geared more toward adults than previous games.
The reveal trailer forDragon Quest 12is short on specifics, but it certainly channels a very different tone thanwhatDragon Questusually focuses on. The trailer trades in bright colors and a cartoony art style for dark colors and explosions. It would make sense if that’s a taste of what the new game looks like. It may have much duller tones and update its art style to better match a more mature tone forDragon Quest.It’s sort of strange thatDragon Questis suddenly trying a drastically different tone, since its charming agelessness hasn’t been an obstacle so far. Still, maybe a little experimentation with storytelling will instill some fresh ideas in the franchise.
Dragon Quest 12’s Changes to Gameplay
Horii also teased thatDragon Quest 12’s gameplay, especially combat, will be different from previous games.Dragon Questis frequently hailed as one of the franchises responsible for making turn-based combat mainstream, particularly for the many JRPGs that came after it. For a long time, its combat has largely remained built on the basics of turn-based RPGs, something theDragon Questrepresentative in Super Smash Bros. Ultimatethoroughly represents in his moveset. Just like the tonal changes, Horii hasn’t shared any details about how combat is changing just yet.
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The tonal changes inDragon Quest 12might actually offer a clue about combat changes, though. Horii and Square Enix might try something more action-oriented in order to channel the adult angle of the game. Although otherturn-based RPGs likePersona 5still successfully channel mature themes, it’d also make sense forDragon Quest 12to lean into the explosive action suggested by the trailer and have the game’s protagonists fight in real time. Real-time action seems like a risky gamble for a thoroughly established turn-based game, but fans shouldn’t panic.Dragon Questhas a lot of experience and talent to lean on if it ventures into a new frontier like that.
Some other unique features ofDragon Quest 12is its reported emphasis on player choice. Fate is a central theme to the game, as its full title implies, and supposedly players will need to be prepared to make major choices to determine their fate. As with everything else, Horii and Square Enix haven’t shared a whole lot of details on player choice inDragon Quest 12,but it’s not hard to imagine how it could be incorporated. Putting more onus on the player to decide how the story goes could be helpful in telling a more mature story. Overall, it remains to be seenwhat exactly theDragon Questteam has in mindin terms of the importance of player choice.
Revisiting Tradition in Dragon Quest 12
It’s pretty interesting to hear just how differentDragon Quest 12is going to be compared to previous games. This sudden change comes without warning;Dragon Quest 11was a very traditional entryin the franchise, and it was warmly received by fans and critics alike. It seems more likely that the desire to innovate is internal, stemming from Horii and the developers, rather than an external push forDragon Questto change. Square Enix has plenty of experience in making serious games, so the shift in tone shouldn’t be a problem in itself. The real questionDragon Quest 12raises is what it means forDragon Quest’s future.
What are the odds thatDragon Questbecomesa very serious RPG franchiseafter the next game? Would that be a good thing for the games and the franchise? Part of what makesDragon Queststand out is how closely it’s stuck to the aesthetic and themes that made it famous. It’s a relic of the wild west of video gaming that manages to innovate just enough to retain its appeal, while preserving RPG traditions. Dropping that reputation could be a problem.
There’s also something to be said for how much competitionDragon Questwould face from other serious action games, if that’s the direction it goes in. Innovation is generally a good thing in the game industry, but it can be tricky for intentionally traditional games likeDragon Questto overhaul themselves. Whatever Yuji Horii and Square Enix have in mind, hopefully it doesn’t stray too far from the franchise that fans love.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fateis in development.
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