Dragon Quest Creator Calls Final Fantasy X the Pinnacle of Perfection

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Dragon Quest Creator Praises Final Fantasy X as Ultimate Perfection

Yuji Horii, the legendary creator of the Dragon Quest series, recently shared his admiration for the Final Fantasy franchise, specifically calling Final Fantasy X the ultimate perfection of the series. Horii also explained the fundamental differences that make these two iconic Japanese RPG franchises unique, shedding light on the golden era of RPGs during the PlayStation 2 era.

Horii’s Perspective on Final Fantasy X

In an interview with Game Informer, Horii reflected on the rivalry between Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy during the 1980s and 1990s, before Square and Enix merged into Square Enix. He revealed that while he always monitored Final Fantasy, he never saw it as a direct threat. According to Horii, the key distinction lies in the storytelling approach: Final Fantasy often features protagonists with defined personalities and dialogue, while Dragon Quest focuses on placing the player as the true hero, creating a distinctly different experience.

Horii elaborated that in Final Fantasy, players often act as “observers” of the main character, who has a clear role and personality. In contrast, Dragon Quest allows players to become the main character themselves, a design philosophy present since the series’ inception. Despite growing alongside each other, Horii emphasized that he never considered Final Fantasy a direct competitor, but rather a series he watched with genuine interest.

Admiration for PlayStation 2 Classics

While the design philosophies differ, Horii openly expressed his appreciation for Final Fantasy, particularly Final Fantasy X, the first installment on the PlayStation 2. He described the game as “the ultimate perfection of Final Fantasy,” praising its visuals, storytelling, and series evolution at the time—a sentiment mirrored by the success of Dragon Quest VIII on PS2. For Horii and many fans, this period represents the golden age of Japanese RPGs.

origin: pushsquare