Jin Fujisawa, a former scenario writer and director for the Dragon Quest series, including titles IX and X, recently shared insights into his time at Square Enix and his collaboration with Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the iconic RPG franchise, in an interview with The Change. Since departing from Square Enix in 2018, Fujisawa has taken on the role of general director at Daiyonkyokai (The Fourth Boundary), a studio focused on experimental augmented reality games, and serves as the representative of scenario company Storynote, which is currently crafting its inaugural visual novel game under the Lorebard label.
Though Fujisawa’s career remains centered on narrative design, he recalls a pivotal lesson imparted by Horii during his two-decade tenure at Square Enix: “Dragon Quest isn’t about the scenario.”
Earlier in his career, Fujisawa believed that a compelling RPG hinged entirely on its storyline, but Horii challenged this notion. “Horii-san would often say, It’s not about the storyline, the experience is what matters. You start by thinking about what kind of experience you want the player to go through,” Fujisawa recalls. To illustrate his point, Fujisawa references Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride and its impactful marriage choice mechanic. “It’s precisely because the core of that event is the powerful experience of earnestly choosing a marriage partner that a unique story emerges for each player,” he elaborates.
Initially skeptical, Fujisawa admits he has since embraced Horii’s philosophy, integrating it into his own creative process. “Horii is someone who strives to create things no one’s ever seen before—things that defy expectations and prompt people to think, Wait, what? That’s possible? When you’re young, it’s easy to focus on making people cry, but evoking emotion through surprise is far more challenging. And when people are moved by surprise, that’s when they truly feel happiness,” Fujisawa reflects.
Fujisawa notes that this emphasis on “designing experiences” and delivering unexpected moments is a hallmark of Horii’s approach, one that Daiyonkyokai has consciously adopted in its projects.
Mido