DQ7 story fell apart so they added order

When legendary creator Yuji Horii looks back at the development of one of the series’ most beloved titles, Dragon Quest 7, he reveals a fascinating story about the balance between creative freedom and narrative structure.

Horii explains that the initial vision for Dragon Quest 7 was radically different from the game we know today. Instead of a tightly structured experience, the design team aimed for a completely open-world adventure. The concept centered on the protagonist discovering and mapping a vast world spanning multiple continents, with the freedom to explore and build the world’s map in any order.

At the heart of this open-world design was the idea of collecting stone shards scattered across the globe. Horii noted that initially, the mechanism for collecting these shards was meant to be purely exploratory; the order in which players found them was irrelevant, as the progression of the story was intended to remain fluid.

However, as development progressed, a crucial decision had to be made regarding the narrative flow. Horii admits that the story began to “fall apart,” prompting the team to reconsider the structure. They realized that for the plot to function effectively, a degree of order was necessary.

This led to a shift in design. While the freedom of the open world was retained, certain stone shards tied to specific plot points required a more deliberate sequence. This meant that some collectibles had to be obtained before or after others to ensure the story unfolded logically.

Despite the changes, Horii reflects on the outcome. He suggests that while the change resulted in a more linear experience, it was a necessary compromise to salvage the narrative integrity of the game. He muses that had they successfully maintained the open-world concept while achieving perfect narrative flow, Dragon Quest 7 might have been even more of a landmark title.

Ultimately, the evolution of Dragon Quest 7 serves as a compelling example of how the seemingly simple act of arranging a world can profoundly impact the epic journey of a video game.