SNS Debates Dragon Quest 12 Protagonist vs. AI Generation

The protagonist design for the upcoming game Dragon Quest 12 has become a topic of debate on social media, with some users arguing that artificial intelligence could have produced a superior result [1][2]. The discussion originated on online forums where critics compared the character's appearance to generic designs found in other games, sparking a wider conversation about the title's artistic direction [3].

Key takeaways

• Social media users are debating the quality of the Dragon Quest 12 protagonist design, with some suggesting AI would be better [1][2].
• Some forum commenters described the design as resembling a generic Chinese social game, while others noted it was actually created by Akira Toriyama [3].
• An experiment using ChatGPT to generate a world setting for the game found AI capable of creating structural themes but lacking the series' specific human touch and humor [4].

User Reactions to Character Design

On internet forums, opinions regarding the protagonist's visual design were divided. Some users claimed the character looked like a "generic Chinese social game" character [3]. One commenter expressed surprise that the design was by Akira Toriyama, initially assuming otherwise due to the style [3]. Comparisons were also drawn to the protagonist of Dragon Quest 11; while some users preferred the new design, others felt it was too similar and wished for changes to the hairstyle [3]. Another user likened the character's haircut to "Nanashi" from Dragon Quest IV [3].

AI Experiments in World Building

Amidst the debate over character art, a separate experiment explored how AI would handle the game's world setting. When asked to generate a setting for Dragon Quest 12 with a dark fantasy theme, ChatGPT produced a scenario where the hero is a figure who forces choices rather than a simple savior, and the demon king is born of human desire [4]. The experimenter concluded that while the AI successfully created a logical "skeleton" for the world, it failed to capture the "body temperature" of the series, such as the atmosphere of small villages and specific humor [4]. The result was deemed a useful draft but insufficient as a final product [4].

Why it matters

The reaction highlights the high expectations fans have for the long-running franchise's visual identity and storytelling. It also reflects a growing trend of comparing creative works to generative AI capabilities, raising questions about the role of human artistry in maintaining a series' unique atmosphere [3][4].