Dragon Quest XI is finally coming to Western shores in a little over a month, and Square Enix has released a new English trailer, which serves as an introduction to the game’s colorful cast. They’ve also released some interesting thoughts on each character from Dragon Quest creator and writer Yuji Horii. Check out the trailer and descriptions, below.

　　The  Luminary  –  The  Destined  Hero

　　Dragon Quest  protagonists  typically  don't  have  a  strong  personality. Reason  being,  is  that  it  is  determined  that  the  main  character  should  first  and  foremost  be  the  player. To  make  sure  the  player  can  identify  with  the  hero,  we  intentionally  make  him  quite  normal,  or  quite  orthodox,  so  he  doesn't  act  in  a  way  that  the  player  definitely  wouldn’t. We  strive  to  create  the  protagonist  so  that  it  will  be  easier  for  players  to  feel  that  they  are  the  main  character. In  that  respect,  ultimately,  I  want  people  to  have  their  own  vision  and  depiction  of  the  protagonist  and  project  themselves  onto  the  character.

　　Erik  –  The  Reliable  Partner-In-Crime

　　As  mentioned  earlier,  in  terms  of  the  setting,  Erik  is  traveling  to  atone  for  his  sins  and  meets  a  prophet  who  informs  him  "you  will  lend  a  hand  to  the  Luminary,  and  you  will  be  free  of  your  sins".  At  first,  he  thought  this  to  be  preposterous  and  didn't  believe  the  prophecy,  and  this  reaction  describes  his  personality  to  a  certain  degree. But,  when  the  "Luminary"  actually  appears  before  Erik  while  he  was  placed  in  the  dungeons,  he  comes  to  believe  the  prophecy  and  saves  the  hero,  so  there's  an  honest  and  compassionate  side  to  him  as  well.

　　Veronica  &  Serena  –  The  Fearless  Young  Mage  and  The  Laid  Back  Healer

　　Veronica  looks  like  a  child,  but  she's  actually  a  mature  young  lady. She's  a  bit  of  a  tomboy  with  a  strong  mind,  and  she  doesn't  shy  away  or  hold  back  from  stating  her  own  opinions. In  comparison,  Serena  is  the  one  that  always  hides  in  the  shadows. In  fact,  Veronica  is  always  saying,  "she's  such  a  slowpoke," But,  this  is  a  nice  distinctive  quality  between  the  two  characters  and  their  relationship.

　　Rab  –  The  Mysterious  Old  Man

　　Rab  appears  with  Jade. He's  a  strange  character  that  brings  to  question  "who  exactly  is  he?" That  said,  despite  his  appearance,  he's  actually  quite  strong. He  has  a  stern  side,  but  also  has  the  playful  side;  he  is  enshrouded  in  mystery.

　　Jade  –  The  Noble  Martial  Artist

　　She's  fearless  and  brave,  as  well  as  chivalrous  and  dignified. She's  like  an  older  sister,  striving  to  protect  and  support  the  main  character,  but  she  also  has  a  vulnerable  side.

　　Sylvando  –  The  Entertainer  Extraordinaire

　　Again,  he  believes  that  bringing  joy  to  others  is  his  form  of  chivalry,  and  he  works  vigorously  towards  that  belief.

　　Dragon Quest is a beloved institution in Japan, eclipsing even Final Fantasy in popularity (Dragon Quest XI has already sold over 3 million in the country), but the series has never really taken off in America or Europe. Dragon Quest XI features a somewhat more modern, open design, so it will be interesting to see how Westerners respond. Japan’s other favorite series, Monster Hunter, finally found success here this year, so maybe it’s Dragon Quest’s turn! You can check out some Dragon Quest XI gameplay, courtesy of PlayStation Underground, below.

　　Dragon Quest XI ventures forth onto the PC and PS4 on September 4. The game is also coming to Nintendo Switch, but a release date for that version has yet to be revealed.