Japanese Fans Angry At Square Enix’s Decision To Censor Female Characters in ‘Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake’
Huge Shoutout to BoundingIntoComics for the initial story!
"Oh shut up Smash, it's not a big deal!"
If it's not a big deal ...why do it?
Square Enix keeps pushing that censorship in the modern era... this time due to their decision to censor female character designs in the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
What - You thought it would stop at censoring the troll's lips?
Or at removing genders to instead switch into 'Body Type A/B in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake?
That stuff, unfortunately, was just the beginning...
The changes, which alter the original designs by legendary artist Akira Toriyama, have sparked outrage among everyone, but especially Japanese fans right now - They aren't having it.
They're arguing that this censorship is not only disrespectful to the game’s legacy but also straight-up shitting on Toriyama’s artistic visions. Why do this at all if the disctinctions are so minimal, all they've done is removed the distinguishable characteristics and replaced it with a far more 'generic' looking character
But wait - there's more! The female versions of the Gadabout and Warrior classes have been noticeably modified:
The Warrior, once clad in a design typical of the classic Japanese “bikini armor” style, now has a tan undershirt and shorts beneath her armor (above), while the female Gadabout’s outfit (below) has been heavily altered to cover more skin, losing a ton of its original distinctive style. Even her iconic “Whisky” bottle accessory has been reduced to a nondescript brown jug, with its original label stripped away...
While some changes, like those made to the Gadabout’s costume, were clearly to avoid legal issues with the Playboy bunny outfit, Japanese fans see these alterations as acts of puritanical censorship rather than necessary modifications. Fans have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction, accusing Square Enix of prioritizing political correctness over artistic integrity.
Then we have Maya, being completely destroyed for Dragon Quest Monsters 3 (above). What is with the added undergarments to appeal to 'Western standards'??
@spider0244, expressed frustration: “Why would they do this to a female Warrior in a remake of Dragon Quest III, one of the milestones of the Japanese bikini armor culture? Everyone involved should apologize at Akira Toriyama’s grave.”
“Everyone Involved Should Apologize at Akira Toriyama’s Grave”
This sentiment is echoed by @90mm_Kanon, who argued that the changes are “disrespectful and rude to Akira Toriyama.”
The backlash intensified as more fans chimed in, questioning why the original designs were changed when the female Warrior appeared in Dragon Quest Walk ReWALK earlier this year wearing a costume much closer to Toriyama’s vision.
@Re_Riam pointed out more inconsistency:
“Rather than putting on some weird skin-colored cloth, I think they were able to create a cool, curvaceous design while increasing the skin area with armor, like in Dragon Quest Walk.”
Some even found humor in the situation, noting that the redesigned pixel art sprite of the female Warrior now awkwardly resembles a set of male genitalia. Twitter user @nonameagent tweeted, “It’s cute and looks like a penis”:
...While @ritta_com quipped, “Does this mean Square Enix has opened up the possibility of a futanari?” Which, for those unfamiliar, that refers almost exclusively to characters who have a female or overall feminine body, but have both female and male primary genitalia...
At the heart of the outrage lies a broader dissatisfaction with the trend of censorship in Japanese games, perceived as pandering to Western sensibilities and social pressures. Fans feel that these changes undermine the cultural and artistic heritage of games like Dragon Quest III, which have long celebrated unique Japanese styles and values... and to be honest, can anyone blame them for feeling this way? There's a growing sentiment in the West that gamers have had enough of this, no matter how small or trivial it may seem at first, because that's exactly how a slippery slope gets us to a Sweet Baby Inc.-styled DEI injection firm, desecrating the art of gaming.
Turning Tides
As we continue to see these kinds of modifications, it’s clear that Japanese gamers are fed up with the increasing trend of censorship, particularly when it seems to be driven by external pressures rather than genuine artistic intent. Square Enix’s decision to censor iconic character designs, especially those created by a beloved artist like Akira Toriyama, feels far more like a betrayal to fans who've supported the franchise for decades than anything else.
...And all for what? To shit on this legend's legacy in the name of DEI!?
While DEI consultancy firms would most likely try and argue that these changes are minor or necessary for "modern audiences", it’s beyond evident that both Western and Eastern fans are united in their opposition to these alterations.
The sentiment's simple: If a company is going to remake a beloved classic, they should do so with respect to the original material, rather than bending to perceived political correctness. It's REALLY not that hard.
Square Enix and other companies should take note: Fans are willing to vote with their wallets. Time and time again that theory has now become a proven fact. If they continue down this path, they risk alienating their core audience even further, harming their brand more in the long run. As user wontbendthekne succinctly put it in a reply on BoundingIntoComics story:
“Square Enix’s Ethics Department offends my cultural sensibilities; therefore, I demand it be shut down.”
Let’s hope Square Enix reconsiders its approach and begins to prioritize its fans and the legacy of its creators over external pressures. If they do not, they might find themselves losing not just fans, but also their standing in the gaming community.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is set to release on November 14th, but with the current sentiment... it remains to be seen whether fans will embrace it or reject it in any kind of protest.
And again - Huge shoutout to Bounding Into Comics for the heads up on this insanity!! ~Smash
SE needs to take note of the recently released list of games here in the west which ended up being absolute failures as a direct result of DEI bullshit, and they had better think real hard before they make a decision to even slightly censor something. If they’re attempting to appease the westerners, then they’re targeting the wrong people. They need to make the consumers who buy their games happy…not the activists who don’t even play video games.
I’ve been championing Asian studios in a lot of my comments across the internet claiming that they won’t bend the knee to these DEI bullies, so this article is very disappointing. I love SE, and I’m a huge Final Fantasy fan, bu…
It’s a real competition to see which developer can ruin it’s IP the most.