| Hero | |
|---|---|
| Dragon Quest character | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:DQ3_Hero.png) Art of the male and female Hero in Dragon Quest III | |
| First appearance | Dragon Quest III (1988) |
| Created by | Yuji Horii |
| Designed by | Akira Toriyama |
| Voiced by | Nobuyuki Hiyama (male) Yuko Minaguchi (female) |
The Hero, also known as Loto in Japanese and Erdrick in English, is the protagonist of the 1988 video game Dragon Quest III. Unlike previous Dragon Quest protagonists, this Hero can be male or female, though fans criticized the lack of differences between the two gender options. They are the son of Ortega, who went missing after seeking out the villain Baramos. The Hero assumes this quest on their 16th birthday. The male Hero appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable character as part of a character called "Hero," alongside the heroes of Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest VIII, and Dragon Quest XI. They are a silent protagonist save for one line, which was not well-received by fans. The lack of differences between the male and female Hero received criticism as well, leading to efforts to improve this in Dragon Quest IV. The Hero has been identified as an iconic Hero, with multiple critics identifying their design as a foundational one, citing the protagonist of the light novel Maoyu as an example.