Yoko Taro says he keeps making games partly to stay mentally sharp

Yoko Taro, the creator of Nier and Drakengard, said he has largely realized his creative vision and has thought about retiring. He keeps working because it pays and because he believes staying busy helps prevent dementia, though the article notes he may not mean that literally. He also described his role in the industry as filling gaps in genres he admires rather than competing directly with perfect games.

Yoko Taro, known for directing Nier and Drakengard and for wearing an Emil-style mask, discussed his career at the Tokyo French Institute. He recalled that Drakengard, his first directing role, let him realize nearly all his intentions. As a self-described game enthusiast, he considered releasing a long-desired project the dream, and now sees later work as extra time.

He said income matters, but he also worries idleness could harm his mental sharpness, joking that work helps ward off dementia. He described his approach as filling gaps rather than competing with admired, seemingly flawless titles like Ico and Ikaruga, suggesting his darker, rougher games occupy spaces pioneers left open.

Count words: first para: Yoko(1) Taro(2), known3 for4 directing5 Nier6 and7 Drakengard8 and9 for10 wearing11 an12 Emil-style13 mask14, discussed15 his16 career17 at18 the19 Tokyo20 French21 Institute22. He23 recalled24 that25 Drakengard26, his27 first28 directing29 role30, let31 him32 realize33 nearly34 all35 his36 intentions37. As38 a39 self-described40 game41 enthusiast42, he43 considered44 releasing45 a46 long-desired47 project48 the49 dream50, and51 now52 sees53 later54 work55 as56 extra57 time58. Good.

Second: He59 said60 income61 matters62, but63 he64 also65 worries66 idleness67 could68 harm69 his70 mental71 sharpness72, joking73 that74 work75 helps76 ward77 off78 dementia79. He80 described81 his82 approach83 as84 filling85 gaps86 rather87 than88 competing89 with90 admired91, seemingl