Summary
Kingdom Hearts 3marked a pivotal moment in the franchise, culminating in the return of beloved original characters across the series' games. From Roxas to Xion, Aqua to Ventus,Kingdom Hearts 3took the time to spotlight its cast and their efforts toward bringing an end to theDark Seeker Saga. While this focus was an emotional one set up for long-time fans, it also compounded the absence ofFinal Fantasycharacters throughoutKH3’s plot. Though the Hollow Bastion crew could be seen briefly in the game’s Re: Mind DLC, it’s unclear to what extent they or otherFinal Fantasycharacters will appear inKingdom Hearts 4.
Given the brief look atKingdom Hearts 4currently available, it seems the title will follow Sora alone for a bit of its gameplay; with the character stuck in the world of Quadratum, separated from his friends and party members Donald and Goofy, it looks like he’ll have to fell enemies through his own efforts for a time. This could be the perfect opportunity to rely on summons, not just through Disney representation, butFinal Fantasyas well. Though Sora might not be close in distance to his friends, the summons could be a way to bridge the gap between himself and those that helped him in the past.
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Kingdom Hearts 4 Could Strike a Balance Between Disney and Final Fantasy Summons
Thoughsummons inKingdom Heartshave mostly revolved around Disney characters, the feature of pastFinal Fantasyicons to help Sora in combat could serve as his strength and motivation for continuing on. Like Cloud’s summon inChain of Memories,the opportunity for this type of representation could help to mend their absence fromKH4’s plot, should the title focus on its original characters once again. Similar toFinal Fantasy 7: Remake’s limit breaks, the summons could be used for a number of effects and boons in battle, a compromise that would work well in instances where Sora has to fight alone.
This could be the chance to see beloved characters back into the fray, striking a balance between Disney andFinal Fantasy. Those like Ariel and Simba would be likely to return, though the opportunity for others likeFF10’s Auron orFF7’s Aerith to be summoned could help to integrate them withinKingdom Hearts 4’s gameplay. While it would be nice to see these characters have relevance in the series' narrative once again, especially when considering Auron’s and Aerith’s own relationships with death, the ability for them to help out in battle could still give them the spotlight they deserve.
Alternatively, the summons could take a cue from the recentFinal Fantasy 16, allowing Sora to utilize the strength of Eikons via summons and transformations to be victorious in battle. Having one or two summons likeIfrit or Shivaavailable could help to turn the tides of battle exponentially, while building on the spectacle and strong reception surrounding the game’s release. This could be a way to work in characters like Clive and Jill, shouldKH4decide to include them.
Though theprecedent set byKH3seems to suggest the series moving away from itsFinal Fantasyinfluences, the ability for callbacks from past titles through the use of summons could be highly advantageous. Not only would they work as a way for Sora to recall the impact thatFinal Fantasycharacters have had on his previous journeys, but their appearances wouldn’t have to contend much with plot relevance, should that be a concern. As the years draw closer toKingdom Hearts 4’s release, it will be interesting to see how Sora’s prior connections make a return in the series' next-numbered title.
Kingdom Hearts 4is currently in development.
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