Summary
Kingdom Heartsis stepping into its next chapter soon withKingdom Hearts 4. The game will be set in the brand-new location, Quadratum, and although further details are scarce, it’s likely that series protagonist Sora will have to deal with a similarly new threat. After the defeat of Master Xehanort inKingdom Hearts 3, the Keyblade’s chosen hero is separated from his friends, and will have to find a way to get back to them while dealing with whatever trialsKingdom Hearts 4has in store.
The saga thatKH4will kick off has been dubbed the Lost Master Arc, and will likely serve as a soft reset point forKingdom Heartsas a series. Even if the Foretellers fromKingdom Hearts’ mobile games return as major players as has been implied,Kingdom Hearts 4should be good for new fansto jump into the series thanks to its remote setting, and all the plot pointsKH3wrapped up. Square Enix is likely already aware ofKingdom Hearts 4’s potential in this regard, so to properly build the next step inKingdom Hearts’ story, it should refresh itself on what the series got right in the first place.
How Kingdom Hearts 1 Got Its Fans Hooked
Before anything else, the originalKingdom Heartsdrew players in by nailing its premise. A fusion of Square Enix and Disney worlds in a massive RPG adventure was a far-fetched idea, butKingdom Heartspulled it off. Disney’s sense of whimsy was maintained alongside Square Enix’s stylish characters and heart-wrenching melodrama, casting a wide net that appealed to many players. It didn’t need to be any more complicated than what it was, and keeping things“simple and clean” would helpKingdom Hearts 4shine.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Needs To Rely On What’s Proven To Work
Despite how many dangling plot threads are available,Kingdom Hearts 4could still save them for future games and focus on delivering a straightforward, fulfilling experience. Returning to the core crossover concept ofKingdom Heartsmay be a good start, as even ifFinal Fantasymisses out onKH4, Square Enix has plenty of other franchises primed for crossovers. Overlapping a simple overarching goal on top of Sora’s personal throughline of returning to his friends could also run throughKH4, parallelingKH1’s twin quests to seal the worlds’ keyholes while looking for Riku and Kairi.
Like KH1, Kingdom Hearts 4 Should Prioritize Its Central Strengths
To further parallel the originalKingdom Hearts,Kingdom Hearts 4should pull the focus in on its characters and setting. DuringDonald and Goofy’s first adventure with Sora inKH1, the group was still getting to know each other, and the player was along for the ride. Their clashing personalities combined with the diverse settings they visited to produce many interesting scenarios, even as the main plot was moving slowly in the background.Kingdom Hearts' resulting emotional core sustained the rest of the series, andKingdom Hearts 3pointedly called back to it by giving Donald and Goofy a major role in its conclusion.
Developing Character Dynamics Should Be Top Priority For Kingdom Hearts 4
Even thoughKingdom Hearts 4should emulate this narrative hook, it shouldn’t do it with Donald and Goofy again. Instead, Quadratum and its unique party members should be the focus, with Sora getting to know his companions throughKH4’s round of Disney world visits. Forming a compelling narrative on top of reinforcing its unique identity should allowKingdom Hearts 4to recapture the magic ofKingdom Hearts 1, allowing the Lost Master Arc to proceed confidently while rollingKingdom Hearts’ outstanding mysteries and characters back in.Kingdom Hearts 4is full of potential, and the advice of its forebears should help it turn that into success.
Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix and represents the fifteenth installment in the franchise. Players once again are put in the shoes of Sora who is suddenly trapped in a more realistic world called Quadratum, with companions like Donald and Goofy attempting to rescue him. Kingdom Hearts 4 is a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
