Kingdom Hearts 4will kick off a fresh chapter for the series, shifting to a new setting with a different central story.Sora will explore Quadratum, a modern city that exists in an unusual realm beyond reality. This mysterious world is expected to serve as his new base as he takes on the forces of darkness and possibly new enemies along the way. DespiteKH3featuring some of the best worlds in the franchise, its execution left room for improvement.
Many environments felt overly large but empty, often resembling long hallways rather than interconnected spaces. In contrast,KH2’s worlds, while smaller and more linear, encouraged players to revisit areas, creating a stronger sense of progression.Kingdom Hearts 3also struggled with pacing, holding back key plot threads until the finale, whereasKingdom Hearts 2steadily escalated the conflict by introducing and resolving antagonistic encounters throughout the adventure.Kingdom Hearts 4should strongly consider taking notes fromKH2’s world development.
More Worlds in KH4 Allow for More Disney Variety
TheDisney catalog has grown significantly sinceKingdom Hearts 3, meaning thatKH4has the opportunity to feature a wider range of films. A return toKH2’s format of more but smaller worlds would allow the game to incorporate recent and classic properties without bloating each world’s scale. Movies likeMoana,Coco, andZootopiacould introduce unique mechanics and storytelling elements that might not be feasible ifKH4sticks to the ‘larger but fewer’ worlds approach.
For example,Moanacould offer ocean-based explorationand Wayfinder-based navigation, whileCococould use its Land of the Dead setting to explore unique afterlife mechanics.The Emperor’s New Groove, a long-requested addition, could bring a comedic, fast-paced experience with its unique architecture and transformation mechanics.
KH4’s Pacing and Antagonists Need Better Distribution
One ofKingdom Hearts 3’s biggest flaws was arguably its tendency to introduce villains and major plot pointswithout immediate payoff. Many of the game’s Organization 13 confrontations were saved until the Keyblade Graveyard, making the journey feel like a lengthy setup for a rushed climax.KH2, on the other hand, consistently spaced out its major battles, with Organization 13 members appearing as active threats rather than mere foreshadowing.KH4can learn from this structure by ensuring that villains are present throughout the game rather than clustering significant moments at the end.
For instance, incorporatingMarvelorStar Warsworlds would provide natural opportunities for engaging, mid-game antagonist encounters. AStar Warsworld could pit Sora against Darth Vaderor an Inquisitor, while aMarvelworld could introduce a conflict with Loki or Thanos’ minions. Such encounters would prevent the game from feeling frontloaded with story exposition and backloaded with battles.KH4would benefit from allowing Sora to challenge and overcome threats throughout the adventure, rather than saving everything for the final act.
Square Enix Representation Deserves a Comeback in KH4
Kingdom Hearts 3scaled back its inclusion ofFinal Fantasycharacters, leaving fans of the series’ crossover roots wanting more. WhileKingdom Hearts 4will likely keep the spotlight on its original cast, bringing back more Square Enix elements could help recapture the franchise’s earlier blend of worlds. One way to do this could be through aFinal Fantasy 7-inspired Materia system, adding more customization while giving a nod to Square Enix’s RPG heritage.
In addition to mechanical influences,KH4could expand uponKH2’s approach of including more Square Enix characters in relevant ways. For example, aFinal Fantasy 9world could introduce Alexandria and its characters, tying intoKingdom Hearts’ ongoing themes of identity and destiny. RevisitingThe World Ends With Youcharacters, as seen inKingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, could also help reinforce the crossover element that initially made the series more unique.
A return to theKH2structure of multiple, interconnected worlds would provideKingdom Hearts 4with the flexibility to showcase a broader range of Disney properties while maintaining better pacing and antagonist presence. By also reintroducing meaningful Square Enix representation, the game has the potential to satisfy longtime fans while embracing its newer narrative direction.
