The Ultimate Conclusion: Sora, Donald, and Goofy Unite for Kingdom Hearts 4's Epic Finale

Highlights

As Kingdom Hearts 4 ushers in a new era, it's time for Sora to explore new Disney worlds with his long-neglected friends Riku and Kairi.

The outdated combination of Sora, Donald, and Goofy no longer aligns with the changing narrative and character development in the franchise.

Bringing together the Destiny Trio doesn't necessarily imply a detriment to the series; instead, it has the potential to reintroduce the familiar dynamic of Donald and Goofy collaborating with King Mickey.

Since 2002, the Kingdom Hearts series has centered around the friendship trios, but there's one particular group that has always been separate until now, leading up to Kingdom Hearts 4. With the upcoming game marking a new era for the franchise, it could be the perfect opportunity for series protagonist Sora to journey into new Disney worlds with his two closest friends.

Unfortunately, this would require a significant change to the main party, breaking the trend seen throughout most Kingdom Hearts titles where Sora has been a playable character. However, as Square Enix prepares for Kingdom Hearts 4 and its highly realistic visuals, it appears that Donald and Goofy may no longer be the ideal companions for the series.

Riku and Kairi Should Join the Sora's Journey

In the series thus far, Kingdom Hearts has struggled to fully incorporate Riku and Kairi into the main storyline. They have either embarked on separate journeys alongside Sora or been relegated to the sidelines until the climax. This issue arises due to the narrative focus and the growing capabilities of all the characters. The evolving story and character development do not easily fit into the established storytelling formula, particularly the Disney world hopping structure of Kingdom Hearts.

However, now that the Xehanort arc has concluded and a new mysterious threat looms, it is time to break away from the stale formula that has been in place for twenty years. This means bringing Riku and Kairi to the forefront, giving them equal influence and agency as Sora himself in the story. There is no need to wait for Kairi's training with Aqua to be completed or for her to reach the same level as Sora and Riku. Instead, all three should embark on their journey together immediately, allowing them to stumble and fail as they attempt to find their synergy throughout the game, culminating in a unified front in the finale of Kingdom Hearts 4.

In-universe, these three characters have continuously been transported from one adventure to another over the course of several years. However, for fans who have been playing the games for the past two decades, the Destiny Trio - consisting of Sora, Kairi, and Riku - have barely had any significant onscreen moments together, making them feel more like distant acquaintances. In order to fulfill their backstory and lore, it is essential for these three best friends to spend quality time together that is not right before yet another event occurs on the Destiny Islands.

Send Donald and Goofy Back to Mickey

When discussing the possible reunion of the Destiny Trio in Kingdom Hearts 4, one cannot ignore the issue of what to do with Donald and Goofy. These two iconic characters have been integral to the series, and removing them would almost be equivalent to losing a vital part of the game's essence. However, it is worth noting that Donald and Goofy have temporarily left the main party in the past, like during Sora's adventures in Dream Drop Distance.

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Reforming the Destiny Trio could mean that Donald and Goofy finally have the opportunity to work alongside King Mickey once again, fulfilling their original mission from the first Kingdom Hearts game. This change would bring a sense of familiarity to the Kingdom Hearts universe, reminiscent of the days just before Sora's initial adventure. Additionally, it would provide players with familiar allies when Sora takes a temporary break from fighting, allowing them to control King Mickey as he embarks on his own adventure alongside Donald and Goofy.

Square Enix is currently developing Kingdom Hearts 4.