Unlocking a Legendary Alliance: Kingdom Hearts 4's Summons Unleash Epic Final Fantasy Encounters

Highlights

By introducing Final Fantasy summons into Kingdom Hearts 4, a harmonious blend of both Disney and Final Fantasy realms can be achieved, providing Sora with representation and bolstering his might.

The battles in Final Fantasy can bring beloved characters into the spotlight, even if their storyline relevance is limited. Kingdom Hearts 3 was a significant moment for the franchise, as it brought back cherished original characters from previous games such as Roxas, Xion, Aqua, and Ventus. This game took the opportunity to focus on these characters and their journey to end the Dark Seeker Saga, which was a touching experience for longtime fans. However, this emphasis on the main cast also highlighted the absence of Final Fantasy characters in the plot of Kingdom Hearts 3. Although players caught a glimpse of the Hollow Bastion crew in the Re: Mind DLC, it remains uncertain how prominently they or other Final Fantasy characters will feature in Kingdom Hearts 4.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Could Strike a Balance Between Disney and Final Fantasy Summons

Based on the limited information currently available about Kingdom Hearts 4, it appears that the game will primarily focus on Sora's solo journey. Trapped in the realm of Quadratum and separated from his friends Donald and Goofy, Sora will have to rely on his own abilities to defeat enemies. This situation presents an ideal opportunity to introduce summons, not only from the Disney universe but also from the Final Fantasy franchise. Despite being physically distant from his friends, the summons could serve as a means to bridge the gap between Sora and those who have aided him in the past.

While Kingdom Hearts has mostly featured summons from Disney characters, incorporating iconic Final Fantasy characters to aid Sora in combat could provide him with strength and motivation to carry on. By introducing summoning abilities similar to Cloud's appearance in Chain of Memories, this approach could potentially address their absence from the plot of KH4, especially if the game focuses primarily on its original characters once again. Taking inspiration from Final Fantasy 7: Remake's limit breaks, these summons could offer various effects and advantages during battles, providing a suitable compromise for situations where Sora must fight alone.

This could be an opportunity to witness beloved characters returning to the forefront, finding a harmonious blend of both Disney and Final Fantasy. Characters such as Ariel and Simba would likely make a comeback, while the inclusion of FF10's Auron or FF7's Aerith as summonable allies could seamlessly integrate them into Kingdom Hearts 4's gameplay. Although it would be satisfying to see these characters regain significance in the series' narrative, particularly considering Auron's and Aerith's connections with mortality, their ability to aid in combat could still give them the recognition they deserve.

Alternatively, taking inspiration from the recent release of Final Fantasy 16, the summons in Kingdom Hearts 4 could mirror the concept of harnessing the might of Eikons. Sora could call upon these summons and undergo transformations, enabling triumph in battle. The inclusion of one or two summons like Ifrit or Shiva would greatly alter the course of a fight, amplifying the grandeur and positive reception surrounding the game's launch. This approach could also offer an avenue for the inclusion of characters like Clive and Jill, should KH4 choose to feature them.

While the influence of Final Fantasy on the series appears to be diminishing based on the example set by KH3, incorporating summons from past titles could prove to be highly beneficial. These callbacks would serve as a means for Sora to reflect on the impact that Final Fantasy characters have had on his previous adventures, and their appearances would not need to heavily align with the plot if that is a concern. As we approach the release of Kingdom Hearts 4, it will be intriguing to witness the resurgence of Sora's previous connections in the next installment of the series. Development for Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently underway.