Summary
In a franchise that is no stranger to questioning reality, memory, and identity,Kingdom Hearts 4seems poised to take this exploration even further. In a recent interview with series creator Tetsuya Nomura, the status of the game’s mysterious Quadratum setting has been elaborated on in a way that highlights its apparent purpose in the upcoming sequel. By serving to challenge the very notions of fiction and real-life existence,Kingdom Hearts 4’s bold direction could push the boundaries of storytelling in ways that are new to even this decades-old series.
Though details about the overall game remain sparse, theconcept ofKingdom Hearts 4’s Quadratumbeing an “unreality” seems to be representative of a pivotal thematic shift. Not only does a location based on an actual city add a meta layer to the narrative, but it also sets the stage for the nature of perception and memory to be deconstructed in a manner that is more relatable than ever before in previous games. Considering the apparent interest that Nomura has now shown in featuring a balance between reality and fantasy, the scope ofKingdom Hearts' crossover premise could grow to be far larger.
Questioning the Fabric of Existence is Nothing New to Kingdom Hearts
Memory Has Always Played a Major Role
SinceChain of Memories, the series has consistently questioned the nature of experiences and identity itself. Sora was forced to navigate an “untrue” reality after having his mind altered through false memories implanted by Namine directly after the first game. This theme carries forward into characters like Roxas, who struggles to learn the truth of his existence as aNobody ofKingdom Hearts. The notion that one’s sense of self could itself be a construct has essentially always played into the larger lore, priming something like Quadratum to be the next logical evolution.
The Implications of Alternate Worlds
Traveling between different Disney worlds has always been around, but more complex layers to theKingdom Heartsuniversehave also prominently come into play. Data Sora in Coded acted as a copy of reality affecting the real Sora, while characters like Young Xehanort inDream Drop Distancequestion the continuity of time itself in a way that hints at greater, unknowable forces at play.
Nomura Has Hinted at the Ambitious Creative Intentions Behind Utilizing Reality as a Narrative Device
Real Life Locations Aren’t Exempt From Featuring Fictional Characters and Scenarios
In an interview withYoung Jump, Nomura elaborated on what “unreality” means for Quadratum in terms of being a bridge between fictional and real-world settings. Roughly translated to English, he stated:
“…So I feel like I’m dreaming in settings that are based in Shibuya but not the real Shibuya. Rather than complete fantasy, I think that ‘unrealistic within reality’ fits the fantasy view well.”
This seems to suggest that live-action properties,such asStar WarsorMarvel, could seamlessly blend with established Disney properties if they all fit within the same context. Quadratum being clarified as “not the real Shibuya”, despite resembling it so closely, opens up the possibility ofKH4’s characters having to come to terms with the status of their existence and potentially supporting a meta-commentary about the relationship that fiction has with people’s lives.
Expanding the Franchise Beyond Animated Worlds
The appeal of popular live-action IPs has driven their presence in speculation aroundKH4, but their inclusion could serve a deeper narrative purpose than fan service. If Quadratum is an “unreal” take on a real location, characters from various pieces of media may end up intersecting here in an unprecedented manner. If the series has always been about realizing Nomura’s vision, his more recent dreams of fantasy existing in a meta setting could see therealism ofKingdom Hearts 4delving into one of the most uncanny narrative landscapes that gaming has ever seen.
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.
