Summary
Tetsuya Nomura, director of the upcomingKingdom Hearts 4, recently confirmed that the game will act as a soft reset for the series. While this reset aims to make the series more approachable for newcomers, it also introduces a double-edged challenge: balancing a fresh start with the continuation of complex storylines that long-time fans have followed for years.
In a recent interview withYoung Jump, Nomura explained that this decision is intended to reduce the confusion caused by the series' sprawling narrative across multiple games, including spin-offs likeKingdom Hearts: Chain of Memoriesand mobile titles such asKingdom Hearts: Union X. By offering new players a clearer entry point,Kingdom Hearts 4seeks to modernize the series while keeping deeper narrative threads intact for dedicated fans. However, this approach risks leaving veteran players concerned that the unresolved cliffhangers from previous installments may not get the closure they’ve been waiting for.
The Problem of Kingdom Hearts 3’s Cliffhanger Ending
While the reset is good news for newcomers, it presents a challenge for dedicated fans.Kingdom Hearts 3left theXehanort saga with an unresolved cliffhanger. Fans expectedKingdom Hearts 4to pick up directly from this plot thread, but the “reset” approach suggests the lingering storylines may not get the continuation or closure many players hoped for.
This is a critical issue because, after over a decade of buildup, players invested in the Xehanort saga were left without a proper sense of closure. While thebattle with Xehanort was an emotional high point, the sudden shift to focus on new characters and settings can feel jarring. Square Enix risks alienating its most devoted fans ifKingdom Hearts 4doesn’t adequately balance its reset with follow-up on these important unresolved storylines.
Balancing a Reset with the Need for Kingdom Hearts’ Story Continuity
To avoid frustration among long-time players, Nomura and his team must carefully navigate how they handle this reset. One solution is to weave existing threads fromKingdom Hearts 3into the new storyline ofKingdom Hearts 4. This could involve incorporating Sora’s fate in Quadratum and addressing the unfinished arcs of other key characters like Kairi and Riku while still allowing new players to enjoy the game without needing prior knowledge. For instance, Nomura has already teased that theKingdom Heart’siconic line “I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately…”will be revisited, which could be a clever way to reframe familiar elements while moving the story forward.
The Challenge of Leaving Kingdom Hearts Fans Without Closure
One of the biggest criticisms ofKingdom Hearts 3was how late in the game most of the critical plot points were revealed. A large portion of the game felt like a slow build-up, with the story accelerating to full speed only in its final hours.Kingdom Hearts 4must avoid this pitfallby ensuring that pacing is addressed early in development. Fans want the answers to lingering questions without waiting for the eleventh hour, especially after investing in multiple titles over the years. A thoughtful solution here would be to provide some form of closure to theKingdom Hearts 3cliffhanger early inKingdom Hearts 4.
Kingdom Hearts Moving Forward Without Abandoning the Past
Ultimately, thereset ofKingdom Hearts 4could be a brilliant way to keep the series fresh, but it has to be handled with care. The game must strike a balance between providing new players with an entry point and offering long-time fans a satisfying continuation of the story they’ve followed for years. By addressing pacing issues and giving closure to key narrative threads, Square Enix has the opportunity to makeKingdom Hearts 4a turning point that works for everyone.
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.
