The Kingdom Hearts franchise is a long and complicated one, but something that has become quite a cult classic, with diehard fans detailing the complex lore that stretches across 13 different entries. To say that it has become completely unapproachable for newcomers is an understatement, putting it in competition with the Yakuza series for the most impenetrable narrative. However, it seems like that’s all about to change, although Kingdom Hearts veterans are going to be quite disappointed.
The 13 Kingdom Hearts games have definitely made things a little complicated, earning the series the right to join the small but substantial list of games with terrible naming conventions. Luckily, at least for newcomers, the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4 will change all of that with a new update from its creator, Tetsuya Nomura, delivering some long-awaited news. However, while it may appeal to those who’ve never touched a Kingdom Hearts game before, those who’ve been with the franchise from the beginning or dared to attempt to play them all post-launch will be let down.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Will Tell A Brand-New Story
It Is Being Treated Like A Narrative Reset
Tetsuya Nomura recently had an interview with the Japanese magazine Young Jump, in which he explained how Kingdom Hearts 4 will be a story reset in an attempt to usher in a new wave of fans. He started by acknowledging that Kingdom Hearts 4 is “really just like Kingdom Hearts 13,” implying he’s aware of how complicated the series has become, and stated that while fans of the original 13 games will get a greater appreciation from Kingdom Hearts 4, it was developed “with a stronger focus on being a new title rather than a sequel.”
Nomura went one step further and flat-out explained that he “think[s] of Missing Link and 4 as a reset,” with Missing Link being the tie-in mobile game launching with Kingdom Hearts 4. Missing Link was also developed with a new team of writers who had not worked on the Kingdom Hearts series in order to bring new perspectives that would resonate with a new set of fans. This is all in an effort to make the series more approachable, although it’s not hard to see how those who’ve invested so much in Kingdom Hearts will feel disappointed.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t quite the surprise many may believe it to be, as ever since the first Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay reveal, it has been referred to as an “epic new storyline.” There has been little secret about Kingdom Hearts 4 essentially rebooting the universe, offering a fresh new start for those who haven’t experienced the franchise before. However, luckily, it doesn’t seem like fans are being completely left behind.
Kingdom Hearts 3’s Ending Teases 4’s Story
Fans Will Have A Greater Understanding
Nomura confirmed that the ending of Kingdom Hearts 3 will be answered in KH4, reassuring fans that the original storyline won’t be completely abandoned in the sequel. While newcomers will still be able to jump on board and understand much of what is going on without prior context, the iconic finale of Kingdom Hearts 3 will be resolved, giving hardcore fans much-needed closure. In the Young Jump interview, Nomura explained why Kingdom Hearts 3 ended the way it did, but also how fans will be satisfied with KH4, stating:
“The reason why Sora ends up like that in the ending is because we wanted to reset the story in a way. This should make it even easier for newcomers to join the story starting from KH4. Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series will also be able to feel like ‘oh so it’s THIS,’ but we’re making this game with the hopes that new players can enjoy it as well.”
This is great news for Kingdom Hearts fans, as it means that they’re not being left behind entirely. It sounds like how the Yakuza franchise has been handled between the conclusion of Yakuza 6 and the start of the new Like A Dragon series, which ushered in a new protagonist but maintained key elements from the original series, including its protagonist. It’s a smart way to appease both sides of the playerbase while allowing the creatives to try out new ideas and explore interesting themes.
Yakuza
‘s original Japanese title has always been
Like A Dragon
; only recent installments have brought naming parity to all regions by adopting its oriignal title.
With Kingdom Hearts 4’s release date on its way, fans can likely expect a greater breakdown of exactly what this story reset will entail for Sora and his friends. There were a lot of other important details revealed in the Young Jump interview, including how Quadratum, Kingdom Hearts 4’s hub world, won’t be a 1:1 recreation of Tokyo. It looks like newcomers and fans alike will have a lot to look forward to when Kingdom Hearts 4 eventually releases, although fans may have to come to terms with the original storyline taking a backseat.
Sources: Young Jump, thegamersjoint/Twitter