Summary
In keeping with the franchise’s notoriously complex approach to storytelling, very little has been revealed aboutKingdom Hearts 4and its narrative premise. It doesn’t help that the narrative so far is immense, convoluted, and multifaceted, to the point where understanding the overarching story without studying a wiki or lore video seems nigh impossible. Whatever narrative directionKingdom Hearts 4takes, it should focus on simplifying its story rather than making it more complicated.
There’s one surefire way to make theKingdom Heartsstory even more confusing: introducing multiverses. It seems that, especially since the mass adoption of superhero media through mainstream hits likeThe Avengers, and even more so with theSpider-Verseand Phase 4 Marvel movies, multiverse content has been on the rise. It makes sense, in a way; multiverses may be viewed as the natural progression of ubiquitous crossover content, which was also popularized by media brands like Marvel and DC, andKingdom Heartsis teetering on the edge of this approach to storytelling. However, this should be avoided at all costs.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Should Steer Clear of the Multiverse
Multiverses Are Already Getting a Bit Old
AsKingdom Hearts 4loops in other franchises, Square Enix may feel tempted to put the pedal to the metal on its universe-hopping premise, introducing new versions of characters, not only from franchises like the MCU orStar Wars, but also fromKingdom Heartsitself. On paper, it might seem like a fun novelty to have Sora interact with a version of himself from an alternate timeline, or directly reference older versions of Disney characters like Donald and Goofy, going beyond what was seen inKingdom Hearts 2’s Timeless River level.
But while this might seem novel forKingdom Hearts, it’s certainly not novel in the world of blockbuster entertainment as a whole. Much like in the case of the crossover boom that began in the 2010s, it seems like big media brands are going all-in on multiverse content, using the framework as a way to revive older properties, leverage nostalgia, and, if the stars align, tell more interesting stories. Sadly, critical and commercial flops likeThe Flashprove that this idea doesn’t guarantee success and that it can instead result in a story that feels a bit plastic and overtly pandering.Kingdom Hearts' crossover foundationsare just complicated enough to be charming—introducing full-blown multiverses might be tipping the scale too far.
Through the concept of Heartless and Nobody characters,Kingdom Heartshas already dabbled with the idea of introducing alternate or “shadow” versions of established characters, which would make the multiverse idea seem even more tired, were it to be introduced inKH4.
A Multiverse Is the Last Thing Kingdom Hearts Needs
There are a lot ofquestions surroundingKingdom Hearts 4’s story, and withKH3ending with Sora trapped in the border/limbo world of Quadratum, plus the general, mass-crossover narrative design of the series, it feels like the franchise is teetering on the edge of the multiverse. A multiverse could add even more characters, offering a path to integrating the newer Disney remake movies, but these new opportunities would come at a major cost.
Kingdom Heartsboasts one of the most ridiculously convoluted stories in gaming. The complexity of the franchise’s narrative, though maligned by some, does have a certain charm and appeal to it, and many long-time fans would likely agree that it’s acore part of theKingdom Heartsexperience. At the same time, it would be nice to have a digestible plot for a change, especially if Square Enix wants the series to be accessible to newcomers.Kingdom Hearts 4doesn’t need to be dumbed down, but it shouldn’t get more complicated either, and going full-tilt on the multiverse concept would do just that.
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.
