Kingdom Hearts 3 marked a pivotal moment in the franchise, culminating in the return of beloved original characters across the series' games. From Roxas to Xion, Aqua to Ventus, Kingdom Hearts 3 took the time to spotlight its cast and their efforts toward bringing an end to the Dark Seeker Saga. While this focus was an emotional one set up for long-time fans, it also compounded the absence of Final Fantasy characters throughout KH3's plot. Though the Hollow Bastion crew could be seen briefly in the game's Re: Mind DLC, it's unclear to what extent they or other Final Fantasy characters will appear in Kingdom Hearts 4.

Given the brief look at Kingdom Hearts 4 currently available, it seems the title will follow Sora alone for a bit of its gameplay; with the character stuck in the world of Quadratum, separated from his friends and party members Donald and Goofy, it looks like he'll have to fell enemies through his own efforts for a time. This could be the perfect opportunity to rely on summons, not just through Disney representation, but Final Fantasy as well. Though Sora might not be close in distance to his friends, the summons could be a way to bridge the gap between himself and those that helped him in the past.

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

Though summons in Kingdom Hearts have mostly revolved around Disney characters, the feature of past Final Fantasy icons to help Sora in combat could serve as his strength and motivation for continuing on. Like Cloud's summon in Chain of Memories, the opportunity for this type of representation could help to mend their absence from KH4's plot, should the title focus on its original characters once again. Similar to Final Fantasy 7: Remake's limit breaks, the summons could be used for a number of effects and boons in battle, a compromise that would work well in instances where Sora has to fight alone.

This could be the chance to see beloved characters back into the fray, striking a balance between Disney and Final Fantasy. Those like Ariel and Simba would be likely to return, though the opportunity for others like FF10's Auron or FF7's Aerith to be summoned could help to integrate them within Kingdom Hearts 4's gameplay. While it would be nice to see these characters have relevance in the series' narrative once again, especially when considering Auron's and Aerith's own relationships with death, the ability for them to help out in battle could still give them the spotlight they deserve.

Alternatively, the summons could take a cue from the recent Final Fantasy 16, allowing Sora to utilize the strength of Eikons via summons and transformations in order to be victorious in battle. Having one or two summons like Ifrit or Shiva available could help to turn the tides of battle exponentially, while building on the spectacle and strong reception surrounding the game's release. This could be a way to work in characters like Clive and Jill, should KH4 decide to include them.

Though the precedent set by KH3 seems to suggest the series moving away from its Final Fantasy influences, the ability for callbacks from past titles through the use of summons could be highly advantageous. Not only would they work as a way for Sora to recall the impact that Final Fantasy characters have had on his previous journeys, but their appearances wouldn't have to contend much with plot relevance, should that be a concern. As the years draw closer to Kingdom Hearts 4's release, it will be interesting to see how Sora's prior connections make a return in the series' next-numbered title.

Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently in development.

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