The Kingdom Hearts series featured a notable twist in its second mainline entry, tricking players into believing that one of their party members was lost forever. With Kingdom Hearts 4 currently in development, it would be interesting to see just how well Square Enix could play with the idea of involving more permanent major character deaths.
One of Kingdom Hearts 2's more dramatic twists comes in the form of Goofy's "death." The Kingdom Hearts series is notable for its fake-out deaths; from Xion in 358/2 Days to Kairi in KH3, most characters who die wind up being revived further down the line. In the case of KH2, Goofy's demise takes an incredibly melodramatic approach, with the Disney sidekick getting struck by a falling boulder (though he returns to the party soon after). The cutscene ultimately proved comedic, depicting a crying Donald and Sora hunched over their ally's unconscious body while Mickey Mouse delivers his infamous "they'll pay for this" line in the foreground.
Permanent Death Should Have Meaning in Kingdom Hearts 4
Though Kingdom Hearts has focused much on child-like wonder and Disney influence, many of its central themes have pretty dark undertones. From characters getting stuck in a literal never-ending abyss of darkness, to getting possessed by megalomaniacal villains, the titles haven't been kind to main cast members. Fans and newcomers alike have brought up issues of continuity around the Kingdom Hearts plot, as with characters seemingly dying and being brought back at an alarming rate, one wonders whether future entries are going to continue pulling their punches.
The footage shown of Kingdom Hearts 4 thus far suggests an even darker tone than previous installments. Sora is stuck in the life-like world of Quadratum, described as an "afterworld" of sorts for the character. A quick peek at KH4's combat shows Sora sparring against the imposing Darkside, with a few notable changes in battle. Between an emphasis on reaction commands, parkour, and the lack of Donald and Goofy at Sora's side, it's evident that the title will see Sora really have to stand on his own merits.
Though the game's reveal trailer ends with footage of Donald and Goofy in search of their beloved friend, the overall tone of Kingdom Hearts' fourth main entry could be more dire than previous installments. It certainly seems like the series is heading toward higher stakes inspired by Final Fantasy's darker stories, an ironic quality given Kingdom Hearts 3's absence of Final Fantasy characters. If this is the case, KH4 could see actual permanent death among its characters, which would heighten the emotional resonance of its narrative.
Kingdom Hearts is intended to be accessible for younger audiences, so with an 'E for Everyone' ESRB rating and trademark Disney characters, the series can't get too dark when it comes to its characters' fates. With that said, the notion of characters being laid to rest can't be discounted entirely. It's unlikely that Donald and Goofy will be going anywhere given how iconic the trio has become (and given they're direct Disney mascots), new and other returning characters could be a different story. With series' director Tetsuya Nomura seeming to embellish KH4 with aspects of what Final Fantasy Versus 13 could have been, it will be interesting to see just how tragic the Kingdom Hearts series gets as it ushers in a new plot focus.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently in development.