Fans just learned Kingdom Hearts 4 is on its way, and it seeks to bring the franchise into a new era. This upcoming game will be the first in Kingdom Hearts’ Lost Master Arc, a new storyline that seems to be building off side elements from the original Dark Seeker Saga. After overusing the Power of Waking to save his friends, Sora has been transported to the mysterious modern world of Quadratum. Getting home will likely be at the forefront of his mind, but he will first have to deal with some new threats foreshadowed by the KH4 reveal trailer.
The true nature of Kingdom Hearts' new story arc has yet to be revealed, but Kingdom Hearts 4 is expected to bring back many of the old staples that made this series what it is. Multiple worlds from different Disney properties are already being theorized, with one from Star Wars seemingly being teased by the trailer. Kingdom Hearts 3’s cinematic combat and Formchanges will persist in Kingdom Hearts 4, likely with further refinements based on fan feedback. At the heart of it all, even with Sora's realistic new design, the old Kingdom Key is still being swung. However, Kingdom Hearts 4 may want to take a more streamlined approach to how it handles its Keyblades.
The History of Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts
The gameplay and story functions of the Keyblade have changed throughout the franchise. Initially, the Keyblade was a plot device that marked Sora as the chosen one. The default Kingdom Key was framed as a base for other keychains to be added to. By swapping out the normal Mickey Mouse keychain, Sora could instill his blade with the appearance and properties of the various worlds he's been to. This mostly affected magic and strength stats, but could also change the length of the Keyblade, and certain keychains came with special effects. Throughout all of this, Keyblades maintained a fairly artificial look, with many of them featuring bizarre and complex designs.
Their function began to shift as the series moved forward. Sora and Mickey's Keyblade became less unique, with many other Keyblade wielders gradually being introduced. Kingdom Hearts 2 introduced the notion that a powerful wielder could even use two Keyblades at once, though this was retconned as a special circumstance. KH2 Final Mix was the origin of Formchanges, as Lingering Will was an older Keyblade wielder who had access to lost arts. This concept was expanded over time, and as the abilities of Keyblades grew broader and vaguer, the sight of Keyblades became commonplace. Kingdom Hearts 4 would likely do Sora some good if it made his Keyblade feel unique again in Quadratum.
How Kingdom Hearts 4 Can Incorporate Keyblade Forms
In Kingdom Hearts 3, Sora can switch between three Keyblades on the fly. These weapons have the same base moveset, but all have different stats that can be upgraded in a new Keyblade Forge system. Every Keyblade also has at least one Formchange, something that modifies either Sora's abilities or the Keyblade itself into a new form. These range from the Kingdom Key’s Second Form that brings back some of Sora's KH2 abilities, to the Nano Gear’s Nano Arms that incorporates several Keyblade transformations such as the Twin Yo-Yos, Drill Punch, and Hyper Hammer.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is bringing Formchanges back, but they may not be implemented in the same way. In the KH4 reveal trailer, Sora has been shown using the Kingdom Key’s chain as a grappling hook like Lingering Will, and he uses a drill made of light against a giant Heartless. Combined with a mysterious "Build" option seen in Sora's command menu, it appears that Formchanges may be streamlined for more accessibility in normal gameplay. That is the direction Kingdom Hearts 4 should take its Keyblades, as charging up each individual Formchange in KH3 made using their unique movesets a hassle. A simple, integrated set of forms associated with certain actions could promote more diverse-looking and feeling gameplay.
Keyblade Designs Need To Match Kingdom Hearts 4’s Style
Gameplay applications aren't the only part of Keyblades that Kingdom Hearts 4 should simplify. KH4 should consider going with simpler Keyblade appearances. Apart from a few basic designs like the Kingdom Key, many Keyblades incorporate details based on certain worlds, characters, or emotions. These contribute to Kingdom Hearts' colorful and cartoony aesthetic, but many seem impractical as weapons. It isn't hard to imagine how odd the Favorite Deputy, which has a cartoon cactus covered in cowboy peripherals and a sheriff’s badge, would look in KH4's Quadratum. If there is a live-action Star Wars world, it would be preferential to have an exaggerated lightsaber rather than a glowing blue pole with a Millennium Falcon as the key’s teeth and an X-Wing for a hilt.
Keyblades shouldn't lose their signature visual flare, only keep it more subdued and in-line with the Kingdom Key. The different Keyblades and keychains that Sora collects in Kingdom Hearts 4 could conform more to the shape of a giant decorative key or a longsword with an ornamental handle. While the colors would be more muted due to using realistic materials and textures, there would still be splashes of color in these Keyblades’ summoning animations, hit sparks, and Formchanges. Not all of Kingdom Hearts 4’s weapons must adhere to a realistic aesthetic, but as realism might feature prominently, its Keyblades should be designed to match.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is now in development.