Summary
Kingdom Hearts 4will undoubtedly travel even further across Disney’s ocean of IPs, just as previous games in the series have. Should the game breach into the uncharted waters of Marvel and its many characters, however,Kingdom Hearts 4may want to exercise some restraint.
Despite focusing on Disney’s animated canon,Kingdom Heartshas already broken those bounds beforefor IPs that meet its established tone. This has included not only other animated worlds, such as those in Pixar’s catalog or that ofThe Nightmare Before Christmas, but also live-action media with itsPirates of the Caribbeanworld. With some speculation about Endor featuring in a promotional video forKingdom Hearts(albeit nothing has been confirmed on that front), there’s more than a little possibility forKingdom Heartsto push the envelope and bring Marvel into the fold.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Should Skip The MCU
Marvel is thick with fantasy elements that aKingdom Heartsgame could take advantage of, from the Norse-mythological heroics of Thor to thesorcery of Doctor Strange. Its comic book realms are ripe with opportunities for fun gameplay, dazzling visuals, and fun takes on beloved characters. On the other hand, there’s a risk inherent to the prospect of bringing Marvel into the mix if the MCU gets involved. Combining the complexity of the MCU withKingdom Hearts’own convolution is already a headache waiting to happen, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with a potential MCU inclusion.
The MCU Is Way Too Oversaturated
While the MCU has a great deal of iconography forKingdom Hearts 4to take advantage of, that same iconography has been driven into the ground. To make a point about MCU fatigue is as done to death as the MCU itself, but it has to be mentioned. Phases 4 and 5 have stepped up content production in a big way, whilst dropping the ball on quality in the eyes of many. This deluge of mundane superhero media has started to stir dislike against the MCU, and including it inKingdom Heartsmay elicit a groan more than a grin.
Moreover,the MCU is far too vastfor any point of it to be easily picked out. The current multiverse-spanning era of the MCU is not nearly iconic enough for a definitive portrayal, and that’s without mentioning how difficult it is to parse.Kingdom Hearts 4would probably set a hypothetical Marvel world around the 2012 Avengers and their battle for New York or withinInfinity Wars' Battle of Wakanda. However, this would still likely disappoint huge numbers of fans. It would be better to create an exclusive continuity that can generally hit the right franchise beats.
An MCU World Threatens an Identity Crisis
On that subject, the MCU is likely to clash with the tone ofKingdom Hearts. Its adult, politically-charged material is a poor fit for the franchise. Moreover, the universe is already at tonal odds with itself. Many of its films portray a war between quippy humor and tragic subjects, with the best among them striking a balance. However, some titles fail to make either peak, often leading to a bland midpoint. It’s entirely possible that the MCU couldbring an identity crisis toKingdom Hearts 4.
Getting The Right Cast Would Be A Big Struggle
The actors behind theMCU are a big reason for its fame. Actors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, and many more are closely tied to their characters. It’s unlikely that these huge names would be attainable forKingdom Hearts 4, but their notoriety would demand impeccable soundalikes to maintain the illusion. It’s entirely possible, but it’d be quite a struggle.
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.
