The Argument for a New ‘Sephiroth’ Boss

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 4, 2025 2 Views 6 Min Read
The Argument for a New 'Sephiroth' Boss

Since the series’ inception, Final Fantasy has been a key part of Kingdom Hearts‘ identity, with a variety of characters making appearances throughout the franchise. While Kingdom Hearts 3 moved away from Final Fantasy representation compared to past entries, Kingdom Hearts 4 has the chance to double down on cameos thanks to a resurgence of Final Fantasy in recent years. One of the best ways to revamp the Final Fantasy representation in Kingdom Hearts 4 is to introduce a new secret boss similar to Sephiroth in previous titles.

Although the popularity of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy has made Sephiroth and the rest of the game’s cast more relevant than ever, there is a vast roster of characters from Final Fantasy‘s history still untapped in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. While it’s easy to see how the updated version of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could make for an interesting twist on the villain’s past appearances in Kingdom Hearts, including him as a secret boss again could feel like retreading old ground. As such, Kingdom Hearts 4 should look to some of Final Fantasy‘s other iconic foes to create a new secret boss that can go toe to toe with Sephiroth.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Travese Town

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Kingdom Hearts 4 Has the Lion’s Share of Potential Final Fantasy Secret Bosses to Choose From

Classic Final Fantasy Villains Who Could Be Kingdom Hearts 4 Secret Bosses

  • Garland (Final Fantasy 1)
  • Kefka (Final Fantasy 6)
  • Ultimecia (Final Fantasy 8)

With Final Fantasy‘s original villain, Garland, more fleshed out thanks to Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, there’s room for the character and his alter ego Chaos to threaten Sora in Kingdom Hearts 4. Kefka from Final Fantasy 6 is another great option, with his iconic status in the franchise nearly on par with Sephiroth’s, and the potential for a multiphase fight like the final encounter in his home game to rival intense Kingdom Hearts boss fights like Ansem from the original and Xemnas from Kingdom Hearts 2 being incredibly high. Final Fantasy 8‘s Ultimiecia would be a nice counterbalance to Sephiroth as a notable female antagonist and would fit with the other FF8 characters like Squall/Leon, Selphie, and Seifer who have already appeared in the series.

Modern Final Fantasy Villains Who Could Be Kingdom Hearts 4 Secret Bosses

  • Ardyn Izunia (Final Fantasy 15)
  • Barnabas Tharmr (Final Fantasy 16)

Even more relevant than classic Final Fantasy villains would be antagonists from recent games like Final Fantasy 15‘s Ardyn or Final Fantasy 16‘s Barnabas. Ardyn would work especially well as a secret boss in Kingdom Hearts 4 if Noctis appears as an ally since the attacks he uses in his FF15 boss fight mirror Noctis’ own. Barnabas could be an even more threatening secret boss since he is the Dominant of the Eikon Odin, which would be a great way to pit Sora against a classic Final Fantasy summon.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy Shouldn’t Make Sephiroth a Kingdom Hearts 4 Shoo-in

Despite Sephiroth’s prominence in the ongoing Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, the vast potential other Final Fantasy villains hold as secret bosses in Kingdom Hearts 4 should be explored over the FF7 villain. Sephiroth has already appeared as a secret boss in Kingdom Hearts 1 and Kingdom Hearts 2, as a fighter in Olympus Coliseum, and as an optional boss fight in Radiant Garden, respectively. While these fights are memorable to be sure, they’ve largely showcased the potential of Sephiroth as a boss in the Kingdom Hearts universe.

With Kingdom Hearts 4 starting a new story arc in the franchise, it would be the perfect opportunity for the series to completely reboot its Final Fantasy elements. Since the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy already gives players plenty of opportunities to fight Sephiroth, including him as a secret boss once again in Kingdom Hearts 4 could feel repetitive. Instead, the game could create a brand-new experience for players by pitting Sora against one of the Final Fantasy series’ many other villains for a secret boss fight.

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