With a more than twenty-year run under its belt, Kingdom Hearts has had more than enough time to build itself as a truly iconic series. Kingdom Hearts 4 will serve as the first game since the conclusion of the Dark Seeker Saga, which was itself the culmination of every single entry that had come before it. As such, there is more pressure than ever to see what direction Kingdom Hearts takes next, both narratively and mechanically.
Kingdom Hearts‘ battle system can vary in depth from title to title, but summons have been a vital mechanic since the very first game. Kingdom Hearts‘ design is fundamentally split into two halves, with inspirations hailing from Final Fantasy and classic Disney. Naturally, Disney has largely received the lion’s share of influence over the series’ story and characters, but summons are one great example of how Final Fantasy remains alive and well within Kingdom Hearts.
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Kingdom Hearts: Every Summon In The Series (& How To Get Them)
Summons allow Sora to bring a powerful character into battle by his side. There are many throughout Kingdom Hearts with interesting ways to get them.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Summons Wish List
Returning Summons for Kingdom Hearts 4
Since the mechanic has been a part of Kingdom Hearts from the beginning, there are a few summons who have become synonymous with the series at this point. Simba and Genie immediately come to mind since both of them have made several appearances throughout the series, although it’s just as likely that either of them could make it into Kingdom Hearts 4 as full-blown party members.
After these two heavy hitters, there are plenty of less ubiquitous summons who deserve a spot in Kingdom Hearts 4. Stitch is always a fun time to use, and doesn’t seem likely to be represented in the game in any larger fashion. Ariel was only added as a summon as recently as Kingdom Hearts 3, but her presence in the series before that point has earned her the right to return again.
Potential New Summons for Kingdom Hearts 4
- Lightning
- Noctis
- Hercules
Despite spanning a dozen entries, one might say that the Kingdom Hearts series has only scratched the surface of the many different series within its arsenal. For example, despite Final Fantasy making up an entire half of the game’s crossover premise, it’s only been represented in the summon lineup a single time. If Kingdom Hearts 4 includes a Final Fantasy summon, it may as well reach for a fresh face such as Lightning or Noctis. Both heroes have vast enough arsenals to make a truly flashy appearance.
Of course, there are plenty of Disney characters that have yet to debut as summons. Hercules has been an important part of the series for a long time, and some may even say he has run his course now that the series has entered a new era. However, including him as a summon would be a nice way to keep Herc and other longtime friends of Sora around without becoming redundant. Furthermore, Hercules’ invincible aura from his time as a party member could be a solid foundation for his ability as a summon.
Kingdom Hearts 4 May Still Have an Ace Up Its Sleeve
Beyond new and returning summons, one class of characters remains firmly in the wild card corner. While Kingdom Hearts was built on the premise of a crossover between Final Fantasy and Disney, the number of franchises that are now included under the Disney umbrella has massively expanded since the days of Kingdom Hearts 1. One could easily call the following characters unconventional picks, but being a long shot for inclusion doesn’t take away from their potential as summons.
The first and most obvious example of this is Star Wars, with the Marvel Universe being a close second. There isn’t any guarantee either franchise could appear in Kingdom Hearts 4, as legal issues or other roadblocks could stand in the way. If Star Wars or Marvel finally make their way into Kingdom Hearts, it would be nice to ring in the celebration by adding a summon from each franchise. Droids like R2D2 could pilot a ship for a powerful impact, and it’s easy to imagine Scarlet Witch’s chaos magic putting on a show worthy of the stellar animation found in most summons.
It’s impossible to overstate that the Kingdom Hearts premise carries near-limitless potential. After all, Star Wars and Marvel are far from the only fictional franchises that have come under the Disney empire over time. For example, no one could say that it’s likely that Homer Simpson will appear in Kingdom Hearts 4 as a summon. On the other hand, seeing such a thing play out could be a pretty good time, and Square Enix may think so too.
