Since the series' inception,Final Fantasyhas been a key part ofKingdom Hearts' identity, with a variety of characters making appearances throughout the franchise. WhileKingdom Hearts 3moved away fromFinal Fantasyrepresentation compared to past entries,Kingdom Hearts 4has the chance to double down on cameos thanks to a resurgence ofFinal Fantasyin recent years. One of the best ways to revamp theFinal Fantasyrepresentation inKingdom Hearts 4is to introduce a new secret boss similar to Sephiroth in previous titles.
Although the popularity of theFinal Fantasy 7remake trilogy has made Sephiroth and the rest of the game’s cast more relevant than ever, there is a vast roster of characters fromFinal Fantasy’s history still untapped in theKingdom Heartsfranchise. While it’s easy to see how theupdated version of Sephiroth fromFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthcould make for an interesting twist on the villain’s past appearances inKingdom Hearts, including him as a secret boss again could feel like retreading old ground. As such,Kingdom Hearts 4should look to some ofFinal Fantasy’s other iconic foes to create a new secret boss that can go toe to toe with Sephiroth.
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
WithFinal Fantasy’s original villain,Garland, more fleshed out thanks toStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, there’s room for the character and his alter ego Chaos to threaten Sora inKingdom Hearts 4. Kefka fromFinal Fantasy 6is 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 intenseKingdom Heartsboss fights like Ansem from the original and Xemnas fromKingdom Hearts 2being incredibly high.Final Fantasy 8’s Ultimiecia would be a nice counterbalance to Sephiroth as a notable female antagonist and would fit with the otherFF8characters 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
Even more relevant than classicFinal Fantasyvillains would be antagonists from recent games likeFinal Fantasy 15’s Ardyn orFinal Fantasy 16’s Barnabas. Ardyn would work especially well as a secret boss inKingdom Hearts 4if Noctis appears as an ally since the attacks he uses in hisFF15boss fight mirror Noctis' own. Barnabas could be an even more threatening secret boss since he is theDominant of the Eikon Odin, which would be a great way to pit Sora against a classicFinal Fantasysummon.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy Shouldn’t Make Sephiroth a Kingdom Hearts 4 Shoo-in
DespiteSephiroth’s prominence in the ongoingFinal Fantasy 7 remaketrilogy, the vast potential otherFinal Fantasyvillains hold as secret bosses inKingdom Hearts 4should be explored over theFF7villain. Sephiroth has already appeared as a secret boss inKingdom Hearts 1andKingdom 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 theKingdom Heartsuniverse.
WithKingdom Hearts 4starting a new story arcin the franchise, it would be the perfect opportunity for the series to completely reboot itsFinal Fantasyelements. Since theFinal Fantasy 7 remaketrilogy already gives players plenty of opportunities to fight Sephiroth, including him as a secret boss once again inKingdom Hearts 4could feel repetitive. Instead, the game could create a brand-new experience for players by pitting Sora against one of theFinal Fantasyseries' many other villains for a secret boss fight.
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.
