Kingdom Hearts 4: The Argument for a New ‘Sephiroth’ Boss

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From its very beginning, “Final Fantasy” has played a significant role in shaping the essence of “Kingdom Hearts”. Characters from this series have been recurring elements across different installments. While “Kingdom Hearts 3” reduced the presence of “Final Fantasy”, “Kingdom Hearts 4” could potentially strengthen these connections due to the recent surge of popularity for “Final Fantasy”. One effective method to enhance the incorporation of “Final Fantasy” in “Kingdom Hearts 4” would be by creating a new secret boss character, similar to Sephiroth in earlier games.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but appreciate the renewed relevance of characters like Sephiroth in the revamped Final Fantasy 7 trilogy. Yet, it’s the untouched cast from the expansive history of Final Fantasy that catches my eye within Kingdom Hearts.

While the reinvented Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth promises an intriguing twist on his earlier Kingdom Hearts appearances, reprising him as a secret boss might feel like a rehash. With this in mind, I believe that Kingdom Hearts 4 could innovate by introducing one of Final Fantasy’s other timeless antagonists as a new and formidable secret boss, capable of standing shoulder to shoulder 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

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

In the expanded portrayal of Garland from “Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin,” there’s potential for this character and his alternate form, Chaos, to pose a significant threat to Sora in “Kingdom Hearts 4.” Kefka from “Final Fantasy 6” is another strong choice, given his nearly equal iconic status within the franchise to Sephiroth. His multi-phase battle potential could match the intensity of boss fights like Ansem and Xemnas from the original and second “Kingdom Hearts,” respectively. Furthermore, Ultimiecia from “Final Fantasy 8” could serve as a balanced female antagonist alongside Sephiroth, fitting well with other characters from “FF8” such as Squall/Leon, Selphie, and Seifer who have previously 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)

Instead of relying on traditional villains from earlier “Final Fantasy” games, it might be even more intriguing to incorporate adversaries like Ardyn from “Final Fantasy 15” and Barnabas from the upcoming “Final Fantasy 16”. Ardyn could make a fitting secret boss in “Kingdom Hearts 4”, especially if Noctis is introduced as an ally. This is because Ardyn’s attacks during his boss fight in “FF15” resemble those of Noctis. On the other hand, Barnabas could serve as an even more formidable secret boss given that he is the Dominant of the Eikon Odin. This would provide an exciting opportunity to challenge Sora with a classic “Final Fantasy” summon.

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

Even though Sephiroth is a significant character in the ongoing Final Fantasy 7 remake, it could be more interesting to delve into the untapped potential of other Final Fantasy villains as secret bosses in Kingdom Hearts 4, rather than focusing solely on Sephiroth. This is because Sephiroth has already made appearances as a secret boss in earlier Kingdom Hearts games, such as Kingdom Hearts 1 and Kingdom Hearts 2, as well as being a fighter in Olympus Coliseum and an optional boss fight in Radiant Garden. While these battles are undeniably memorable, they’ve mostly served to demonstrate Sephiroth’s role as a boss within the Kingdom Hearts universe, leaving much of his potential unexplored.

With the launch of Kingdom Hearts 4, marking a fresh chapter in the franchise, this moment could serve as an ideal time for the series to undergo a comprehensive overhaul of its Final Fantasy aspects. Given that the Final Fantasy 7 remake already provides ample chances to encounter Sephiroth, and potentially include him as a hidden boss once more in Kingdom Hearts 4 might seem redundant. To provide players with a unique gaming experience, the game could introduce an alternate scenario by having Sora battle one of the numerous antagonists from the Final Fantasy series instead, as a hidden boss.

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2025-01-05 00:35