What if…Kingdom Hearts Was a Turn-Based RPG?

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The video game titled “Kingdom Hearts” stands out as one of today’s most distinctive and well-loved role-playing games. By skillfully combining aspects from Square Enix’s “Final Fantasy” series with settings and characters from various Disney films, “Kingdom Hearts” was an unexpected fusion that has thrived since its debut in 2002. Although no new game in the series has been released since 2020, Square Enix announced in April 2022 that “Kingdom Hearts 4” is in development, and fans eagerly anticipate further updates on this upcoming title.

A significant factor contributing to the charm of Kingdom Hearts is its blend of Square Enix and Disney elements, but another captivating aspect is its real-time, action-oriented gameplay. Unlike many other Square Enix games that are turn-based RPGs, the battle system in Kingdom Hearts is distinctively different. The series consistently uses a real-time battle system, leading to speculation about how it would evolve if a future title opted for a turn-based approach instead.

Kingdom Hearts Would Look Very Different If It Was Turn-Based

Part of Kingdom Hearts’ Identity Is Its Action Gameplay

In a different scenario, if Kingdom Hearts were a turn-based role-playing game (RPG), its gameplay would be drastically altered compared to its current version. Known for its fast-paced action combat with button-mashing mechanics, a turn-based RPG would not maintain such gameplay style. Instead, the gameplay would resemble more closely the turn-based combat systems found in the contemporaneous entries of the series it draws heavily from – namely, Final Fantasy.

Previously, the primary installments of Final Fantasy were generally recognized for their turn-based gameplay mechanics, in contrast to the real-time combat featured in Kingdom Hearts. If Kingdom Hearts had been introduced 20 years ago as a turn-based game, it could have expanded upon concepts initially presented by the Final Fantasy series. Given that its launch coincided with Final Fantasy X within a year’s time, it might have seemed less unique to casual gamers, resembling just another Final Fantasy game with a Disney-themed exterior.

Turn-Based Kingdom Hearts May Have Given Fans Something The Current Games Haven’t

If Square Enix had opted for a turn-based style in Kingdom Hearts, it would have provided an opportunity for players to manage Donald and Goofy directly. Although Sora’s companion characters are integral to the game, none of the mainline installments enable players to control them. In a traditional RPG setup, the designers could have implemented a party system that lets players command Donald and Goofy, along with other famous Disney figures like Tarzan, Beast, and Aladdin, as they join the adventure.

In the game Kingdom Hearts, you frequently run into battles with Heartless throughout its various realms. If it were a turn-based game instead, these random encounters would probably still occur. However, due to the numerous Heartless in the current battles, the size of these fights might need to be scaled down a bit in a turn-based setting. This is because the number of Heartless that Sora and his companions fight could potentially be reduced, as well as their frequency of appearance.

Instead of the original version which states that “Kingdom Hearts” is frequently recognized for its “button-mashing” action combat, it could be rephrased as: “The fast-paced action combat in ‘Kingdom Hearts’ is commonly acknowledged, and if it were to become a turn-based RPG, such gameplay style would not remain.

Kingdom Hearts’ Story Would Largely Look The Same

In a turn-based version of Kingdom Hearts, it’s unlikely that Square Enix would need to make significant changes to the story or scale back the intricate details they’re known for. This is because games like Final Fantasy X, which are also turn-based, didn’t sacrifice their narrative or cutscene length due to their gameplay style. Given Kingdom Hearts’ reputation for its rich, sometimes complex storyline, a turn-based version wouldn’t necessarily need to simplify the plot to accommodate gameplay changes.

From a gaming standpoint, if the Kingdom Hearts series adopted a turn-based style, it would present a markedly different appearance. Such a change might have addressed concerns raised by some fans about contemporary editions, like the lack of playable Disney characters. However, its resemblance to another prominent Square Enix game could potentially make it blend in with other titles for certain players. Regardless, Kingdom Hearts remains unique and has continued to distinguish itself within a highly competitive RPG market.

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2025-05-05 06:05