As Kingdom Hearts 4 transitions into a new story arc with a darker tone and more grounded visuals, many fans are eager to see how the gameplay might evolve. Sora’s journey through the realistic world of Quadratum marks a departure from the Disney-centric locales of past entries, and the appearance of figures like Yozora suggests a more mature narrative is on the horizon. But while storylines can shift and visuals can adapt, one pillar of the franchise should stay firmly in place: its core action combat system.
The series has always been defined by fast-paced, flashy, and strategic real-time combat. It’s part of what made the original Kingdom Hearts feel unlike anything else at the time. And while Kingdom Hearts 3 experimented with spectacle and verticality, the franchise’s best combat system still belongs to Kingdom Hearts 2. As Kingdom Hearts 4 prepares to reshape the series in many ways, the combat must draw from its strongest foundations rather than chase spectacle for its own sake.
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Kingdom Hearts 2 Still Has the Best Combat System
Kingdom Hearts 2 continues to be the gold standard for combat in the franchise, offering depth, responsiveness, and choice without overwhelming the player. The system strikes a rare balance: it’s accessible enough for newcomers, but complex enough to reward mastery.
Drive Forms are a standout example. Valor, Wisdom, Master, and Final Forms each change how Sora plays, allowing players to adapt their approach on the fly. These transformations aren’t just flashy, they’re tied to mobility, magic, and combo potential. Fighting Sephiroth in Kingdom Hearts 2, for instance, forces players to learn these systems and master precise movement, especially in critical modes. The game also integrates magic, abilities, and summons like Stitch or Peter Pan in meaningful ways that expand strategy rather than replace it.
Unique enemy interactions further elevate the combat. Bosses like Xaldin punish button-mashing, encouraging timing and defense. Growth Abilities, like Glide and High Jump, aren’t just useful for traversal, they’re often crucial during boss battles. All of these elements combine to make every encounter feel engaging. It’s no surprise that many fans refer to Kingdom Hearts 2 as a “game within a game,” where players are constantly juggling tools, positioning, and timing to succeed.
Kingdom Hearts 3’s Combat Shined But Overreached
When Kingdom Hearts 3 launched, it came with some notable improvements, particularly fluid movement and the diverse keyblade transformations. Still, the game’s combat often prioritized spectacle over substance. The Attraction Flow system, while visually stunning, could trivialize encounters. Many players found these Disney-themed ride summons entertaining the first time, but quickly turned them off to avoid disrupting the flow of battle.
Another criticism came from the game’s over-reliance on reaction commands. While cinematic finishers look impressive, they often remove the need for tactical thinking. In Kingdom Hearts 2, strategic choices defined boss encounters. In Kingdom Hearts 3, the game too frequently hands players a win button through flashy transformations or powerful team attacks. The lack of consistent challenge, especially on normal difficulties, made some enemies feel like set pieces rather than threats.
That said, Kingdom Hearts 3 introduced innovations worth preserving. The keyblade formchange system allowed for different combat styles with every weapon, and Flowmotion brought verticality and agility to traversal. The game’s improved Critical Mode also delivered the difficulty and depth many players had been craving. If Kingdom Hearts 4 can combine these strengths with the focused design of Kingdom Hearts 2, it has the potential to offer the best gameplay in the series.
Kingdom Hearts 2 continues to be the gold standard for combat in the franchise, offering depth, responsiveness, and choice without overwhelming the player.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Needs to Refocus Its Combat
With Kingdom Hearts 4 taking place in Quadratum, a realistic world far removed from Disney’s cartoonish flair, the combat needs to feel grounded yet stylish. This isn’t the place for over-the-top fairground rides and screen-clearing special attacks. Instead, it’s a chance to return to a combat system where movement, spacing, and player control are at the forefront.
That doesn’t mean abandoning spectacle entirely, as the series is built on magical flair. However, it does mean making those moments feel earned. Instead of reaction command chains, Kingdom Hearts 4 should emphasize systems that reward deliberate inputs. For instance, Drive Forms or keyblade-specific stances could be tied to the world’s new tone, leaning into fluid martial arts or reality-bending attacks that reflect Quadratum’s dreamlike logic.
It’s also the right moment to reintroduce resource management. Earlier games in the series challenged players to balance MP, items, and cooldowns, especially in tougher battles. That system added tension and satisfaction to every victory. A return to that structure, combined with skill trees, ability loadouts, and customizable builds, could modernize the Kingdom Hearts combat experience without diluting what made it special.
Ultimately, Kingdom Hearts 4 has an opportunity to bring the best parts of the franchise into a new era. If it wants to push the series forward, it needs to look back—not just to the story’s past, but to the gameplay systems that made the journey memorable. The key to moving forward isn’t reinventing the wheel; it’s sharpening the blade.
Kingdom Hearts 4
- ESRB
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e
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
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Kingdom Hearts
