Summary
Since the announcement ofKingdom Hearts 4’s development, the game has been the subject of much speculation, with a good deal of discussion surrounding the potential of Marvel andStar Warsbeing brought intoKingdom Heartscanon. Folding either of these mammoth franchises into the greater world ofKingdom Heartswould certainly be a game-changer in many ways, and there is one Marvel franchise that could naturally elevate one staple of theKingdom Heartsfranchise.
Introduced in the firstKingdom Heartsgame back in 2002, Gummi Ships have been a consistent part of the series, though their inclusion isn’t universally loved. Some players adore the miniature, LEGO-inspired spacecraft, while others find the gameplay surrounding them to be more of a distraction. Despite this slight controversy, Square Enix has continuously evolved the Gummi Ships across the three mainlineKingdom Heartsentries, adding new customization options and movement and combat mechanics. IfKingdom Hearts 4takes the plunge with Marvel content, there is an elegant way to evolve this area of the franchise even further.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Can Revolutionize Gummi Ships Thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy
ExpandingKingdom Heartswith Marvel andStar Warscontentwouldn’t come without risk, but it’s undeniable that it would offer a great deal of potential for new gameplay and narrative scenarios. Allowing players to interact with iconic locations and characters from these franchises would be an obvious boon, but the IPs could be utilized in more specific and unique ways. When it comes toGuardians of the Galaxy, one of the most beloved Marvel series, Gummi Ships seem like a perfect match.
Kingdom Hearts 4’s Gummi Ships Could Mesh with Guardians of the Galaxy’s Narrative
A defining element ofGuardians of the Galaxyis that its stories don’t take place in a single location. Rather, the heroes ofGuardiansare more like interstellar nomads, with their only consistent home being the Milano, their spaceship and base of operations.2021’sMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyexplored this premise in a gaming context to excellent effect, andKingdom Hearts 4could do something similar.
Instead of visiting a popular planet fromGuardians of the Galaxy,Kingdom Hearts 4players could interact with the heroes on a spaceship, but the Guardians' vessel could be a player-created Gummi Ship rather than a static rendition of the Milano. Essentially, the Guardians, with their affinity for travel, could stay with Sora and company throughout the experience, with a few franchise-specific missions based around Gummi Ship gameplay and travel. This formula has plenty of potential and could serve as one of the moreunique aspects ofKingdom Hearts 4.
Expanding Gummi Ship Gameplay in Kingdom Hearts 4
InfusingKingdom HeartswithGuardians of the Galaxywould be a perfect opportunity to build on the features associated with Gummi Ships. For one thing, players could finally move about the interior of a Gummi Ship, adding some much-welcome depth to these custom creations. This would be important when it comes to storytelling, as Sora could actually interact, face-to-face, with the Guardians while they are living on the ship. Additionally, customization could be expanded through the context of the Guardians, with new options like living quarters or amenities being added alongside the traditional, practical upgrades that have always been available for gummi ships.
Games likeStarfieldand theMass Effectfranchise would be perfect blueprints forKingdom Hearts 4to follow when it comes to adding immersive customization options and narrative or social components to Gummi Ships.
Gummi Ships are aniconic part of theKingdom Heartsseries, and the fourth game should keep the tradition alive. That said, the long-running feature has some room to grow, and addingGuardians of the GalaxytoKingdom Hearts 4would be a fitting impetus for this growth.
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.
