If Kingdom Hearts 3 is anything like its predecessors, it’s sure to feature characters from the Final Fantasy series that we’ve come to know and love. The Kingdom Hearts series is well known for blending lovable characters from Disney franchises and the Final Fantasy series. In fact, one of Kingdom Hearts 2’s most memorable scenes involves Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud and Balamb Garden’s own Squall Leonhart fighting back to back against an army of heartless.
Although a release date for the game hasn’t been confirmed, here are five Final Fantasy characters that should be in Kingdom Hearts 3.
Noctis – Final Fantasy XV
Although Final Fantasy XV isn’t out until September 30, Noctis will most likely be in the game in some shape or form. The character himself could be in Kingdom Hearts 3’s equivalent of Traverse Town or Hollow Bastion, playing a similar role to The World Ends with You characters in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance with Sora and Riku, emphasizing the overarching narrative’s theme of friendship and the relationship between the two heroes.
Final Fantasy XV’s theme of the battle between light and dark would also work perfectly with Kingdom Hearts 3 as the game focuses on the seven warriors of light – Sora, Riku, Kairi, Aqua, Mickey, etc. – and their quest to defeat Xehanort and the 13 warriors of darkness.
It’s a given that Noctis will be in Kingdom Hearts 3 considering Final Fantasy XV will be the most recently released mainline Final Fantasy game by the time Kingdom Hearts 3 is out.
Lightning – Final Fantasy XIII
Lightning would be an interesting party member if she were in Kingdom Hearts 3; which is likely, considering Square Enix’s undying affection for her and the XIII series with XIII-2 and Lightning Returns.
Contextually, Lightning could play a similar role to Auron in the Hercules world of Kingdom Hearts 2: set in the middle of the events of Lightning Returns, Lightning discovers Sora and the gang, and believes Etro has tasked her with helping them defeat one of the 13 warriors of darkness, but afterwards realizes that she needs to go back to her home world.
If Square Enix were to use her character in XIII, her relationship with Sora would parallel her and Hope’s journey in Final Fantasy XIII – Lightning being reluctant to help him, thinking he is incapable of taking care of himself, but later sees him as a younger brother. She would work perfectly as a party member for Kairi or Aqua if the game is split into three or four character-driven arcs for Sora, Riku, Kairi and Aqua respectively.
Kefka – Final Fantasy VI
Although the Kingdom Hearts series has had villains of the Final Fantasy series as secret bosses before, no video game antagonist is as horrible as Final Fantasy VI’s Kefka. Essentially the Batman series’ Joker in Japanese role playing game form, Kefka has committed regicide and treason, poisoned an entire kingdom, and caused the end of the world.
Kefka would make a perfect Final Fantasy side villain with his black sense of humor and sinister nature – and would even work as one of Xehanort’s 13 darknesses. His boss battle would involve flashy animations, catastrophic spells like Ultima and, most importantly, a remastered version of Kefka’s Theme.
Son of a submariner.
Beatrix – Final Fantasy IX
General Beatrix could easily be a final colosseum fighter for any post-game content as she is an immensely overpowered character with the ability to lower your party’s HP to 1 with one strike. Beatrix would offer a hyper fast-paced boss battle akin to Sephiroth or the Final Mix versions of the Organisation XIII members, with lightning striking around the battlefield as she enflames her iconic blade, Save the Queen, and leaps towards her foes.
Ultros – Final Fantasy VI
Ultros is a recurring character in the Final Fantasy series and is often used as comedic relief – specifically his role in the iconic opera performance in Final Fantasy VI and his downloadable content story in Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Ultros would be similar to Pete in Kingdom Hearts 2 as a recurring comedic villain, encountering Sora and the gang multiple times throughout the game. Like Kefka, Ultros would work as a member of Xehanort’s army but could also be a part of Maleficent’s group considering his playful appearance.
