With Kingdom Hearts 4 serving as the franchise’s next release after over five years since the conclusion of the Dark Seeker Saga, Kingdom Hearts is possibly in the most drastic transitional period it has ever experienced. Director Tetsuya Nomura’s style has evolved significantly over two decades of consistent game releases, and Sora’s next adventure seems set to reflect this more than ever. The changes of Kingdom Hearts 4 seem meant to redefine one of Square Enix’s flagship brands, but they also run the risk of veering too far from the series’ core DNA.