Summary
Kingdom Hearts 4is a bold step forward into uncharted territory. Every previous game in the series was connected through the Dark Seeker Saga, better known as the Xehanort saga. This ongoing story finally got its conclusion inKingdom Hearts 3.Kingdom Hearts 4is bound to leave behind many aspects of its beloved history, including the series' most iconic villains.
While Xehanort is the main villain of the titular saga, the ever-present Organization 13 are no doubt thebest villains inKingdom Heartsso far. While they most notably served as the main antagonists ofKingdom Hearts 2, members of the Organization have shown up in all sorts of spin-offs, and even played a major role inKingdom Hearts 3. Many members of Organization 13 were strongly tied to Xehanort, and so his defeat has naturally led to the end of the Organization. This dramatic conclusion has created a very fun coincidence with the upcoming title: there have been thirteenKingdom Heartsgames, meaning Organization 13 departs as the series passes their iconic number.
The End of Organization 13 Creates a Fun Setup for Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts' Longest Running Story Has Come to an End
For anyone who wasn’t there as each game was released, it’s challenging to describe the course of the Xehanort Saga. The series has a rich history at this point, and the titular villain didn’t seem to exist in the first game. Xehanort was officiallyintroduced inKingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep.Birth By Sleepis the seventh game in the series, and was first released in 2010, a whopping eight years after the original.
Kingdom Heartsis infamous for its complicated lore, although it is much easier to understand within context. However, across thirteen games and nearly twenty years, it would still take a college lecture to deliver that context. The short version is that through a series of twist endings and retcons, it is revealed that Xehanort’s sinister plan boiled down to forming an evil team with twelve alternate versions of himself.
This evil group is referred to as the “Thirteen Hearts of Darkness”, and is actually rather disconnected from Organization 13. However, the two groups do share a few members. Some characters were revealed to house part of Xehanort within themselves, after originally beingintroduced as a member of Organization 13. Regardless, Sora and friends managed to defeat Xehanort and his Thirteen Hearts of Darkness, meaning the last remnants of the Organization went with them.
The Origins of Organization 13 in Kingdom Hearts
Organization 13 was first introduced inChain of Memories, and later rocketed further into prominence thanks toKingdom Hearts 2. The Organization has served up its fair share oficonic boss fights inKingdom Hearts. More importantly, the story of the Organization heavily challenges the concept of a “heart”. Players are first told that the Organization’s members are cold and unfeeling, and then constantly reminded of the complicated angst that each of them are concealing.
This thematic tension is at the heart of the series, and drives a lot of thedepth inKingdom Hearts' story. This naturally made fans sad to see Organization 13 go, though they certainly got a spectacular sendoff inKingdom Hearts 3. Many of its members are still alive and well, but they certainly aren’t in the state players met them. Whether good or evil, each member has shed their old self, and they’re certainly not going to team up again any time soon.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Signals a New Era
The end of Organization 13 is equal parts tragic and triumphant. The Organization were the core villains of the series for years on end, with many of them joining thefinal battle inKingdom Hearts 3. They were split among the sides of good and evil, and one aspect of their break-up makes the next game in the series even sweeter.
As of now,Kingdom Hearts 4will be the fourteenth game in the series. It’s quite a coincidence thatKingdom Hearts 3was the thirteenth entry, and finally ended the run of Organization 13. However, it reaffirms thatKingdom Hearts 3was the end of an era, andKingdom Hearts 4will begin a new one.
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.
