Recent gameplay footage from Kingdom Hearts 4 has reignited debate about the latest game's combat feeling “floating.” This is an argument every fan is tired of.
The long-awaited second trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 still gave us a cool new look at the game, even though it didn't reveal the Disney world to us like we all expected (even if it did tease one) and focused on the Quadratum once again. Most importantly, it finally showed actual in-game combat instead of the clearly pre-rendered concept gameplay from the first trailer.
Footage for Kingdom Hearts 4 shows that it will play very similar to KH3. Even though it uses a new build system that takes full advantage of keyblade transformation and reaction commands. While fans mostly seemed very pleased with the polished combat, others began calling it “floating” and giving the community some horrifying flashbacks.
Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay is called “Floaty” like other games developed by Osaka.
As fans have proven, Floaty is just a mindset.
If you've been a Kingdom Hearts fan for a long time, you'll know why the term “floaty” is so divisive in the community. Since Team Osaka took over development of the series following Kingdom Hearts 2 (which many correctly consider to be the series' pinnacle), combat has changed significantly, with more emphasis on aerial combos, special moves, and less ground attacks.
This, combined with Sora taking longer to return to the ground and his attacks generally having more ending lag, has made it a commonly used word to describe all Kingdom Hearts games recently. Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance are very difficult to defend against, but for the most part I think Kingdom Hearts 3 isn't that bad and actually has a great combat system, although it floats a bit.
Most have acknowledged that this combat style is identical to how Kingdom Hearts plays now, but the KH4 footage we obtained has somehow sparked the debate again. A retweeted quote from Twitter user Okami13_'s post about the gameplay is full of complaints about the combat system, with many people once again saying how floaty it is.
Some make a fairly reasonable point about most enemies being on the ground while Sora thrives in the air, while others jump to conclusions about some of Sora's moves. Kingdom Hearts fans are right back to defending the fight. Sharing many of the best clips of Kingdom Hearts 3 gameplay, it proves that it really only floats as well as you make it, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
But while I understand that floaty is actually used to describe modern Kingdom Hearts combat, it's too early to tell how Kingdom Hearts 4 will float based on just one minute of footage. Whatever the case, it's time to accept that Kingdom Hearts 2's fighting style isn't one the series will repeat, and that there's just as much fun to be had in a freer, more cinematic style.
Don't worry. Square Enix hasn't forgotten about Kingdom Hearts.
I can't cope. You're just getting new high scores.
