The early hours of the original Kingdom Hearts provided a unique blend of Disney charm and Final Fantasy gravitas, a balance that some fans feel the series has since lost. In its opening segments on Destiny Islands and Traverse Town, the game introduced Final Fantasy characters like Tidus, Wakka, Selphie, Squall (as Leon), Yuffie, and Aerith in ways that initially positioned them as equals to Donald Duck and Goofy.
Sora's childhood friends Tidus and Wakka, reimagined as younger versions of their Final Fantasy X counterparts, wield simplified versions of their signature weapons. This sets a tone that suggests Final Fantasy would hold equal footing with the Disney elements. This impression is further solidified when Sora arrives in Traverse Town and encounters a cast of Final Fantasy characters who, for the most part, remain faithful to their original appearances. Yuffie retains her spirited persona, and even Cid Highwind, absent a voice actor, conveys his gruff nature through text. This deliberate portrayal integrated the RPG characters into the narrative without diluting their established identities, a stark contrast to later entries.
As Kingdom Hearts progressed, the presence of Final Fantasy characters gradually diminished. While the initial game allowed these characters to stand alongside Disney icons, later installments saw them relegated to the background. This trend culminated in Kingdom Hearts III's base game, which notably excluded any Final Fantasy characters. Their eventual return in the Re:Mind DLC felt like an apology to fans who missed the series' original crossover ethos. The upcoming Kingdom Hearts IV is reportedly focusing on fewer, larger worlds, sparking speculation about whether more recent Final Fantasy protagonists might finally make an appearance.
However, the author expresses a lingering dissatisfaction with the handling of certain characters, specifically referencing the Gullwings from Final Fantasy X-2 with strong disdain. This sentiment highlights a broader feeling among some long-time fans that while the integration of Final Fantasy characters in the first Kingdom Hearts was masterful, their subsequent sidelining has been a detriment to the series' unique identity.