Ardyn Izunia
It was recently revealed that Sephiroth, the big bad from Final Fantasy VII, may not make an appearance as a secret boss in Kingdom Hearts III. Those who have yet to try an entry in this beloved series may not find any issue with that, but fans who’ve triumphed over Kingdom Hearts’ challenges for the better part of two decades felt the potential absence like a Masamune to the back (too soon?). While we collectively worked to find our bearings as Cloud carried us away, we realized that while him not being there will be noticeable, it opens up the door for some other intriguing characters to take his place.
One such character is the newest member of Final Fantasy’s rogues gallery, Ardyn Izunia, the mysterious antagonist from Final Fantasy XV. While he doesn’t have flowing silver locks of hair, or an impossibly long blade that he uses to kill people’s girlfriends, he does suffer from that tortured soul thing that Sephiroth wears so well. Ardyn is also clever, humorous, and really powerful, utilizing all the abilities that Noctis has, yet managing to make them look even more badass. After all, he had centuries to perfect his skills after being spurned by the Astrals after using questionable means to save the world. His ferocity and cunning nature will make him a tricky fight that will keep players on their toes as he flits to and fro, using his blades to teleport just close enough to kill you. He’s definitely a character we’d like to see more of, and filling in the shoes of another beloved villain is a good step towards that happening.
Zemus
If you’re a fan of the newer Final Fantasy games, or just enjoy Kingdom Hearts and whoever happens to cross into that, then you may not be familiar with Zemus, the primary antagonist of FFIV. While he looks like an alien that watched far too many vampire flicks, he’s actually a powerful psychic enemy, capable of controlling the minds and bodies of those weaker than him. That psychic ability can make for an interesting secret boss fight, because it opens up the door for the encounter to include more than just Zemus.
Square Enix can use this boss in Kingdom Hearts III to force Sora and friends to fight an ally, or even turn one of your party members on you, changing the entire dynamic of the battle. This isn’t to say that a direct fight with Zemus alone wouldn’t be worth the cost of entry. His creepy visage and moves such as Meteor make him a force to be reckoned with, and a gamut of status effects will force players to think strategically rather than just jumping in with brute force. Zemus can be just as challenging, if not more so, than Sephiroth, and provide Kingdom Hearts III with a memorable secret battle.
Claire “Lightning” Farron
Okay, so Lightning isn’t a villain. In fact, she’s one of the primary protagonists in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy (she’s the star of two out of the three games, and is even playable in XIII-2 for a short while), and has proven to be a hero worth looking up to while also being an all around badass. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that a protagonist has stepped in as a secret boss (Auron, Squall, and Cloud have tested Sora’s skills in the past). And when looking at those that came before her, Lightning can potentially offer up the biggest challenge.
She’s agile, but unlike the usual fast character in an action RPG, she packs one hell of a punch. Her blade of choice doubles as a rifle that can cause huge issues at range, keeping Kingdom Hearts III players on the defensive as they look for a way to close the distance. But, closing the distance most likely won’t make things any easier as she is a disciplined soldier who is an ace melee fighter. Becoming a L’cie has also granted her a wide range of abilities, plus FFXIII’s paradigm system can come into play, allowing her to shift between different loadouts that greatly change the dynamic of the fight. If Square Enix is looking for a character that can provide that same intense level of challenge that Sephiroth posed, Lightning may very well be the best fit.
Also, we really, really, really want a Keyblade that’s reminiscent of Lightning’s own weapon, so this will be a great opportunity to make that happen.
Kuja
There’s just something about silver hair that marks individuals to become great villains. Kuja, the main enemy in FFIX, is a young, rather beautiful, man who works for Queen Brahne but has his own goals in mind. He’s slick, and honestly likable at times, but underneath that lies a violent sorcerer who’d like nothing more than to rule all of Gaia.
What would make the fight interesting is the difference between how Kuja carries himself and how he fights. He’s smart and smooth, speaking often in metaphors and poetry, but he’s really quite violent and will do whatever it takes to emerge victorious. He’s one of the most powerful mages to ever appear in a Final Fantasy game and is capable of using some of the most powerful spells in the series (some of which are also available in the Kingdom Hearts universe). Tie that with his ability to summon monsters and an army of Dragons and you have a challenging fight that keeps players at a distance. When you toss in that Kuja is also incredibly difficult to cause harm to, you have a fight that may actually be tougher than Sephiroth, with much more happening on the screen.
We just hope that if Square Enix does decide to bring Kuja into Kingdom Hearts III that they also throw in a lot of cool weapons and abilities that will give Sora a fighting chance… and teach Donald to heal a bit more regularly.
Ultimecia
Ultimecia is that powerful, god complex having antagonist you go up against in FFVIII. While it’s good to have goals in life, Ultimecia’s is to condense all of existence to power her ascension as a living god. It sounds noble enough, but when it means that tons of beings must die, it’s sort of an issue. While her background story and motives are interesting, it’s her combat that will make for a great encounter in Kingdom Hearts III.
When looking at this powerful foe, what comes to mind is her appearance in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. While she has appeared in many Final Fantasy spinoffs, this release had an action feel to it, showing off her speed and versatility, as well as her ability to set up traps and delayed attacks. That will have an interesting effect on the rhythm of a fight in Kingdom Hearts III. Most encounters in the series have been about attacking and getting away before you get hit, but with spirit blasts, floating arrows, shields, and flight, things can get plenty interesting for Sora and the gang. Maybe Squall can even jump in for the fight, or have Rinoa make an appearance as well so we can ask them if they happen to be the same person.
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