Summary
Fans and players ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthare reacting to one minor, but potentially divisive, element of the game: The game’s updated designs for the iconic Moogle creature.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthremixed the looks of the Moogles for the new title, leading to some fans reacting in mild horror at their new look.
As a series,Final Fantasyis rarely completely consistent between major entries, including when it comes to Moogle designs. Long serving as one of the series' many mascot designs, Moogles originally debuted inFinal Fantasy 2looking like strange, cat-like plush creatures with bat wings. InFinal Fantasy 12, they took on a more naturalistic appearance, looking rabbit-like and taking a full place as one of the peoples of that game’s world. Inthe massive open world ofFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthCloud and the party will see Moogles at the Moogle Emporiums, special shops that can be unlocked by completing the Moogle Mischief minigame.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Moogles Spark Design Debate
The Moogles ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthhave been changed significantly from their incarnation in other games, including in the original PS1 version ofFinal Fantasy 7. While the original versions kept the cat-like features seen in previous games (includingFinal Fantasy 6), the rebooted versions of Moogles are rounded, with bear-like ears, mammalian eyes, and rodent-like front teeth. Commenters across the internet reacted to theFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthMoogle changes with amusement and some disbelief. Some objected to the fact that the Moogles have teeth and a more human-like facial arrangement, calling them ‘creepy.’ Others declared thatreview scores forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthshould be docked a point over the new Moogle designs.
In Japan, one viral Twitter post compared the new Moogle design to the Moogle design shared byFinal Fantasy 14andFinal Fantasy 16. The post, using ‘Mohguri,’ the Japanese name for Moogles, likened the differences between the two designs to the contrast between what someone looks like on their online profile versus what they look like when they arrive in person.
← The Moogle you made plans to meet with online
The Moogle that actually showed up →
Some, though, expressed appreciation for the revised Moogle designs seen inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. One user on Twitter declared that they loved the new designs, and in conversation with another user, praised the ‘100 Acre Wood vibes’ of the new Moghouse, referencing the fictional land inhabited byfamed public domain character Winnie the Pooh.
Any change made to an iconic character tends to spark debate, and longstanding mascots like the Moogles are no exception. That said, their new appearances inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthseem to have attracted some support amid the vocal criticism and jokes. Whether or not their look is retained for future installments of the series, the new designs are part of a long history of reinvention that characterizesFinal Fantasydesign.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
