Summary
Players have been exploring every inch ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s semi-open world, and it’s proven to be a treasure trove of fan service. Back in 2020,Final Fantasy 7 Remakesparked some concerns over its padded, linear design approach extending to its sequels.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas thankfully put those fears to rest, as it has not only adapted a much larger chunk ofFF7thanRemakedid with Midgar but populated its world with plenty ofFinal Fantasyicons and hijinx thatRemakekept subdued.
TheRemakewas not devoid of recognizableFinal Fantasystaples, including the usual summons like Ifrit, Shiva, and Leviathan, and various enemies like Bombs, Tonberries, and Behemoths. Moogles, Chocobos, and Cactuars served as both optional bosses and summons, but “optional” was unfortunately the key word there.FF7 Remakeoften marginalizedFF7’s more cartoony monsters, with appearances exclusive to its quirkier content, like Corneo’s Colosseum. To the delight of many,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas not shied away from granting these iconic creatures much larger roles, and the third and finalFF7 Remaketitle could elevate one of them higher than ever before.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Puts Final Fantasy’s Icons To Work
Chocobos, Moogles, and Cactuars were given extra love inFF7 Rebirth, but not all equally. Moogles graduated from ambiguously-canon summons, and fictional characters from the originalFF7’s Mog House mini-game, into beings present inFF7 Rebirth’s world. They collectively run the Moogle Emporium side quest and shop chain, which has become a regular sight in many playthroughs.Chocobos are even more prominent inRebirth, operating as the player’s custom mounts and evolving acrossFF7 Rebirth’s journey, on top of their expected role in Chocobo Racing.
Cactuars Pulled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Short Straw
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Cactuars. They have also graduated from being DLC summons and VR opponents, but instead of popping up everywhere, they only appear inRebirthas Costa del Sol’s hidden stickers and as part of the Corel Protorelic quest.
This does mean they occupythree chapters ofFF7 Rebirth’s runtimethanks to Corel’s quest requiring two visits, but it still leaves the cactus folk as a side note next to Moogles and Chocobos. Once the lastFinal Fantasy 7 Remakegame arrives, Cactuars should be rescued from their brief Cactuar Crush mini-game and given a job more fitting for a long-timeFinal Fantasystaple.
The Last FF7 Remake Game Could Give Cactuars Its Side Content Spotlight
Chocobos are here to stay in the third game, especially with the promise of a Golden Chocobo unfulfilled, but a Cactuar quest could replaceFF7R Part 3’s Moogle Emporium. There’s still achunk ofFinal Fantasy 7’s world left to coverin the lastRemakeentry, including Wutai and most of the northern continent, so there will be places to put Cactuars even with their expected desert territory already used up.
Wutai’s many beaches could introduce Ninjactuars, Bone Village’s archeology quest could unearth more of Corel’s Cactuar statues, and the originalFF7’s Cactus Island has yet to be remade.
Final Fantasy’s Cactuars Still Have Plenty of Untapped Potential
As for what the Cactuars will be doing, the sky’s the limit. They could be the justification for the Shinra Middle Manager’s final appearance in the thirdFF7 Remakeentry, as Cactuars don’t speak enough to give their own quests and rewards.
Players can grab fleeing Cactuars similar toFF7 Rebirth’s Moogle mini-games, with elements of the Corel Protorelic quest present in them being hidden around the world map. With even crazierFinal Fantasyfan service options like Cactuar ruins leading to an appearance bythe UFO-riding PuPu aliens fromFinal Fantasy 8, the lastFF7 Remakeentry could more than makeup forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s lackluster Cactuar showing.
