Final Fantasy 15 Countdown is Teasing A Moogle Surprise
By Cody Gravelle 04 October 2016
Square Enix has posted a new tease on the Final Fantasy 15 website that seems to indicate the long-awaited reveal of how Moogles look in the upcoming game.
Final Fantasy 15 has established itself as a game that is looking toward the future of the JRPG genre with one eye lingering on the series’ storied past. For every new Final Fantasy 15 gameplay demonstration that unveils another nuanced addition to what appears to be the next evolution in JRPG combat systems, there is a reminder that Square Enix is aware of the history behind these drastic changes. Final Fantasy 15 is the culmination of a decade of work, and Square Enix needs to deliver the right balance of innovation and familiarity to meet the lofty expectations created by such a long development period.
As odd as it may seem, one of the sticking points for fans as they were shown Final Fantasy 15 footage late last year was the absence of a specific creature that is iconic within the series. After fans rallied to create enough buzz on the Internet that Square Enix had to take notice, Final Fantasy 15 game director Hajime Tabata announced there would be Moogles in the game after all. Now, 11 months later, Square Enix has launched a new Final Fantasy 15 countdown site with a patchwork silhouette of a Moogle, hinting that fans will finally get to see just what a Final Fantasy 15 Moogle looks like.
The website’s countdown timer will expire tonight at midnight Eastern time, so fans won’t have to wait long to see if this is just another tease or an actual reveal. Adding fuel to the fire, the Final Fantasy 15 Twitter account tweeted today that they would “be showing [Moogles] off very soon!”.
If the reveal of the Final Fantasy 15 Moogles is indeed imminent, it could also represent the last time Yusuke Naora, Final Fantasy 15‘s art director, had a say in the way the creatures are portrayed. The 24-year Square Enix veteran featured on many Final Fantasy projects as art director, including prominent roles in Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 10.
Just how Moogles will fit into the narrative and world of Final Fantasy 15 remains to be seen, although given that they were initially not even tabbed to appear in the game it seems unlikely they’ll play a major role. Still, much like the addition of classic Final Fantasy songs in Final Fantasy 15, the inclusion of Moogles will go a long way in ensuring that, however different the game’s mechanics may be, Final Fantasy 15 will still feel like a Final Fantasy game to long-time fans of the series.
Final Fantasy 15 will launch worldwide on November 29, 2016 for PS4 and Xbox One.
Source: Final Fantasy 15 Countdown Site (via Nova Crystalis)
