Editing Cactuar

{{short description|Fictional species in the Final Fantasy video game series}}
{{Infobox fictional race
| franchise = ''[[Final Fantasy]]''
| first = [[Final Fantasy VI]] (1994)
| creator = [[Tetsuya Nomura]]
| image = File:Cactuar FFVII Remake.png
| caption = The Cactuar as depicted in ''[[Final Fantasy VII Remake]]''.
}}

The '''Cactuar''',  known in Japan as {{Nihongo4|'''Sabotender'''|サボテンダー|Sabotendā|{{lit}} Cactender}} is a fictional species of plant-like beings from the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' [[video game]] franchise. They are usually depicted as [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] [[Cactus|cacti]] with ''[[haniwa]]''-like faces in a running or dashing pose. One of the [[Recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series|recurring elements]] of the series, it initially appeared as an enemy in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. By the 2010s, the Cactuar has attained widespread popularity with ''Final Fantasy'' fans, and is considered one of the established [[mascot]]s of the long-running series alongside the [[Moogle]] and the [[Chocobo]]. While the Cactuar still appear as recurring enemies in modern titles, they are also depicted as [[Recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series#Summoning|summoned allies]] as well as friendly [[non-player character]]s.

== Development ==
According to Japanese [[Game art design|video game artist]], game designer and director at [[Square Enix]] [[Tetsuya Nomura]], the concept of the Cactuar is based on a doodle he drew on a notebook when he was attending high school as a teenager.<ref name="VJump"/> The design of the Cactuar's face resemble ''haniwa'', a type of terracotta clay figure traditionally used for ritual and funerary purposes during the [[Kofun period]] in [[History of Japan|Japanese history]].<ref name="VJump"/>

[[Alexander O. Smith]], who played a major role in the [[Video game localization|English localizations of games]] developed and published by Square and later Square Enix like ''[[Vagrant Story]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', helped re-write translations written by a Japanese native translator for one of the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] ''Final Fantasy'' games in the 1990s. One of the notable errors he corrected prior to the game's release was the original in-game description for the Cactuar, which was [[Engrish|translated from Japanese to English]] as "It ejaculates needles!".<ref name="1UP"/>

For ''Final Fantasy XV'', the developer team noted that they had to make careful considerations on how to deal with the inclusion of comical or cute characters in a game designed to be more realistic than its predecessors. The Cactuar's physical texture and the depiction of the inside of its mouth was emphasized by the designers to make it more realistic as a type of wildlife in the game's world.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=''Final Fantasy XV: The Complete Official Guide Collector's Edition''|location=[[Tokyo, Japan]] |publisher=Piggyback |date=April 2016 |isbn= 978-1-90817-298-3}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
Cactuars are typically depicted having stiff arms and legs without hands or feet, three black dots on their faces (representing two eyes and an oblong mouth) and three yellow quills at the top of their heads. The Cactuar's silhouette resembles the Japanese [[卍]] symbol, pronounced as "manji", which is traditionally a holy and auspicious symbol in Japan.<ref name="Manji"/> Even in modern titles, they look and move in a puppet-like manner, balancing on one leg with the others bent at 90 degree angles. They are notoriously difficult to hit, and best known for their defensive attack, ''1000 Needles'' (also called ''Blow Fish''), which typically does exactly 1000 [[hit points]] of damage to an opponent, regardless of defenses.<ref name=":0" /> In other games, they possess an even more powerful ''10,000 Needles'' attack.<ref name=":1"/> Many Cactuar variants have appeared in various games, such as the Gigantender, a large, bulky Cactuar that looks more like a typical cactus.<ref name=":2" /> The Cactuar is usually depicted in a head-on pose without their backside visible, but in ''Final Fantasy XV'' they have been noted as having a prominent rear end when photographed from the back.<ref name=Arse/>

In ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'' there are three variants of the creature: the regular Cactuar, the Slactuar and the Gigantuar. The former two are regular enemies which are similar in appearance with a very low chance of [[Spawning (video games)|spawning]], and will attempt to run from the player characters when encountered. Gigantuar is found as part of an optional side quest in the game. All variants are difficult enemies in combat, but will yield a generous number of experience points and useful items when defeated.<ref name="FFXV"/>

== Appearances ==
In their first appearance in ''Final Fantasy VI'', Cactuars (called "Cactrots" in American translation of the game) are found in a small desert west of the town of Maranda in the World of Ruin. Most attacks (physical or otherwise) completely miss it, even though it only has 4 hit points, making it difficult to kill without the use of special items. They have since appeared in nearly every game in the series, and are occasionally featured as summonable allies or friendly NPC's. In ''[[World of Final Fantasy]]'', the main characters can travel by train which is operated by a character known as the Cactuar Conductor;<ref name="World"/> in one scene of the game which is framed as comic relief, the Cactuar Conductor eludes game protagonist Reynn while taunting her.<ref name="Review"/>

A [[Mod (video games)|mod]] which cosmetically alters NPC's in ''Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition'' into Cactuars was created and promoted by Square Enix as an example feature of full mod support for the game's PC version.<ref name=Essential/> Development manager Kenichi Shida indicated prior to the March 6, 2018 launch of ''Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition'' that the developmental team intended to introduce variants of the mod which enable players to [[Glossary of video game terms#S|customize the skins]] of in-game characters into other creatures such as Chocobos and Moogles at a later date, along with the public release of the game's modding tool.<ref name=Essential/> A cosmetic skin for sword-type weapons called the "Cactbar" mod is also available for download along with the Cactuar suit mod.<ref name="Cactbar"/>

Cactuars have also appeared in [[Crossover (fiction)|video game crossovers]], such as ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]'', and ''[[Dragon Quest X]]''. As part of the ''[[Monster Hunter: World]]'' cross-over event with ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' in 2018, Cactuars which appear in the battlefield could be used as environmental traps, and players may encounter cactuar cuttings or flowering cactuar cuttings.<ref name="Monster"/>

Matthew Adler from ''[[IGN]]'' noted that the Cactuar has appeared in 49 ''Final Fantasy'' games and 16 non-''Final Fantasy'' titles as of 2020.<ref name=":0"/>

== Promotion and merchandise ==
Like the Moogle and the Chocobo, the Cactuar has been subject to numerous licensed merchandise connected to the ''Final Fantasy'' theme, sometimes in collaboration with third parties such as [[Universal Studios Japan]] and [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] for the 2017 video game ''[[Everybody's Golf (2017 video game)|Everybody's Golf]]''. Examples of merchandise which feature the Cactuar as its iconography include caps, hooded jackets, stuffed toy key chains, [[Christmas]]-themed cakes, wedding confectionary, and so on.<ref name="JP"/><ref name="Gamer"/><ref name="Wedding"/><ref name="Cake"/> A Cactuar was featured as an inflatable ''Final Fantasy'' mascot decorating an officially sponsored [[Float (parade)|float]] for the 2019 [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]].<ref name="Mardi"/>

The Cactuar is included as an exclusive feature with special editions of the ''[[Final Fantasy VII Remake]]'' as a summoned ally, available via [[downloadable content]].<ref name="PCGamesN"/>

== Cultural impact ==
===Fandom===
[[File:Cactuar cosplayer at FanimeCon 2010-05-29.JPG|thumb|upright|A cosplayer in a Cactuar costume.]]
The Cactuar has been subject to [[cosplay]] and [[fan art]].<ref name="Tattoo"/> In August 2014, a Chinese man performed a [[marriage proposal]] stunt wearing a Cactuar costume in [[Beijing, China]].<ref name="Proposal"/>

===Critical reception===
The Cactuar has been well received, and often described as being an iconic element of the ''Final Fantasy'' franchise.<ref name="Table"/><ref name=PCG/><ref name="FFXV"/><ref name=":2"/> Jason Wilson of ''[[VentureBeat]]'' called the Cactuar his favorite video game monster, saying that, while "kinda cute", they "can be scary [...] especially when these cowardly creatures stick around instead of running away and launch its devastating ''1,000 Needles'' attack", also saying that they can easily cause a [[total party kill]].<ref name=":1" /> [[James Stephanie Sterling]] called the Cactuar "everybody's favorite perennial mascot" in a 2009 post published by ''[[Destructoid]]'', and praised its design for ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'' which was unchanged from previous iterations.<ref name="Sterling"/> Mike Fahey of ''[[Kotaku]]'' stated that the Cactuar is "one of ''Final Fantasy''{{'}}s most iconic creatures", and commented that the ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' Gigatender was "doing the best it can to live up to that legacy, bless its giant plant heart", also stating that they "are adorable enough that I just want to sit in The Fields of Amber and watch them nearly topple all day long".<ref name=":2"/> ''[[GameFan]]'' called the Cactuar "one of the most popular ''Final Fantasy'' enemies of all time, despite its inability to talk", saying "his ''1000 Needles'' attack can be quite painful if your characters don't have triple-digit hit points".<ref name=Gamefan/> In Darren Nakamura's review of ''World of Final Fantasy'' for ''Destructoid'', he found the Cactuar Conductor's antics to be funny, as the context of the Cactuars being reputed as "slippery jerks" is well known to the series' fandom.<ref name="Review"/>

The Cactuar-themed mods for ''Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition'' has received a varied reaction. Joe Donnelly from ''[[PC Gamer]]'' was excited by the mod and found the Cactuar costume to be cute.<ref name=PCG/> In a post which highlighted examples of players amusing themselves with ''Final Fantasy XV'' modded content, Brian Ashcraft from ''[[Kotaku]]'' featured the Cactuar mod as an example of the game's "delightful strange" mods.<ref name="Strange"/> On the other hand, Alex Avard from ''[[GamesRadar]]'' felt that the Cactuar costumes are adorable but "slightly creepy",<ref name="Table"/> whereas Zoe Delahunty-Light also from ''GamesRadar'' considered the Cactbar mod to be "bizarre".<ref name="Cactbar"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="VJump">{{cite magazine |editor=Kazuhiko Torishima |editor-link=Kazuhiko Torishima |title= Final Fantasy VII World Tettei Guide|magazine= [[V Jump]]|location=[[Tokyo, Japan]] |publisher=Shueisha|date=February 15, 1997 |language=ja}}</ref> 
<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Adler|first=Matthew|date=2020-04-06|title=Why Final Fantasy is the Biggest RPG Series of All Time|url=https://in.ign.com/final-fantasy-vii/146623/feature/why-final-fantasy-is-the-biggest-rpg-series-of-all-time|access-date=2020-10-20|website=IGN India|language=en-in}}</ref> 
<ref name="JP">{{cite web|last= 馬淵 |first=寛昭|date=February 8, 2018|title=モーグリの着ぐるみでチョコボに乗ろう「New みんなのGOLF」x「ファイナルファンタジー30周年記念」コラボ詳細決定！|url=https://jp.ign.com/new-mingol/21804/news/new-golfx30|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=IGN Japan|language=ja}}</ref> 
<ref name="Gamer">{{cite web|date=November 11, 2017|title=「ファイナルファンタジーXRライド」チョコボ、モーグリ、サボテンダーのパーク限定デザインキャラクターグッズが登場！|url=https://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201711110003/|access-date=November 6, 2020|work=Gamer Staff}}</ref>
<ref name="Mardi">{{cite web|last=Rizzo-Smith|first=Julian|date=March 6, 2019|title=Cosplay, Moogles And Making History: Experiencing The 'Final Fantasy' Mardi Gras Float|url=https://junkee.com/final-fantasy-mardi-gras-float/196364|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=Junkee|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref name="Wedding">{{cite web|last=Baseel|first=Casey|date=2014-05-19|title=Real-world 'Final Fantasy' wedding plan reservations start in Japan|url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/real-world-'final-fantasy'-wedding-plan-reservations-start-in-japan|access-date=May 29, 2019|website=Japan Today|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref name="Cake">{{cite web|last=Baseel|first=Casey|date=2014-05-19|title='Final Fantasy' Christmas cakes |url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/new-products/'final-fantasy'-christmas-cakes|access-date=December 10, 2017|website=Japan Today|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=GamesBeat Staff|date=2014-05-19|title=Godzilla ain't got nothing on the favorite monsters of the GamesBeat staff|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/05/19/favorite-video-game-monsters/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref name="1UP">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/squaresoft-localization?pager.offset=4 |author= Wesley Fenlon|title=The Rise of Squaresoft Localization
|date=April 28, 2011 |work=1UP.com |access-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602041117/http://www.1up.com/features/squaresoft-localization?pager.offset=4 |archive-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="FFXV">{{cite web|last=Donaldson|first=Alex|date=March 7, 2018|title=Final Fantasy 15: how to find and kill a Cactuar for massive experience|url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/07/final-fantasy-15-cactaur-how-to-find-and-kill-massive-experience/|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=VG247}}</ref>
<ref name="PCGamesN">{{cite web|last= Scott-Jones|first=Richard|date= June 19, 2019|title=The Cactuar and Carbuncle summons are in the Final Fantasy VII remake – as DLC|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/final-fantasy-vii-remake/ff7-remake-collectors-edition|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=PCGamesN}}</ref>
<ref name="Cactbar">{{cite web|last=Delahunty-Light|first=Zoe|date=March 9, 2018|title=This Final Fantasy 15 Windows Edition mod turns all NPCs into Cactuars (and ruins their table manners)|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/this-final-fantasy-15-windows-edition-mod-turns-all-npcs-into-cactuars-and-ruins-their-eating-habits/|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=GamesRadar}}</ref>
<ref name="Tattoo">{{cite web|last=Osborne|first=Joe|date= October 25, 2019|title=20 Tattoos Anyone With an Inner Nerd Will Appreciate|url=https://cafemom.com/lifestyle/222070-nerd-tattoos/316751-all_hail_the_cactuar|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=Cafemom}}</ref>
<ref name="Table">{{cite web|last=Avard|first=Alex|date=February 19, 2018|title=5 best Final Fantasy 15 PC mods to use right now, including a… Cactuar sword?!|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/final-fantasy-15-pc-mods/|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=GamesRadar}}</ref>
<ref name="PCG">{{cite web|last=Donnelly|first=Joe|date=February 17, 2018|title=Final Fantasy 15 teases mod support with civilian Cactuars
|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-15-teases-mod-possibilities-with-civilian-cactuars/|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
<ref name="Monster">{{cite web|last=Nunneley|first=Stephany|date= July 12, 2018 |title=Monster Hunter World cross-over event with Final Fantasy 14 dated – here's the details|url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/07/12/monster-hunter-world-cross-over-behemoth-final-fantasy/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=VG247}}</ref>
<ref name="World">{{cite web|last=Nunneley|first=Stephany|date=2015-09-25|title=These World of Final Fantasy screenshots feature some familiar faces|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/09/25/world-of-final-fantasy-ps4-vita/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=VG247}}</ref>
<ref name="Sterling">{{cite web|last=Sterling|first=Jim|date=November 19, 2009|title=Final Fantasy XIII Cactuar GET!|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/final-fantasy-xiii-cactuar-get--155542.phtml|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=Destructoid}}</ref>
<ref name="Review">{{cite web|last=Nakamura|first=Darren|date=November 22, 2016|title=Review: World of Final Fantasy |url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/review-world-of-final-fantasy-400385.phtml|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Destructoid}}</ref>
<ref name=":2">{{cite web|last=Fahey|first=Mike|date=2019-07-02|title=I Could Watch Final Fantasy XIV's New Big-Headed Cactuars Trying To Pose All Day|url=https://kotaku.com/i-could-watch-final-fantasy-xiv-s-new-big-headed-cactau-1836050782|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}}</ref>
<ref name="Proposal">{{cite web|last=Jou|first=Eric|date=August 21, 2014|title=Cactuar Proposes To Girlfriend |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/08/cactuar-proposes-to-girlfriend/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824122909/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/08/cactuar-proposes-to-girlfriend/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2014|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Kotaku Australia|language=en-us}}</ref>
<ref name="Strange">{{cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|date=January 25, 2018|title=Delightfully Strange Final Fantasy XV Mods
|url=https://kotaku.com/delightfully-strange-final-fantasy-xv-mods-1828850332|access-date=September 6, 2020|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}}</ref>
<ref name="Manji">{{cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|date=January 25, 2018|title=The Buddhist Swastika Becomes Popular Slang In Japan |url=https://kotaku.com/the-buddhist-swastika-becomes-popular-slang-in-japan-1822404738|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}}</ref>
<ref name=Gamefan>{{Cite journal|title=Final Fantasy Lore|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_12/page/n39/mode/2up?q=tonberry|journal=GameFan|volume=8|issue=12|pages=39|access-date=2020-10-21}}</ref>
<ref name=Arse>{{cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|date=2017-07-15|title=A Closer Look At Cactuar Arse|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/07/a-closer-look-at-cactuar-ass/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715070146/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/07/a-closer-look-at-cactuar-ass/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2017|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Kotaku Australia|language=en-AU}}</ref>
<ref name=Essential>{{cite web|last= Castle|first=Katharine |date=February 20, 2018|title=Mod support was "essential" for Final Fantasy XV's PC outing|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/20/final-fantasy-15-mod-support-essential/|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-AU}}</ref>
}}

{{Final Fantasy series}}

[[Category:Final Fantasy species]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:Plant mascots]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic plants]]
[[Category:Video game mascots]]
[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 1994]]