Posted on: July 14, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Besides the moogle, I cannot think of another animal in Final Fantasy that players would honestly like to be more than the Chocobo. “Chocobo’s Dungeon” is the first game that allows the individual to do just that, while breaking free of the traditional gaming style that is present in the main line of Final Fantasy games. Sure, there are a number of elements that are similar from Final Fantasy XI to Chocobo’s Dungeon, but the game play experience in Chocobo’s Dungeon is so much richer and more varied than practically any other RPG currently on the market.

This is due to the fact that the dungeons are randomly generated, but also because players’ frustrations are lessened through the fact that death of a character just brings them to the beginning of the dungeon, without popping up the dreaded “game over” screen or removing every single item from your character. Furthermore, the presence of the card game option allows individuals from all across the world to compare their decks in an online multiplayer that will ensure that the game’s replay value is some of the highest in the genre. This means that while there are jobs present just as there have been in games like Final Fantasy A2, there are mini games present that venture bravely into Wario Ware and Digimon domains. The plot of Chocobo’s Dungeon revolves around Cid and Chocobo, who have stumbled upon the city of Lostime. They quickly realize that those that have lived in Lostime continually forget the entirety of their memories each time the tower bell in the city rings.

For individuals that liked the game play and story of Chocobo’s Dungeon, Square Enix has revealed that they will actually bring this title to the DS later this year, adding an entirely new story line for Cid and adding some additional functionality to the title. The varied styles and types of game play may draw this title away from the archetypal RPG, but Square Enix has made this into a title that will have something for everyone, no matter how old or experienced that player may be. Here’s to hoping that further releases on the Wii will continue to expand on the console’s unique qualities, as well as link these new styles of game play with the quality and abilities that Square Enix games have been known for.

Rating: 8.0/10

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon (Wii) / 2008 Square Enix / http://www.square-enix.com /

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