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Once Upon a Time...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 26
Date: April 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Coming to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales was actually somewhat awkward at first. Final Fantasy spin offs are usually hit or miss. On one hand there are spin offs like Final Fantasy Tactics that are absolutely amazing. On the other hand you have games like Dirge of Cerberus that aren't exactly wonderful, and then you've got the downright horrible like the Chocobo Dungeon games. So you can't blame Final Fantasy fans for being skeptical when the next spin off comes around. Thankfully, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales isn't a bad experience at all. It's just too bad that the kiddie look and feel of this game will probably turn older, more experienced Final Fantasy fans away.

In Chocobo Tales, your buddies have been sucked into an evil book and turned into cards. In the process the book also managed to suck up a bunch of fables. Now these fables have been scattered across the land and so you'll need to go into these fables and complete the stories. Completing the fables opens up new routes in your adventures. Completing fables also might help you save some of your friends, or they'll net you cards for the boss battles.

Progressing through the adventure itself is no arduous task. The game is pretty straightforward, and the fables are mini-games. These mini-games are not frustrating at all. They're really simple to pick up on and play actually. Most of them are very well designed as well, taking complete advantage of the touch screen controls to have you perform certain tasks. Even better, the progress in difficulty is exactly how a game of this caliber should be. The game starts off pretty easy, but as you get further the mini-games become more difficult to master. But they still maintain being fun and intuitive without making you want to smash something.

As noted above, there's a card battling system in this game. These are moments where you'll face off against the games bosses. It's so simple to play. You create a deck of cards, and you hold three in hand. Whoever plays their card first will deal damage first. There are certain complexities to battling with cards, though. Cards require crystals to play in battle. If you have no crystals, however, the card doesn't really do anything. Still there is an emphasis on strategy seeing as how you need to be fast. It seems complicated, but in the long run it's pretty simple to pick up on, just like every other mini game here. There are hundreds of cards in Chocobo Tales, so collecting each and every one in and of itself is a quest. And you'll especially want to when you discover the wonderful world of wi-fi.

The mini-games aren't just to be played throughout your adventure either. You'll be able to play these games with friends or online. It uses the DS download play so only one person needs to actually own the game, and as long as you've got a wi-fi connection, you'll be able to play online against other people.

In addition to the games mini-games there are also micro games. These games don't have to be completed to advance the storyline, but doing so can net you some rare cards for your collection. Much like the mini-games, the micro games are easy to pick up on and fun to play.

Graphically, Chocobo Tales is gorgeous looking. There aren't that many games out there that take advantage of the Nintendo DS's 3D capabilities, but when a game does, it's usually not a bad feat, and that's exactly what's happened here. The games graphics are on par with Final Fantasy III, except in this game it looks smoother and the art design just works better. Not only that, but there are countless Final Fantasy references to be found throughout the game. If you're a die-hard Final Fantasy fan, the references to the main series itself can--even for the die-hard fan--be overwhelming! Yet its enjoyable. The music is also really good and charming. You'll recognize some tunes from the Final Fantasy games, and there are some original tunes here that also sound really good. In truth, this is a high quality Nintendo DS game.

Chocobo Tales probably won't appeal to most Final Fantasy fans, and that's rather sad because it's actually a really fun, really good game. If you can get past the kiddie storyline and appeal, you're in for a real treat, and even the storyline isn't all that bad as you get deeper into the game. In fact, it's rewarding. There's not a whole lot that holds this game down really. If anything, there are some mini-games that just aren't great, but that's to be expected in a game that's packed full of mini-games. The other is simply that the game isn't all that long.

Despite these small shortcomings, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is a promising game that Final Fantasy fans will love and enjoy.

On the Positive Side

+There's actually an interesting story here
+Simple mini-games, that are easy to pick up on
+Simple course of gameplay
+Tons of Final Fantasy references for fans of the series
+Great soundtrack
+Fantastic visual art style

On the Negative Side
-Some mini games aren't great, but in a game full of mini-games you couldn't possibly expect all of them to be good, could you?
-It's too bad that many gamers will be turned off by the games "kiddie" appeal and nature
-The game is on the short side

Not too bad at all

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: April 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The first thing you may notice about Final Fantasy Fables is that even though it bears the Final Fantasy name, this game is pretty much aimed at kids. That being said, what's to be found here with Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is actually pretty good. Pretty much a collection of card battles and mini-games to go along with some tried but true Final Fantasy stule gameplay, Chocobo Tales puts you in the role of the feathered, friendly animal that's become a mainstay of the series over the years. As far as the story goes, you get sucked into a book and have to progress through the various challenges to get back out. Throughout the game, you'll play through various mini-games and card challenges with a fairy tale flavor, which gets accelerated even more thanks to the game's uniquely charming look which is a very nice blend of 2-D and 3-D. Most of the mini-games are fun, and the card games are surprisingly even more fun and can be played via the DS' Wi-Fi capabilities. The only downsides to Chocobo Tales are that some of the mini-games aren't very fun, besides the card games, only microgames can be played via the Wi-Fi, and the overall look of the game may be a turn off for older players. All that aside, thanks to it's charming appearance and addictively fun multiplayer, Chocobo Tales is definitely a pleasent surprise that Final Fantasy fans young and old should check out.

Better than I thought it would be!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: April 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I must say that I am a 33-year-old female DS user, and a mom to 2 boys (ages 10 and 7) who also have their own DS system. We all have a copy of this game. I didn't think that I would like the card-based battle system but I thought that I would give it a try, if only to be able to play multi-player with them. First of all, the game is absolutely adorable and the graphics are great. It's fun to see all of the Final Fantasy characters in a kid-friendly setting (we all liked Kingdom Hearts, too). The card-based play turned out to be really easy to get the hang of with this game. The mini-games can be tough for those of us who are beyond our best years of hand/eye coordination (but, hey, I rolled Asteroids when I was 8). I'm a bit behind the boys, but getting through the game anyway.

Square delivers on mini-games as per usual

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game brings in a lot of classic Final Fantasy characters and music. Its great for nostalgia, and a solid addition to any Square / Enix collection.

Final Fantasy: A lovable brand name

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

At first I was a little skeptical with the whole "storybook" approach. After the first few mini-games though I became hooked. All the main mini-games are a lot of fun, plus there are tons of other sidequest mini-games. The card duel style is interesting but nonetheless fun. I think any Final Fantasy fan would enjoy all of the references to classic monsters and characters. The games are fun, and some are suprisingly challenging to fully unlock. Overall I give this game a 4/5.

Kid-Friendly Fun with a Few Issues

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Final Fantasy Fables - Chocobo Tales takes the intriguing world of Final Fantasy and turns it into a young kid friendly mixture of minigames and simple storyline.

Where most other Final Fantasy games involve storylines and in-game management that might be too complex for the younger set, with Final Fantasy Fables - Chocobo Tales we have a storyline that is very sanitized and gentle. Perhaps my only real complaint here is that they make fun of a friend they call "chubby" who likes to eat all the time. I'm sorry, if I saw a bunch of kids constantly making fun of a kid and calling him "Chubby", I'd be less than pleased. There'd be a real outcry if the characters were making ethnic slurs about kids, but apparently picking on the overweight is great fun.

You've got friends to save, cards to collect, and books to jump into. The books have a moral-promoting story and then related games to play. The games, again, are on a non-violent, child-friendly level. Given that pleasant situation, I was a little sad to find that the difficulty level of the games seem to vary wildly. Some games are incredibly easy to "win" - gamers of all level of skill do so easily. Other games are so difficult that even very experienced gamers find them nigh on impossible.

The graphics are an intriguing attempt at mixing 2D and 3D graphics. Sometimes it works reasonably well - but sometimes the developers do a poor job at laying out their screen. Things that appear easy to get to are actually impossible - while in other situations items that you should go to aren't drawn well enough to see. With this being a game geared at beginner gamers, it can become quite frustrating.

I do appreciate that this is a basic game that will help to lure in gamers unfamiliar with the Final Fantasy genre, helping them pick up the basics of the characters and card game style without having to spend months memorizing sphere grids or skill trees. I'm all for adult gamers and experienced gamers enjoying simple-style games. I adore Paper Mario, still enjoy Adventure with its duck-dragons, and love puzzle games that all ages can enjoy.

So while I think the concept here is great, they should have done some more work on the testing phase to work out the kinks with the graphics and mini-games. Perhaps a next version will be worthy of five stars to me, but I'll give this one four for coming close.

loved it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

tons of mini games, not too easy, not too hard, just right! awesome game.

Not Just A Kid's Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: July 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Chocobo Tales is a highly rewarding and surprising game. Because of the cute design, I expected it to be very easy, and was afraid it would be a failure like FF Tactics Advance. I couldn't have been more wrong! This game meets and far exceeds expectations.
The story isn't much to look at, it's true. Basically, by restoring power to the crystals containing water, fire, earth, and lightning, you're trying to halt and defeat the evil lord of darkness, Bebuzzu. His servant Irma (though she doesn't see herself that way) does her best to use her chocobo minions and put a damper on your plans. Your friends Shirma, Croma and Cid, as well as your chocobo pals, help you along the way.
The gameplay is innovative and fun. There are lots of classic FF enemies, as well as songs redone from various different FF games (the music is great), so it's a good pick for FF fans. But even if not, Chocobo Tales has plenty to offer. There are three different types of gameplay as you travel though the island: card battles, minigames, and microgames.
Cards are collected through minigames and microgames. Minigames are found inside of picture books, and must be played to further the story. They involve things like building houses from puzzle pieces, swimming through underwater caves to escape Leviathan, and correctly replaying music. There are many picture books, each with its own story and game.
Microgames are the one spot where the game gets HARD. They were put there for people who are looking for a challenge, and they deliver. There are always two requirements to beat: silver and gold. For each you get a card. Silver is generally pretty easy. But often, gold is ridiculously hard to defeat. They seem to know exactly what amount of points/time/etc. it takes to make winning seem impossible! But when you finally win it's very rewarding.
Card battles are somewhat complicated, but still easy to learn. Each card has a different color - red, yellow, green, blue, or gray - and different attributes. Elements do take effect; for example, lightning (yellow) will usually have a defense against water (blue). Gray is colorless, but more powerful. The battles are a combination of luck and strategy.
Sadly, you encounter less than 10 battles in the game. However, once you've gotten the professional deck you can battle using the Wi-Fi connection, which randomly picks an opponent in the world and lets you get to it. Being good at mini and microgames and choosing your deck intelligently will make these battles a lot easier.
The graphics are spectacular. The game melds a drawn style similar to Okami and Paper Mario with 3D computerization. The 3D look is given to the island you're traveling around, and the drawn look is reserved for the inside of picture books and the monsters in card battles. It makes the game very interesting to look at.
Overall, Chocobo Tales is a surprisingly wonderful game! In my opinion, it's the best FF game to come out since FFT. It's nowhere near as complex, pretty, or popular as FFX or something, but I think it's much more perfect. I enjoyed it a lot. I've played over 20 hours and I still haven't managed to beat all of the minigames! I recommend for gamers of all ages.

Hint: At the ending credits, don't just sit there! There's still another game to be played!

Note: If you're looking for another good RPG, Etrian Odyssey is getting 5 star reviews everywhere for being old-style and neato.

not as expected

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: July 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

was not that fun compared to other rpg game, it can do a lot better. i guess i thought it'll be more like ffiii so i was disappointed when i played it.

Chocobos are tooo awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: September 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I didnt really know what to expect from this game, other than it being really cutesy. But after playing it for an hour, i realized this game is a lot of fun, esp. if you other friends who play it too! Pop-up card dueling is fun, and the mini-games add entertainment to the story. Stories in this game are *Final Fantasized* so be ready to chuckle a bit. Recommended indeed!

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