System: DS
Dev: Square Enix
Pub: Square Enix
Release: April 3, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Review by Amanda L. Kondolojy

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Controls are amazingly simple, and you use the stylus for everything. You'll be running around, making decks, and solving puzzles, all with the stylus, and it's very pleasantly uncomplicated. You won't even be touching your d-pad or buttons. You'll use your microphone from time to time for minigames, but that's the only time where the stylus is not your primary mode of control.

As far as the graphics are concerned, they're are absolutely beautiful. They really showcase what the DS is really capable of and should set the bar for other games on the DS. There are different graphical schemes in place for when you're in the world of the game and the world of the stories. The story world looks really unique because all the characters look like they're made with paper and colored with crayon (think Paper Mario meets Yoshi's Island). The world of the game is fully 3D and has lush and dynamic environments that range from a dark and mysterious forest to an intoxicating and scorching volcano.

The sound is absolutely wonderful and features some signature Final Fantasy tunes, as well as some new songs. Of course it's no surprise, given the real trend of quality Square-Enix has consistently given in the sound department, but it's always a little testy in the handheld market. It's definitely good that the songs become an unlockable portion of the main menu, because some of the melodies are rather infectious and demand to be replaced.

Overall, I would say that this game is absolutely wonderful. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Its premise is simple, as well as the gameplay, but it's all brought together in a way that's surprisingly complex. Don't be surprised if you find yourself completely unable to put this game down at the end of the day. It was definitely difficult for me.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

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Guys dig virtual chicks!
by Philip Hanan

Square Enix is taking the Final Fantasy series to the farm! This portable Final Fantasy game delivers all the completely untraditional Chocobo action that everyone doesn't know about and may not love.

The Chocobo Dungeon series played just like any other dungeon series and Chocobo Racing played like most kart racing games, but Chocobo Tales is unlike any RPG ever made. It's the first RPG to feature both mini-games and card battles.

Chocobo Tales tells multiple stories within one story. The main story involves an entire Chocobo farm getting sucked into a dark magical book. Some dark beings want to unleash an unstoppable evil upon the FF world and you, one of the Chocobos, must stop this being from be unleashed.

To do so, you must enter several stories in the book and make certain that the heroes of the story continue to win the battle against evil. All the stories in the dark book are based upon Aesop's Fables, but of course, feature FF character replacements. The race between Adamantoise and Cactaur is one such story. To complete these stories, you must win mini-games and even micro-games relating to the story. Some are puzzle games, some are mind-games, and others involve true 3D action and use of either the buttons or the stylus. Control is up to you the entire game as you can use only the buttons, only the stylus, or both. The microphone may be an option for some mini-games as well.

The settings in the game are very Paper-Mario-esque, only instead of being completely flat, the flat characters exist as pop-ups in the book. All Chocobo farm characters continue to maintain their 3D visuals, however.

This is very true for the card based boss battles. You and your opponent are designed in 3D, but your cards, located on the touch screen, are 2D and drawn in the style of a children's storybook art. The card battle system is simple to use, but the gameplay is somewhat complex. There are 120 different cards in the game, all with different characters from the FF series. You usually get to choose from three cards each turn. Each card has different colors, and it is best to attack your opponent with the same color he is using with his card. This allows for direct hits. Using the cards themselves is like summoning FFVII monsters repeatedly as the card players do not physically attack each other. The monsters will stay in battle similar to FFX, however, and will leave if defeated. It takes several monster vs. monster battles before an opponent is defeated. These card battle mini-games take place between every story.

Graphically, all the details in the game are the same, but the layout is different for each mode in the game. In the beginning, every character is drawn in 3D. After going inside the book, kiddie style hand drawn art is rampant and the book itself acts as the ground. Mini-games may or may not use the book settings for its game. Some may use a brand new screen with similar art, but no 3D hand drawn environment. Card battles feature a 3D background and summoners along with 2D summons.

The story is entertaining, but not very deep as it is focused on entertaining children. The strange thing is, only a few modern Final Fantasy games are rated E. Most focus on teen heroes and are written for teens. I guess those who played past Chocobo games or played FFIII for the DS will be attracted to this game.

Still, for those who are attracted because of the card battles and/or mini-games, I have good news. There are separate modes available from the start of the game that allow you to have some Wi-Fi competition, so you don't even have to sit through a kiddie story if you don't want.

It appears that young gamers who have some knowledge of the Final Fantasy world will appreciate this game. If you want to play a card based DS game, then try something actually focused on card battles the entire game like Yu-Gi-Oh or SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS. We'll have a hands-on review soon and learn whether or not kids will even enjoy this zany, not so traditional FF game.

By Philip Hanan
CCC Freelance Writer

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