Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales

The Age

Thursday June 14, 2007

Jason Hill

Nintendo DS

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales

Square Enix, G, RRP $70

**1/2

Chocobos - large flightless birds resembling chickens - have been more usually encountered offering Final Fantasy adventurers safe and speedy passage across dangerous role-playing terrain. But in this flawed spin-off, the feathered steeds star in a lightweight adventure.

It's difficult to determine who Chocobo Tales is aimed at. The twee characters, dreary plot and repetitive mini-games will discourage veteran Final Fantasy players, but some of the game's challenges will be beyond many a youngster's grasp.

Your task is to free the chocobos imprisoned inside picture books (based on well-known fairy tales) by completing dozens of mini-games. Tasks include racing up a mountain while avoiding falling rocks, collecting coins quicker than your competitors, drawing trampoline-like leaves to propel your Chocobo up a beanstalk, and copying tunes in a musical Simon Says. Unfortunately, the mini-games are highly derivative and range from mildly enjoyable to tedious and boring.

Players are rewarded for skill and persistence with cards that can be used in entertaining duels against boss characters. Each card contains a monster to send into battle, and arranging your deck and trying to second-guess your opponent's next move is an entertaining diversion, even if the duels are slow-paced.

The trouble is, the best cards can only be obtained via prodigious performances in the mini-games, and so you must backtrack and replay games over and over again just to get a more powerful card to beat an opponent.

At least you can also play the mini-games or card battles against friends, which can drastically enliven even the dreariest contest. The presentation is also commendable, in particular the pop-up book interludes and the music cobbled from memorable Final Fantasy adventures. -- JH

© 2007 The Age

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