Chocobo GP

Chocobo GP is a solid kart racer that includes familiar gameplay mechanics and even adds a few welcome extras that give this game its own flavour. However, despite Final Fantasy’s long list of some of gaming's finest locations and characters, Chocobo GP has a surprising lack of content compared to other games in the same price range.

Chocobo GP brings us back to the world of go-kart racing with these famous Square-Enix characters and what we have here is a fun game with a huge cast and a very motivating main campaign with plenty of content to unlock and a well implemented online multiplayer component. It takes a considerable amount of time to unlock every single item but what's on offer here is a very wide and long-lasting game that will certainly make fans happy.

Chocobo GP is built for fun but needs time and some more attention before it can really take the pole position.

It doesn’t make a good first impression, but there’s a lot to like about Chocobo GP. It may not be as finely-tuned as the genre’s king, but there’s a lot more depth and nuance to the game than there first appears, especially in the 64-player tournaments that are the centrepiece. At the very least, its goofy sense of humour, playful jabs at Final Fantasy’s legacy, and the endearing nature of the Chocobo spinoff series create a delightful atmosphere that’s perfect for some kart racing shenanigans.

Chocobo GP does some things that Nintendon’t, offering a Story mode and a more stimulating item system than the untouchable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However only Final Fantasy veterans (and their kids) need apply, as it relies heavily on nostalgia—and season pass grinding.

Chocobo GP has a charming story and the tournament is sure to keep you occupied for many hours. It’s a great first foray into the world of Final Fantasy for young gamers.

Chocobo GP feels like a game that wants to be Mario Kart with Final Fantasy, but it simply doesn’t have the creativity or mechanical chops to back it up. There are certainly worse racers out there, but unless you’re the type of Final Fantasy fan who’s really into games like Theatrhythm or Dissidia that celebrate the franchise at the expense of quality gaming, you’re not going to get a whole lot out of Chocobo GP.

Chocobo GP is a lot of fun and manages to stand on its own especially if you focus your attention on the online mode. However, the fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe exists on the same console and that it replicates so much of its formula ends up taking its toll in the long run.

Chocobo GP fares better than most Mario Kart competitors, delivering a rough-around-the-edges experience that's still fundamentally fun most of the time. Its weaknesses and frustrations, though — combined with the incoming deluge of new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tracks — will likely limit its audience.

The story may be wafer thin, and the rubber banding still brutal at times, but there’s a lot of charm in Chocobo GP, and lots of fun to be had. Square-Enix intends to continue supporting the game into the future with the likes of Cloud and Squall all on track to become available to players post launch, so there’s hope that unlike its predecessor, Chocobo GP isn’t an easily forgotten flash in the pan. Despite plenty of rough edges, this is a race worth being a part of.

Chocobo GP is a charming racing game, but with a huge problem called Mario Kart 8. The Square Enix clone is far away from being a bad game and with its relation to the Final Fantasy universe probably more appealing for some gamers than Nintendo's genre top dog. But there is no other aspect, Chocobo GP is better or even close to its paragon. So the truth is, you need to be heavily bored of Mario Kart, being able to consider Chocobo GP as a strongly useful alternative.

Chocobo GP takes up the speech abandoned by SquareSoft in the late 90s and brings to light the official kart racer dedicated to the Final Fantasy franchise. It revives the concept of Story Mode, expands its roster of characters and makes some changes to the basic idea - introducing an interesting variation of online multiplayer. This, however, is not enough, because the real limits of Chocobo GP are the scarcity of its offer (which will expand in the future) and the sufficiency with which the available circuits have been created. It's okay to be a title aimed primarily at an extremely young audience, but the few and boring tracks are an obvious obstacle to fun and cripple the personality of a game that, at least on paper, could have had its say.

Chocobo GP isn’t the Chocobo racer from my past, but it is just as whimsically unique as ever. I’m still unsure if it’s a game for children or older Final Fantasy fans; maybe it falls somewhere between. There’s some balance needed, and the tracks have no identity, but you’re playing a game where a bird is wearing rollerblades, so find fun in that. Just be sure to turn down the volume when you get to the menu; oh god, now the song is stuck in my head again.

If you’re looking for a serviceable racer to play on the side that’s full of old school unlocks it’s a fine option; provided you can get past a few hurdles.

It’s crazy to believe that I can be down on a game that is really fun to play both offline and online. Somehow, Square-Enix has thrown so many things into the game that either you must pay for, or grind for weeks to unlock. It wouldn’t be that big of an issue if it was just cosmetic items, but characters who have different stats and special moves that could possibly throw the advantage to the player that paid money. I just can’t get on board with that. Still, there is a free version of the game for anyone to play and see how they feel about the game. If you enjoy it enough to spend some money, you can, just keep in mind, this game can be really fun, but the grind can be real.

Chocobo GP is a fun game. It is, yes, "more of the same". It doesn't introduce any super elaborate or even new mechanics, it just recycles everything that the games of the genre already bring to the time. But it's fun, familiar and… cute. Of course, how enjoyable the game is can depend a lot — also — on how much of a fan of the Final Fantasy franchise you are. It's easy to be convinced by the cuteness of the characters (Chocobos!!!!) and have fun with the game. It's not a phenomenal game, but it can give you a few hours of fun, especially if you're playing with family or friends.

Chocobo GP has the makings of a great kart racer with its diverse cast of specialized racers, excellent power-up combos, and terrific visuals. However, uninspired track design and excessive microtransactions mar the experience.

Overall, Chocobo GP has a lot to offer for an alternative to such kart-based staples like Mario Kart. It’s vibrant, offers a good experience with slight variations on the genre’s norms. What lets it down, however, is the price point and reliance on microtransactions/season passes to experience the full game. If you’re a die-hard Final Fantasy fan then I recommend it, for everyone else there’s Mario Kart.

There are too many good competitors out there for the game to stand out. The one thing Chocobo GP has over its competitors is Final Fantasy, and that's something the developers have completely failed to make full use of.

Chocobo GP is a wonderful controlling Final Fantasy-themed kart racer held back by a lack of content and uncomfortable monetization. When you’re in the zone, playing a race, you’ll be sure to have a great time. However, it’s hard to give the game an outright recommendation when all the fun is locked behind a story mode that is easy to bounce off of. There’s also a strange lack of QoL in vital areas and a menu that presents its modes in an unintuitive way. It’d be nice to see Chocobo GP make a comeback from its messy launch. There’s potential here, and a brilliant Kart Racer underneath the monetization. Your mileage will vary on how much they impede enjoyment in the short term.

Once again, Square Enix has failed. Although Chocobo GP comes up with a couple of interesting ideas, the execution of this racing game just doesn't quite hit the mark.

Chocobo GP is basically a good game, just a bit low on content, with only a few interesting races. Also, the business model is all over the place.

Missed opportunity to make the first real Mario Kart challenger. Chocobo GP in theory has it all, it works great, it has a popular franchise as a basis, but the free to play model and a bunch of microtransactions undo all that.

Chocobo GP is a totally fine kart racer, featuring a good deal to unlock and more than 20 characters. This isn’t the new gold standard for the genre, but it’s still a fun ride, especially with the syrupy sweet story and good deal of Final Fantasy references. The true potential is in the potential of the titular Chocobo GP mode, which is also the stand-out feature for the entire game. The fact it’s accessible with the Lite mode might give it a longer tail. Some of the season pass content rubs me the wrong way, but the base game is satisfying enough that it’s a good time even if you don’t shell out real-world money to race as Cloud.

The races can be fun under the right circumstances, but it will get repetitive fast and the annoying menu music will never get any better. It’s likely that many things will be addressed such as the lack of variety in tracks as it seems possible more will be added down the line. Right now at release, however, Chocobo GP is utterly barebones and pales in comparison to so many other kart racers before it. It’s a disgrace to see this title even released how it has, especially when Mario Kart 8 is getting a DLC expansion that’s half the price in a little under a week. To give credit where credit is due, Ben the Behemoth is a cute character that would probably have an adorable plushie worth buying, but it’s not enough to make Chocobo GP worth picking up for anyone.

A fun and charming funracer. It stands to question though why you’d need this game when there’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which does everything Chocobo GP does, but better.

Chocobo GP is a real blast from the past. Somehow, however, it seems to ignore the modern standards, resulting in a game that feels -and possibly is- incomplete. Don’t really be discouraged; it can be perfect for families with young children, who are looking for a child-friendly experience, and it can provide enough amusement to justify a purchase.

Chocobo GP has many good ideas and is full of potential, but it lacks ambition, which results in a game that relies too much on its franchise.

Chocobo GP could’ve been a simple kart racer that draws players in with beloved characters and tracks from the history of Final Fantasy, but instead, Square Enix boldly chose to make a sequel to an unpopular PS1 game. Bolder still was the choice to gate the promise of a more interesting game behind season passes and premium currencies. Mechanically, Chocobo GP is sound, and has enough ideas and potential to stack up to other franchise racers. However, I’m anxious to see how long this game lasts after release. There’s every chance it’ll develop a loyal playerbase large enough that Square will continue to support it, and maybe even rebalance the game to make that price of entry less steep. But as it stands, I don’t think Chocobo GP offers enough at launch to justify the effort and money required to keep playing it.

Chocobo GP has a lot of decent ideas with its Magicite attacks, and a large roster of recognisable characters that each have their own unique ability. You can play a good chunk of the game for free, and Square Enix promises Season Pass DLC, but racing as Cloud Strife won’t shift the bad taste from unimaginative race tracks Chocobo GP has to offer. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass may not be far away, and this won’t do the Final Fantasy kart racer spin-off any favours, but the free version of Chocobo GP offers a mediocre alternative to Nintendo’s crown jewel with plenty of modes to enjoy, even if the road is a little on the bumpy side.

It’s safe to say that Chocobo GP doesn’t out-do Mario Kart, but then I don’t think anyone would ever really expect it to. Most players, myself included, will simply choose this title because they love Final Fantasy, not because they think it’s going to be GOTY material. It’s a fun kart racer that you can easily while away your time with, but ultimately brings nothing groundbreaking to the genre. If you’re looking for a Final Fantasy fix, it might not quite hit that sweet spot for you, at least, not until you hand over your hard-earned gil for the season pass.

Chocobo GP is a playable Kart racer. I wish I could say it was an enjoyable one. The attacks/obstacles are too punishing; there aren't enough tracks that scream to be played over and over, awkward controls and some yet-unpriced IAP and 'Prize Passes'. The Story Mode offers some funny moments with plenty of FF winks and nods in the goofiest ways, but completing it is a frustrating experience. Try out Chocobo GP Lite before putting any cash down on this game.

Chocobo GP made me realise how great of a game Chocobo Racing is. The new graphics and online component are indeed cool but 1999's racer is simply more fun with its challenging gameplay, unique tracks, and tighter controls. In fact, I think I'll boot it up now.

Chocobo GP is not armed enough to compete with Mario Kart. Beyond the limited number of circuits, it is above all their failed design that makes racing boring. The driving also lacks finesse and the races become a real mess. It's not enough to place items and vehicles on a track for the magic to work; it also takes a good dose of mastery to find a good balance, something that Square Enix will never have been able to find.

Like other reviewers and players, I too really wanted to like Chocobo GP. But in the end, it's lackluster gameplay, weird design choices and absolutely despicable microtransactions make it a subpar experience - even if I my time with it had its moments.

Chocobo GP copies the work of better kart racers while fundamentally missing the mark on what makes them great. It delivers entertaining Final Fantasy fanservice that's at least two decades too late for the one audience that might still find the fun it and tacks on microtransactions to boot. It's functional and sometimes fun but otherwise not worth your time.

Chocobo GP offers up some fantastic core racing mechanics that are otherwise held back by a lacklustre offering of content. Hampered by tedious progression systems and typical microtransaction practices, Chocobo GP barely makes it past the finish line to be the best kart racer it could be.

The amalgamation of ways of trying to monetise and squeeze Chocobo GP tears to shreds a game that can be fun, but fails to deliver a complete experience that has to be rebuilt on the back of cash.

What could potentially be one of the best kart games out there is sadly plagued by a heavy microtransaction system. We say "could“ because even if there were no microtransactions, many other elements would need a lot more polish. This is especially obvious when it comes to a not so great track design and clunky driving. Yet if you are a huge fan of the series and don’t mind spending some additional money on the game you’ve already paid for, give this one a go. There are still things to love in this package.

Overall, Chocobo GP has a lot to offer players, but the sheer amount of in-app purchases and popular characters being locked behind a paywall is frustrating after buying the game itself. It has potential, but these issues need sorting.

There’s a good game in Chocobo GP somewhere, hidden between the balancing problems and microtransactions. Hopefully one day it’ll be able to emerge, free of the troubles that are bringing it down. Until then though, it’s hard to recommend. If you don’t mind forking out for the game and then a Battle Pass or two down the road you might get some enjoyment out of it, but you’ll have to be committed to the grind, and fairly patient with the gameplay. Perhaps give it a try first – a free Lite version is available so you can at least get a taste of the action without spending any money.

While it might not be to the level of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but Chocobo GP definitely earns its spot as a must-play on the platform IF the microtransaction system was removed. Square Enix has come out and said they are listening to fan feedback and will try to tone the system down. However at the time of this review, Square Enix has not pushed through that update. This makes it tricky to recommend Chocobo GP at this exact moment. There’s a lot of fun to be had and I genuinely would continue playing this game. Yet I would strongly caution those interested in the title to hold out until the microtransaction system is fixed. By then progression will be as it should be and actually reward you for playing. Until then, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just got new content…

This kart racer plays very nicely and there is also a lot to unlock, which makes it a fun title in its own right. Were it not that the game is riddled with microtransactions and the number of circuits is low. On top of that, there is an unbalanced power-up system and the paid content feels superfluous, making it very disappointing in practice. The core is good, but it falls short in several other areas.

For all its stunning vistas and fun-filled stories, Chocobo GP just doesn’t have the sparkle that it needs to propel it to the top. Plagued by poor handling, dull tracks, and a microtransaction system that will have players arguing until the cows (or chocobos) come home, the game lacks the finesse of competitors and doesn’t really give players much reason to dive back in. Unfortunately, Chocobo GP will likely gather dust in my Switch library while I return to the likes of Mario Kart – and it’s a shame, because I really, really wanted to love it.

While Chocobo GP feels very much like a Mario Kart clone, it would do the Nintendo game a major disservice to call these titles equal. Square Enix has a polished game here that races rather well, and its surprising difficulty will challenge racing veterans. However, it is just too cluttered with junk to enjoy. Its lacking story mode can be overlooked easily enough by most, but its limited local co-op will make it a no-go for plenty. But if you're strictly in this for moogles and magic, well – Chocobo GP might not be so bad.

Chocobo GP is a kart racing game that lacks its own identity. It copies a lot of things from Mario Kart, but it lacks its own fun ideas. In addition, you may encounter crashes and other technical bugs.