Chocobo's Dungeon 2

For starters, Chocobo's Dungeon 2 lets two players partner in gameplay as they search several randomly generated dungeons that are full of traps, strange devices, and monsters, making the difficulty increase as the game progresses.

Players can combine armor or weapons to form stronger resources in their quest. There are also magic feathers that can aid in your efforts, since they allow gamers to perform magic spells that have an impact on combat. Between your dungeon travels, players are able to explore villages to obtain valuable clues for the journey. In addition, players can use this time to update Chocobo's inventory.

Overall, Chocobo's Dungeon 2 is a great game for players looking to get a start in role-playing games. This title is a safe entry point to this often-complex game genre. --Robb Guido

Pros:

• Randomly generated dungeons provide variety
• Armor and weapons can be combined to form stronger armor and weapons

• The story is not as engaging as those of other Squaresoft games

Many of the monsters and characters will be familiar to fans of the Final Fantasy series, with some in-jokes built in. For example, the Tonberry, who fights with a Chef's Knife in FF-VIII, is running a restaurant in this game, and has a drunken Malboro (FF monster) for a customer! You will also find Cid the eccentric inventor, the Black Mages, and Mog the Moogle, among others.

Chocobo himself, of course, is one of those chicken-like birds that the FF characters ride. That's why, in this game, his defensive armor is a saddle. Chocobo can also be equipped with various collars and claws. Different types of saddles and claws are put into special ovens to create customized weapons, similar to the way that armor and weapons are "tempered" in "Legend of Mana" (another Squaresoft game I recommend.) You can also combine other items at the "recycle boxes" to create new items.

When one of your customized saddles or claws breaks in battle, you may get a feather, which has various effects on your abilities. Different weapon combinations and levels produce different feathers. It pays to track down a copy of the Strategy Guide, so you can plan for which abilities you want to develop first.

My biggest complaint about this game is that, if you get KO'd in a dungeon, you lose all the items and equipment you had with you. This can be very frustrating, especially in the beginning, when you can't carry much in the way of healing items. As the game progresses, however, you can rent storage space in town, where you stash extra items that won't be lost in a KO. You will also get "teleport tags" that enable you to beam out of the dungeon at any time WITHOUT losing your items.

The battle system itself is different from the regular FF games, and takes some getting used to. Each time you make a move, the enemy makes a counter-move. If you don't move, both of you just stand there. Think of this as an online version of the old D&D games, where players took turns rolling dice in the battles, and it will make sense. The big advantage is that you can stop right in the middle of a battle if you need to think about what spell or item to use next. You can even teleport out of a battle if you are about to get KO'd. When you do this, you have to start the dungeon over, but you keep your items and experience points.

After you have beat the game once, let the credits roll, and you can play another version of the game -- with new dungeons and the ability to fight as other characters besides Chocobo. Plus, there are some new abilities to earn and a Secret Dungeon with 30 levels!


This Game   July 14, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This game is based on a Chocobo that travels an adventure through dungens with a mog and meets new friends. This Chocobo, A bird type animal, learns magic and finds new wepons, which are claws. There are pots that one can mix two wepons to make a better one. When a high level claw is broken a feather is gained which can be use to summon a summon. There are also potions that heal when the Chocobo is low on health This is a very good game for Chocobo Final Fantasys Fans.


A great game to get   August 8, 2001
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is one of the best chocobo games. the CGI on the game is just great and the storyline is one of the best I've seen so far, like all the other chocobo games it's short but very fun. And when you beat the game and let the credits go you get to play a different game. This game is a must get for all Chocobo fans


Relief from and refreshment of Final Fantasy.   May 21, 2000
 12 out of 17 found this review helpful

Since Thousand Arms took up about 3 weeks of my Playstation time, I didn't get around to playing Chocobo's Dungeon for a long while after I bought it. Totally unexpecting, I decided to try it out because I needed a break from Thousand Arms.

Chocobo's Dungeon is a very fun game with very cute graphics. The movies are very 3D and the music is very appealing. The system of battle is a big relief from people who dislike constant flow of battle, and Final Fantasy lovers will classify this game immediately as a Final Fantasy game for the younger audiences. This game is addicting and fun. Once you figure out a healthy system for attacking the dungeons, you'll be able to play through the game without getting confused. Overall a very fun game!


Lightweight RPG offers lightweight fun.   April 26, 2000
 15 out of 18 found this review helpful

If you're looking for an epic role-playing game that will consume months of your life with a grandiose storyline, this is not going to fill that need. But if you're looking for an RPG that's good in short bursts and won't last you too long, "Chocobo's Dungeon 2" wouldn't be a bad choice.

No, don't go scouring your stores - we in US never got the first "Chocobo's Dungeon." Besides, it's not like the plot is really that complex anyway.

The chocobo (which, if you've never played a "Final Fantasy" game before, is like a giant chicken that's commonly used as a mount) goes into a dungeon with his friends to try and save the world. Simple, but then again, it's supposed to be.

See, this series from Squaresoft is aimed at the younger audiences to help them break into the complex world of RPGs without having to do it the really hard way. The combat system's rudimentary, but functional, as is the magic system.

The graphics are also rounded and, well, cute. Everything has a superdeformed look to it (big heads, little bodies) and even the sound effects are reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons.

While the Dungeon games may be aimed at younger folk, it doesn't mean that they're no fun for big kids, because Squaresoft makes sure their games are challenging for everyone, and even the most hardened veteran of RPGs will have trouble finishing "Chocobo's Dungeon 2" in under 20 hours.

Beyond that, the game offers a second set of quests after you finish the first one, to give the game that much more longevity.

And, in some ways, it's a nostalgia trip for old Squaresoft fans, for them to see some of the characters of old Squaresoft games who have been MIA for a while.

So whether or not you want to get into "Chocobo's Dungeon 2" really depends on the experience you're looking for.

If you've finished "Final Fantasy VIII" and looking to cut your teeth on another hardcore RPG, either go get "Saga Frontier 2" or the epic and intense "Front Mission 3."

If you're looking for cute adventuring fun in short bursts, this will do just fine.

--Cliff Hicks