Chocobo GP Critic Reviews

It's hard to stay mad at Chocobo GP, though, even when you're hit with what feels like an endless barrage of magic. The game's just too bright and cheerful. Obviously, your mileage is going to depend on whether you're a fan of Chocobo. Not just Final Fantasy, but also this specific series of cute mascot characters. If you are, though, you couldn't ask for a more loving treatment. The expansive roster, the adorable presentation, and the quality kart racing mechanics will combine to give you something that you just might prefer over Mario Kart. The latter might be a bigger and tighter racing experience, but Chocobo GP has a killer weapon up its sleeve that makes all the difference: Chocobo.

Chocobo GP recollects the legacy of Chocobo Racing, proving to be a solid and fun kart game with the undeniable added value given by being set in the Final Fantasy universe. With famous locations from different chapters of the series and iconic characters, anyone who loves the Japanese series will instantly feel at home. It isn't easy to find originality in a kart game, it's inevitable to learn from the masterpieces of the genre but Chocobo GP doesn't lack a personality of his own and this has to be noted. We are not saying that the yellow feathered bird has surpassed the mustachioed Italian plumber but those looking for an alternative after the years spent on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will not be left disappointed, the only shame is the fact that there are just a few limited number of circuits available that we hope will be increased with the already announced post launch support.

Chocobo GP is a delightful surprise from Square Enix, a slick and addictive effort that serves up chaotic kart racing action featuring a generous roster of Final Fantasy characters battling it out on well-designed tracks inspired by locations from across the franchise's history. Yes, the story mode may be a bit of a misfire, but with plenty of other single player content to dig into and the promise of 64-player carnage via the online Chocobo GP mode, this is one of the most polished and entertaining kart racers currently available on Switch and, with a free Lite version dropping at launch, you've got nothing to lose by checking it out for yourself before committing to a purchase.

Chocobo GP is a really great flavor for the kart-racing genre. Not only is it a fine collection of Final Fantasy franchise memories in one place, but it uses them nicely as well. Familiar characters, JRPG attacks and weapons, locations for racetracks, and remixed music we know and love make it a bright, fun, and familiar experience. I really liked the Magicite system for in-race strategy and character stats and abilities make them all enjoyable to play. I wish you didn’t have to unlock so much to enjoy the whole package outside of Story, but even the story is a fun romp. There have been plenty of imitators of the Mario Kart formula, but Chocobo GP feels like one of the most competent, all while bringing its own twists to the track.

This is ultimately a complete rip-off of Mario Kart. And to be honest, that’s probably not a bad thing as few gamers would ever tire of playing more of that excellent kart racing goodness, particularly when in a multiplayer environment. Chocobo has a couple of key differences but nothing that really reinvents the wheel. It’s a very solid race game but I suspect once Mario’s new Booster Pack DLC drops with more than 40 old kart tracks this may well fall into the back of the memory.

Chocobo GP is second only to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it comes to modern karting games. On the track it delivers brilliantly satisfying karting gameplay, and all at a beautifully smooth frame rate.

What Square Enix has put together is a great karting game, with some good gameplay ideas that also try to detach the product from its very clear and inevitable source of inspiration. However, the mixture lacks some balance, especially in the balance between effort and reward.

For now, Chocobo GP is a fine time. It’s not doing much new with the formula, leaving the adorable, titular chocobo behind the pack of plumbers, hedgehogs, bandicoots, and their friends. Still, it does have the potential to get better and maybe toss a phoenix down on the long-dormant series for future entries.

Quotation forthcoming.

Chocobo GP is a solid kart racer that deserves your attention. Fun and frantic, the game is accessible but contains enough of a challenge for veterans. Although there is a notable absence of a battle mode, there is still plenty of content for on and offline play. Clearly leaning into its influences with the mechanics and aesthetics, the game doesn’t push the boundaries but is successful in its goal of being a charming and joyous racer.

Chocobo GP is the game that results from combining the chaos of Final Fantasy with the karting of Mario Kart 8, a fun title for a party. If you are looking for a unique racing game, this is the one for you.

Sometimes you just want a bit of fun and a laugh, without needing a revolutionary experience, and Chocobo GP fits that bill nicely.

Chocobo GP is a well-designed racing game: pleasant to see, fun to play, with an excellent track design and at least two interesting ideas. We refer to the possibility of upgrading the weapons, which increases the strategic component of the race, and to the online elimination mode, which involves 64 players (also accessible through the Lite edition, free). The main limitations lie in the number of tracks (nine, excluding variants of the same) and in the multiplayer from the same system, limited to two users (we imagine for stability problems). In general, we would have wished for greater courage in detaching ourselves from Mario Kart: excluding the innovations already mentioned, every single element is translated from the Nintendo game. Which is richer, more beautiful and deeper in just about every aspect.

Chocobo GP is a nice game for classic Final Fantasy fans who wanted a good alternative to the Mario Kart series. However, its lack of much variety and amount of microtransactions keep it from being a standout game.

Chocobo GP has good potential that would benefit from being refined in order to reach the podium of the great Mario-Like race.

Chocobo GP is a decent alternative to Mario Kart, hampered by the presence of such an important opponent on the same console. It lacks that flash of brilliance, that uniqueness that allows it to outdo its elusive rival, and a future that already leans towards microtransactions doesn't help. Try the Lite version, it might just win you over.

While it can be complete chaos most of the time, Chocobo GP is still a fun and charming kart racer at its heart. There’s enough charm here to combat the frustration and bland tracks, and the multiple modes will keep you interested.

Chocobo GP is an entertaining game and is good karting at its core, however to unlock most of its content the user is required to play through its single player story mode. This makes the game feel very limited, especially in a genre whose main essence is to compete with other users. Still, the characters are charismatic, references to Final Fantasy and Chocobo spin offs bring a smile. The strategic mechanics of using items and the unique abilities of each racer give depth to the gameplay. The tracks are varied and fun to ride. The tunes are catchy, and the game is generally nice looking. This game is recommended for fans of Final Fantasy, for those looking for a future-evolving online experience, or for fans of Chocobo Racing on the first PlayStation, but it is worth noting that, In the end, Chocobo GP is a delightful experience that in many ways feels half-baked.

If you like kartracers or Final Fantasy Chocobo GP is the game you want to try. This cute iteration brings a few good aspects from other kart racers, adds a story and famous Final Fantasy characters to it and takes all that to different locations throughout the franchise. The game feels like a complete kart racer, but it lacks variation in levels. If there were more levels and options to choose other karts, the game would feel even more complete. Still this is a fine race game to play with the kids.

Chocobo GP is a very well-made kart racer that looks and controls very much like Mario Kart. With a funny, weird storyline and a ton of different characters, tracks, and modes, this will keep fans of the genre busy for quite a while. I would recommend checking out the free “Lite” version of the game, and if you like it, take the plunge.