Chocobo GP Reviews
It's possible that Chocobo GP could become a respectable kart racer in the future, and the free-to-play version means everyone can try it out without needing to spend any cash. As it stands, the game needs work, as the current product just isn't fun. The spells and abilities need to be toned down and the tracks need redoing or replacing. There is no shortage of kart racers on the market, especially on Nintendo Switch, and there are much better alternatives available right now than Chocobo GP in its current state.
Chocobo GP takes up the speech abandoned by SquareSoft at the end of the 90s and brings to light the official kart racer dedicated to the Final Fantasy franchise. It resurrects the concept of Story Mode, expands the roster of characters and makes some changes to the basic idea - introducing an interesting declination of online multiplayer.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
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 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.
Chocobo GP does little new, and is trailing the pack compared to similar games. However, it brings Final Fantasy fan service to racing wonderfully and still remains a fun time, with a lot of potential growth via the planned Seasons.
While the racing itself is solid enough, limitations on multiplayer and strange monetization gimmicks hold this cart racer back.
Chocobo GP is an easy to approach experience, but it can't really live up to the Final Fantasy name.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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 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.
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…
Chocobo GP is a game made in a divided house; one one side there were passionate developers who really cared about what they were making. The other side was devised by callous high level executives who mandated terrible, anti-consumer mechanics that were implemented solely for “player retention”, in the sloppiest and most covetous manner possible.
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.
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.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
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 does not stand out from the crowd, because although I clearly lacked something in the game itself, I will probably return to this production from time to time. For sure, this is a good proposition for players who have already exhausted MK8D in all ways and need a little breather.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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.
Chocobo GP is a title that will be very dependent on an online ecosystem and, therefore, is incomplete at the time of writing. We will have to see how it evolves and how it transforms, however, as far as the base game that was possible to try is concerned, Chocobo GP is only an entertaining title and to pass the time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
