Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon announced for US - July 8th, $39.99

[botticus]

Sort of looking forward to this, especially with decent pricing. I saw a listing on Gamestop.com last week, but the official PR from GAF:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267148


LOS ANGELES, March 31 /PRNewswire/ — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix(TM) interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that it will launch FINAL FANTASY(R) FABLES: Chocobo’s Dungeon(R) for the North American market on July 8, 2008. Coming exclusively to Wii, the game brings a loveable cast featuring Chocobo and his friends to the next-generation platform for the first time.

Veteran character designer Toshiyuki Itahana delivers a uniquely compelling visual world in which a cast of beloved FINAL FANTASY characters leads players through an immersive storyline. With a carefully crafted narrative and a grand mystery to unravel, FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo’s Dungeon will captivate gamers looking for a multifaceted RPG experience.

Players of all skill levels will appreciate everything this game has to offer, from the intuitive Wii controls and adorable characters, to the intricate story and versatile job system. Chocobo, a FINAL FANTASY fan favorite, takes on trademark job classes from the franchise such as black mage, knight, and scholar. Players can unlock more jobs as they progress through the game. The ever-changing dungeons and unexpected twists and turns offer hours of engrossing gameplay as players explore the newest adventure in one of the world’s most popular RPG franchises.

STORY

Chocobo and Cid, FINAL FANTASY mainstays-turned-treasure hunters, are magically transported to a mysterious town whose people’s memories are lost with each bell toll of the clocktower. One day, a strange boy named Raffaello arrives and creates dungeons of memories to help the townspeople remember who they are. Now it’s up to Chocobo to journey through the dungeons and retrieve everyone’s memories!

FEATURES
* A charming, vibrant game world coupled with an engaging storyline and
challenging turn-based battles to create a fun and entertaining RPG
environment
* A compelling gaming experience utilizing a variety of classic FINAL
FANTASY job classes such as the knight, black mage and white mage to aid
Chocobo in his fight against evil
* Character designer Toshiyuki Itahana, from the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL
CHRONICLES(R) series and FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo Tales(R), lends
his trademark art style
* Duel against friends via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in addictive card
battles featuring popular FINAL FANTASY creatures in a unique 3D pop-up
book style
* Collect hidden letters throughout the adventure and form special phrases
to unlock secret dungeons and job classes
* The signature Mog House offers arcade-style mini-games that can be
played with intuitive Wii Remote controls

FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo’s Dungeon has not yet been rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website at www.esrb.org (http://www.esrb.org/) for more information about ratings. FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo’s Dungeon will be available in North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $39.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/fffcd (http://na.square-enix.com/fffcd)

[StinkyCheese]

How do Chocobo Dungeon games play out? are they like mystery dungeon?

[blueshinra]

When I first saw this, I was like, wait, didn't this come out for the DS some time ago? Then I realized that it's the new Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon for the Wii.

Chocobos + Job System = fun, or at least I hope so. Very much looking forward to this one, and incredibly shocked at the price, seeing as how this is a Squeenix game and all. Not complaining though, no way ;)

[botticus]

How do Chocobo Dungeon games play out? are they like mystery dungeon?This was Chocobo Mysterious Dungeon in Japan. So I'd imagine so. Dungeon crawler with job system, from my understanding.

[62t]

first Baroque, then pokemon dungeon and now this? Quite a year for dungeon crawler.

[Dr Mario Kart]

This generation is one of Dungeon games, particularly with the DS, starting way back with Tao's Adventure, then going on to the likes of Etrian Odyssey, Izuna, Shiren, the Pokemon games, Konami's Dungeon Explorer, Orcs & Elves.

$39.99 is surprisingly reasonable move from Square Enix. I guess they actually DID learn from getting burned on DQ:S.

[62t]

Japan always been crazy about dugeon crawler, but the 2 Square released for PS1 were a failure

[ChibiJosh]

I'm [pleasantly] surprised that they releasing this at the same price that they release DS games.

[chodax]

meh doesnt seem very good

[CombatCraig]

My wife loved Chocobo Tales so I'm sure we'll be picking this one up.

[tiredfornow]

totally going to pick this up day one.

[meerkatgamer]

I really liked the Chocobo tales so I'll support this game and I really like the dungeon type games.

[argyle]

This really came out of left-field for me. Read over IGN's review, which was very positive, then watched the preview on Gametrailers. Looks very old-school, and right up my alley w/ random dungeons & leveling/item collecting/etc.

Traded some stuff in tonight to pay off Civilization Revolution for the PS3, and had $10 left over so I dropped it on this. Looks like a winner to me! :)

[CombatCraig]

I'm hesitant to pick this up. The wife is all excited for it especially after the DS game, but I keep reading that this game can get really hard. I'm afraid she won't know what to do and get frustrated with it.

Any one that's bought it have any opinions about the difficulty or if a casual gamer would last long?

[meerkatgamer]

I haven't played this game yet, but from what I hear it's more easier then other mystery dungeon games you keep your level when you lose on a dungeon you still lose your items though I think, but still..

I think this also has those card battles on it sorry I can't give much info I hope to get this soon..

[LeafPanda]

I want to get this game, but a little hesitant because i heard it can be tedious

[argyle]

Loving it so far - only 3 dungeons in, but it's right up my alley. I didn't realize that Nightmare of Druaga was a Mysterious Dungeon game, and that's my other experience with the series, so when I made that connection I was very pleased. I also sold a couple of friends on the game by pointing that out.

This is much better so far than NoD of course, mainly due to Square's polish, but the core game is still there.

[Scrubking]

People need to get hyped for this game. It's very, very good. It's also a lot easier to get into than other games in its genre.

[EXStrike]

Sweet, I just ordered this from CC. Can't wait.

Need to play more Opoona before it comes.

[argyle]

I'm loving it so far. I have a related question, so maybe someone here can answer - I'm thinking of picking up Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Team from the CC clearance to have a portable version of more-or-less the same game (same series). Anyone tell me if it's as good or not? It's hard to judge from reviews, since most of the ones I've read seem to slam the game for being a Mysterious Dungeon title and not a standard Pokemon game...

[EXStrike]

Blue Rescue Team is one of the easier Roguelikes. I liked it, personally.

[nuttyturnip]

Ok, I officially hate this game now (in a controller-throwing kind of way). What's the deal with the florist's special dungeon? One HP for everyone is fine, but don't throw in alarm traps that surround me with 4 monsters that make it impossible to survive. There better be some sort of job skill to get around that.

[utopianmachine]

Trade it to me, then. Give me a chance to hate it. ^_*

[Scrubking]

Ok, I officially hate this game now (in a controller-throwing kind of way). What's the deal with the florist's special dungeon? One HP for everyone is fine, but don't throw in alarm traps that surround me with 4 monsters that make it impossible to survive. There better be some sort of job skill to get around that.

If you're running into traps (key word being running), then you aren't being careful enough. Move one step at a time and kick your way through rooms.

[nuttyturnip]

If you're running into traps (key word being running), then you aren't being careful enough. Move one step at a time and kick your way through rooms.

That wouldn't be tedious at all. Step, kick, step, kick, step, kick, repeat 1,000 times.

Anyway, I realized that my level 2 normal attack will probably take care of the alarm trap monsters, so I'll give that a shot tonight.

[FriskyTanuki]

Got this last week but finally got the chance to play it today and it's pretty fun so far after the first dungeon, not the tutorial dungeon, and the following cinematic that takes me back to the ranch.