Gamers who are well schooled in the ways of the Fushigi no Dungeon games from Enix will find the format of the latest Chocobo Dungeon familiar. When spelunking within dank labyrinths, each move is metered by the game engine so that monsters on the same screen will take a matching step for every step that Chocobo takes. Every attack is met with a consequent attack so while the game looks like a free roaming dungeon crawl, it's actually a turn-based adventure like the old school RPGs of yore.

As the story goes, Shido and Chocobo explore the tower and encounter two another adventurer and her own Chocobo inside. Before a battle can begin, a maelstrom sweeps into the tower and scatters everyone. In the case of Shido and Chocobo, they're swept into a town where everyone suffers from memory loss. It's so bad that they can't even remember their names. Can Chocobo help them piece together their memories?

Jan Code: 4988601005463

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» Voice acting accompanies the dialogue in the game. Chocobo doesn't speak but it does make squeaking and squawking sounds that its human handler Shido appears to understand.

» The first mission is called "Tutorial Dungeon" where the D-Pad on the Wii Remote moves Chocobo and the "2" button kicks. You'll learn how to pick up items, move diagonally (press the "-" button and then highlight the destination square you wish to move), and battle a few bats. To activate a special attack, press the "A" button and then highlight the second option.

» Everytime Chocobo levels up, his HP is entirely replenished.

» Although the game looks like its free roaming, it's not. It is based on the earlier Fushigi no Dungeon games where each move is metered and accompanied by a corresponding move by enemies on the battlefield.

» Later in the tutorial dungeon, Chocobo and Shido encounter a ginger and her pet chicken. They're evil. A maelstrom comes out of nowhere and hurls everyone into the air. Fade to a cinematic introduction that's accompanied by a pop song. Interspersed within the intro are images of Chocobo flying through a blue ether.

» Fade to black and the camera opens up on a town then a pool of water. Chocobo and Shido fall from the heavens right onto the brick road of the town. They're still breathing when a older gentlemen in a brown outfit chances upon them and introduces himself. While they're talking, a black sphere sails in from overhead and the music takes an ominous tone. Two more citizens join the conversation - a muscle bound meathead, a purple haired fraulein and a bearded old dude in a clown outfit. The sequence plays automatically and no user input is required. A pink-haired girl named Shiroma joins the conversation and takes Chocobo by the wing and starts walking away when she's reprimanded by the older gentleman. Later in the game, Shiroma takes Chocobo home where her mother is introduced. Shiroma has bright pink hair while her mother had purplish hair. Maybe that's what happens when gingers get old.

» After a short conversation, Chocobo can explore the house. There's a bed in the upper floor on the left side of the house. If you stand Chocobo in front of it and press the "2" button, he'll roll into bed with a smooth fluid motion, enjoy the mattress for a few seconds, and then roll right off again. Shiroma left the house earlier so after you're done exploring, exit through the front door and then head to the east and then north to locate her. Later, they join up with the townfolk from earlier when a meteor drops. It's actually an egg and hatches to reveal a little boy with green hair inside. Shiroma runs over and picks him up with innate mothering instinct. The little boy is named Raphael.

» When the black vortex-like thing appears, it takes away the people's memories of things. Later, the green haired boy rises up in the air and sparkles and disappears into the vortex. To help the situation, move Chocobo to the vortex and then press and hold the "1" button. Chocobo will transform into bits of energy and enter the vortex to rescue the little boy. Thus begins the first proper dungeon dubbed "Dungeon of Memory" where the memories are indicated as pieces of floating jigsaw puzzle pieces.

» Chocobo heals automatically as long as he walks to the tune of 1 HP per 2 steps. Green outline discs restore about 20 HP once you land on them. Traps take away about 10 HP. The boss at the bottom of the Dungeon of Memory is a massive bruiser that'll smack Chocobo out. We didn't survive three hits but we're going to try the game again later today. Business beckons...

Japanese Wii Software Region Alert
Please note that Japanese Wii games are region-protected and will not boot on a USA Wii console. Please do not purchase this game if you only have a USA Wii because it will not play on your console. Thanks for reading.

The correct SKU is RVL-P-R7FJ.

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