Chocobo Racing

Chocobo Racing is a racing game spun off from the dashingly popular Final Fantasy series for the PlayStation. As one of the spinoffs from the Chocobo subseries, the characters, settings, and story are given Lighter and Softer takes. The game starts with eight playable characters based on recurring characters and monsters from the main series, with two additional characters that require unlocking (and more if you grind a lot of Story Mode...). Every character has his/her own vehicle or means of transport that allow him/her to race (for example, Chocobo wears motorized roller blades, Mog drives a scooter, etc.). The game also starts with eight Abilities associated with the respective character, also with additional two requiring unlock first. Each Ability is unique and can help a racer in various ways from giving a burst of speed to outright attacking nearby opponents, but using it requires filling up its gauge first. This game's take on Mascot Racer items is in the form of Magic Stones, based on recurring magic in the main series. So, the player can speed up with Haste, attack an opponent in front with Fire, freeze opponents with Blizzard, etc. These stones can be leveled up by picking up the same type of stone as the one currently held in the backmost as long as they can be upgraded or the inventory is not full. However, as the stones trail behind a racer when he/she picks them up, they can be easily stolen by other racers driving right behind him/her. The Mug ability can also steal a Magic Stone.

The game also has a Story Mode where the player can see the explanation on various things ranging from how Chocobo got his Jet-Blades to the source of the racers' Abilities, all told in a pop-up storybook format with Cid as the narrator. Completing all nine chapters of this will allow the player to create a custom racer based on the nine featured racers. There are some hidden treats if the player keeps replaying Story Mode over and over...

The game was released in Japan on March 18, 1999, a few months after the release of Chocobo's Dungeon 2, so the cast in this game can seem familiar to those who have played the latter. Meanwhile, US and Canada got this game on August 10, 1999, but Chocobo's Dungeon 2 was not released yet over there until more than two months later. This game was also released in Europe on October 11, 1999. A PlayStation Network re-release was published on February 10, 1999, but only in Japan.

Tropes used in Chocobo Racing include:

Death From Above:
- The Ultima Magic Stone, the only Magic Stone that targets all opponents by default. Normally only causes the victims to spin out, at higher levels Ultima instead sends them flying.
- The Megaflare ability involves the user raining down flame shots on all opponents to send them flying.
An Ice Person: The Blizzard Magic Stone. Blizzard sets down a sheet of ice on the road which can result a racer to spin out when he/she runs over it. Blizzara sets down multiple sheets of ice, which can potentially block a narrow enough path. Blizzaga freezes all opponents first, causing them to slip and lose control before the ice explodes and sends them flying.
Medium Awareness: Mog is aware that he is in a racing game and he will not forget to remind himself and everyone else that. Chubby Chocobo even lampshades this by questioning Mog's challenge against him.
Nitro Boost:
- The Haste Magic Stone. Gives a short burst of speed at its lowest level, but lasts longer at higher levels.
- The Dash ability.
- The Charge ability is much shorter than Dash, but its gauge recharges faster and this allows the user to spin out other racers by bumping into them while Charging.
Playing with Fire:
- The Fire Magic Stone. Fire just shoots a small fireball forward in a straight line. Fira aims for one racer in front of the user a la Mario Kart's Red Shell. Firaga travels the entire track to strike all opponents on the way.
- The Megaflare Ability, which rains down flame shots on all opponents.
Shock and Awe: The Thunder Magic Stone. Thunder casts a single bolt of lightning near an opponent in front (or behind if the user is at first). Thundara casts three bolts of lightning. Thundaga is the same, but harder to avoid and strikes all opponents.
Squashed Flat: A racer can be squashed by the hurled boulders in Vulcan-O Valley. Racers affected by three instances of Minimize (smallest size) can also end up like this if a much larger racer runs over them.
Time Trial: Would not be a racing game without one. The Time Attack mode allows players to set record time on any of the tracks.
Won't Work On Me: Racers that fly (including ground-bound racers that use the Flap Ability) can not be affected by the sheets of ice generated by Blizzard/Blizzara.
X Meets Y: Final Fantasy meets Mario Kart.