Given the recent reveals of Mario Kart 9 and Sonic Racing Crossworlds, it would appear that the kart racing subgenre is back in full swing. Plenty of franchises have tried and failed to compete with the seminal Mario Kart series over the years, leveraging brand recognition and simple controls to achieve similar cultural dominance, though precious few endeavors have yielded enduring classics, and plenty fail in spectacular fashion.
One of the most infamous kart racer failures in recent memory is Chocobo GP, the 2022 revival of the PS1 classic Chocobo Racing. As the name suggests, this kart racer is molded around Final Fantasy iconography, with locations, characters, and music stemming from the storied JRPG franchise. Such a project seemingly had all the ingredients for success, and it did in fact gain some traction with fans, but the prevailing sentiment is that its predatory monetization and grind-heavy progression systems poisoned the well. Square Enix ceased support for Chocobo GP less than a year after its release, apparently accepting defeat and choosing instead to move on to other ventures, but it might be time to give the concept another shot.
Nintendo Switch 2's Mario Kart Game Could Take Inspiration From PlayStation's Forgotten Kart Racers
Nintendo Switch 2 is likely launching alongside a Mario Kart, and there are two long-forgotten PlayStation racers that could be used as inspiration.
Chocobo GP May Have Underperformed, but That Doesn't Need To Be the End All, Be All
Final Fatnasy 7 Rebirth Proves a Chocobo Kart Racer Still Has Potential
Bad publicity and hardware restrictions may have caused Chocobo GP to fly under the radar, but the same can't be said for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, one of 2024's most significant releases. The second chapter in the Final Fantasy 7 remake project is defined by variety and density, filled to the brim with varied content for players to engage with, but even so, the Chocobo Racing minigame at the Golden Saucer stands out as an particularly pleasant surprise.
The side activity has all the hallmark mechanics of the kart racing genre, such as drifting, boosting, and randomized power-ups, but it also brings enough new ideas to the table to make it enticing for kart racer veterans. For instance, the different special abilities of each base chocobo and the variety of gear-related perks. More important than these mechanical particulars, however, is the raw sense of charm and energy that the minigame exudes: it's Final Fantasy, through and through, boasting the same goofy earnestness and glossy sheen that the beloved franchise is known for. It's certainly good enough to inspire a full-fledged, standalone game.
More Mario Kart Competitors Can Only Be a Good Thing
There are certain genres that feel more or less dominated by a single series, and Nintendo is behind many such decisive victories. 3D platformers, platform-based brawlers, and kart racers are all defined by Super Mario, Super Smash Bros., and Mario Kart, respectively, to the point where other developers and publishers rarely even attempt to compete. This reluctance isn't unfounded, especially since such endeavors have to compete with years of cultural relevance and brand recognition, but the likes of MultiVersus and Sonic Racing should still be encouraged, if only to keep Nintendo on its toes.
Put another way, variety is the spice of life: one can never have too many options in a given game genre. While a Chocobo GP comeback might not knock Mario Kart off its pedestal, it could certainly carve out a comfortable niche for itself, especially among Final Fantasy fans who want another way to engage with the series. And with the upcoming Sonic Racing Crossworlds looking promising, yet another option for players can only be a good thing, encouraging greater experimentation and risk-taking across every kart racer series, growing the genre into a healthier, more diverse whole.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 65 /100 Critics Rec: 20%
- Released
- March 10, 2022
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
Join Chocobo and friends as they hit the track in a variety of wacky vehicles!
Learn the basics in story mode, then take on all-comers in the game mode of your choice! Use classic magic spells like fire and aero to blast the competition, or even turn the tables in a miracle comeback with each character’s unique abilities!
Numerous ways to play, including time attack challenges and tournament-style survival races.
Enjoy intense racing action with players from all around the world.
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
