Final Fantasy: Where Chocobos Come From (& How They Changed)
For over thirty years, chocobos have been iconic to the Final Fantasy franchise. Here's a short history of everyone's favorite feathery companions.
Easily one of the most iconic characters in any Final Fantasy game, the chocobo has been around for decades. The large, yellow birds have even spawned a few of their own spin-offs over the years, with games like Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon and Chocobo Racing. They're pretty much expected to appear in Final Fantasy games nowadays, but these loyal feathery companions have a history as interesting as chocobos themselves.
Chocobos most recently appeared in Final Fantasy VII Remake, but they were first introduced in Final Fantasy II in 1988. The chocobo players know and love was created by Koichi Ishii, who's probably best known as the creator of the Mana series. It's a good thing Squaresoft went with Ishii's design, too, since famous Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano's early concepts of the chocobo were pink, featherless creatures that looked like something straight out of a Stephen King horror novel.
From such humble beginnings, chocobos have gone on to be iconic parts of the Final Fantasy franchise. The Fat Chocobo, introduced in FF3, allowed players to store items in exchange for Gysahl Greens, a chocobo's favorite snack. By Final Fantasy IV, chocobos were both a way to travel faster on the overworld and a summon for Rydia. With Final Fantasy V came the most famous chocobo of them all: Boko. This chocobo was protagonist Bartz's pet and friend, and Boko played an important role in the storyline as well. Almost thirty years after FF5 originally released, Boko remains a fan-favorite.
Although featured in Final Fantasy 6 and Final Fantasy 8, chocobos weren't as important in those games as Boko was in FF5. However, they were an important part of games like the original Final Fantasy 7, in which chocobos were used to obtain important summons and other items through breeding and racing. They were also prevalent in Final Fantasy IX, in which a mini-game called Chocobo Hot and Cold allowed players to unlock rare rewards, as well as discovering locations like Chocobo's Air Garden and Chocobo's Paradise, a chocobo heaven where the creatures can roam free under the rule of the Fat Chocobo.
In more recent Final Fantasy games, chocobos are used mostly as means of transportation. In Final Fantasy XIV, chocobos can be raised as companions and for racing, and they can be fed special items to change the color of their feathers. The most recent mainline entry, Final Fantasy XV, featured a similar (but more limited) mechanic. It's a pretty solid bet they'll appear in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 and Final Fantasy 16 as well. Chocobos are simply too important to Final Fantasy's DNA to leave out.
Although the functions and overall look for chocobos have been altered slightly between entries, the chocobo has remained an endearing part of the Final Fantasy franchise. From mainline games to myriad spin-offs, it's hard to imagine the series without these feathery friends.