Racing chocobos in Final Fantasy XIII-2

One of the Final Fantasy franchise's most amusingly adorable mini-games is back for FFXIII-2, Siliconera has taken a look at how it works.

Way back in 1997, chocobo racing was popularised by the immensely successful seventh entry in the Final Fantasy canon. Now, many, many years later, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to bring this gentle pastime back once more as a casino mini-game.

The races are tiered and, naturally enough, the quality of the prizes earned by winning increases as you progress further up the five levels of difficulty. Meeting specific criteria will also make you eligible for a number of secret races.

The chocobos speed and stamina dictates their overall grade and you'll need to manage both attributes judiciously in order to emerge leader of the pack, although special skills will also help give your feather friend an edge. The selection of pre-race items will contribute to your success, as will use of the famed chocobo dash.

Remember, kids: unlike the Grand National, no chocobos are harmed in the running of these races.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 launches for PS3 and 360 early next year.