Tay's Picks: FFXIII-2 Charms Fans with Time-Traveling Merchent Chocolina    by Taylor

in Hobbies / Games    (submitted 2012-02-03)

Welcome to the first installment of Tay's Picks, a weekly look inside the world of gaming from my point of view. As someone who has been avidly playing video games since birth (slight exaggeration), I find myself at times growing indifferent and apathetic with the gaming industry. The commonalities from game to game paired with the recycling of characters, mechanics, and styles, exhaust the inner gamer within me.

There are those unique moments however, that stand as a testament to the success and progress of gaming. These rare instances act as the refreshing glue that keeps me fixed on video games. Some titles shine with creativity (Portal 2), while others flat out remind us that video games are not dead (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim).

This episode introduces a gratifying new addition to the world of gaming, in the form of humor, eccentricity and a character that despite my criticisms, deserves praise. Her name is Chocobocolina and she can be found within the time-traveling universe of Final Fantasy XIII-2.

First let me say that, at one point I considered myself to be the biggest Final Fantasy fan in existence. That title appended my name up through 2002 with the release of FFX. I celebrated the series as a whole for its complex yet satisfying storylines, its graphical brilliance, the assortment of diverse characters, and the backstory that tied all of it together. Lately all I've witnessed from my once adored franchise has been downgrade after downgrade. There is a silver lining within the foggy cloud of negativity however.

As someone who ridiculed, disapproved, and all around condemned Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII, I managed to get a copy of the sequel in the form of a Gamefly rental disk from an overly optimistic friend. This is not a review. This article represents a toast to an exciting and appreciated new character of 2012, who just happens to be a time traveling merchant adorned in chocobo attire.

Quirky, weird, and comical are words that paint a picture of Chocolina (her official name). Her peculiar nature paired with an outspoken personality makes the shopkeeper more memorable than your typical store clerk. I dare say she ranks near the top of my FF merchant list, overshadowed only by O'aka XXIII. Whether you find her intriguing or aggravating, at least she has some shred of personality that sets her apart.

Here is an example of her odd yet comical dialogue introduction:

"Choco-boco-lina! Welcome! Get your traveling products here at Chocolina's emporium! The beauty's all mine, but the products can be yours--but only if you show me the money! This might be a once in a lifetime choco-mazing opportunity, so don't miss out!"

If you've gotten your hands on FF XIII-2, what was your impression of Chocolina, humorous or annoying? Are you someone who appreciates clever dialogue and eccentric characters or do you prefer more straight forward interaction? Sound off in the comments below.

About the Author

Hi My name is Taylor Stein, I'm a college student and avid gamer. Video games are, and have been, one of my greatest passions ever since I was a child. Pairing it with my hobby of writing was a natural progression which led me to create the website Gamer Girl Tay.

Website: http://www.gamergirltay.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamerGirlTay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/GamerGirlTay

RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/gamergirltay.htm