Final Fantasy IX - Chocobo Guide (Japanese and English) Author: Crono228 Contact: e-mail: blarosa@concentric.net AOL IM Crono229 [yes, 229, not 228] Version 1.7 Note: This file is best viewed in NJStar (www.njstar.com) , a Japanese word processor, as it contains some Japanese characters. However, it can be viewed just fine in most word proccessors and web browsers, all Japanese text will appear as garbage. Since I do not know Kanji, some of them have been replaced with All kanji in this file was provided by Jesse (Tenoh@aol.com) Thanks Jesse! You may use this file for your own website without my permission as long as it is kept in it's original form and you notify me that your are doing so along with a link to your website. The contents of this document may *not* be used in any printed publication without my written consent. --Overview---------------------------------------- This guide provides the locations on the world map depicted by the Chocographs (癭敖癛癘芭皌) There's also tips on playing the digging game and info on evolving your Chocobo. ---------------------------------------------------- --Table of Contents--------------------------------- 0. General Progression of Chocobo raising 1. Playing the Digging Game 2. Chocographs (癭敖癛癘芭皌) 3. Evolving your Chocobo 4. Locations of Key Places 5. Un-answered Questions 6. Credits ----------------------------------------------------- --Update History----------------------------------- 11/21/2000- Version 1.7 Made changes throughout the guide to match the English version of the game. It still looks best in NJStar, but can be viewed in most word processors and web browsers, just ignore the Japanese characters which will appear as garbage. Also made various corrections, the most important being the location of the Reef upgrade, which is in the 4th treasure, not the second. This now serves as a guide to both the Japanese and English versions. There's still a few more changes to make but those of you playing the English version should have no trouble at all using the guide to get a Golden Chocobo. I'm looking for feedback from people on anything that might make this guide more useful, I've seen a few people on the message boards saying that the guide didn't really help them. 7/24/2000- Version 1.0 Everything you could want to know about Chocobos! (Well almost) All graph locations, and step by step instructions on getting a gold chocobo and finding the Chocobo Sky Garden. I also added a section on the locations of the places involved in Chocobo raising. Finally, more kanjis added thanks again to Jesse. I won't be updating this file anymore until the U.S. release unless a major error is found or an important piece of information was accidently left out. I will still take e-mail. ----------------------------------------------------- --(0.) General Progression of Chocobo Raising--- Thanks to Porko for this info This section does not go into details. See the rest of the guide for locations of places and chocographs. Please note that the numbers I refer to the graphs by are the position they are in on the list of graphs, not the order you find them in. 1) Start out by playing the digging game in the Chocobo forest until you get the forth Chocograph, or the moogle tells you there's no more graphs to be found (your choice) When you acquire the forth graph, find the treasure and get the Reef upgrade. 2) Once you have the Reef upgrade, go to the Chocobo Lagoon. Play the digging game there until you get Chocograph #12 or the moogle tells you there's no more graphs to be found(your choice. Find the treasure at the area in the 12th graph to get the Mountain upgrade. 3) Go back to the forest and play the game some more. With the Mountain upgrade, you can climb onto the rocky ledges in the area. Play until you get the 14th graph. Then get the treasure for this graph to get the Sea upgrade. 4) Play the digging game at the Chocobo Lagoon until you get all 6 of the Chocograph Pieces / 癭敖癛皗癘芭皌瓖 Once you have all 6, you will receive Chocograph #20. Find the treasure for this graph to receive the Sky Upgrade. 5) Once you have the Sky Upgrade, travel to Chocobo Paradise. Talk to all the chocobos. As far as I know, this is all there is to do here. This allows you to find the Chocobo Sky Garden. 7) Find the Chocobo Sky Garden. Congratulations! You have a gold chocobo and can access all the places to play the digging game! See any other FAQ for all the neat things you can do now that you have accomplished this. (-_-) --(1.) Playing the Digging Game---------------------- This guide assumes you already have a Chocobo and know where the Chocobo Forest is and that you know how to play the digging game. If you don't, any of the FAQs on gamefaqs.com should be able to help you. With that said... --Tips:----------------------------------------------- Note: These are the techniques that I have found work for me. If you have some info that you'd like to share or think that something I say here is wrong, please let me know. You will get credit. General tips: -If you have an analog controller, use the left stick to move, it makes you run w/o holding the X button -PRACTICE! Leveling up your Chocobo makes digging a LOT easier. Play the game as much as you can stand ^_^ -Try to move in straight lines, combing the floor systematically. Walk about 2 lengths of the chocobo's body, and peck. If you come up empty (Kweh / 癗癎) Keep moving and repeat the pattern until you get 癗癎癰!? -Once you've gotten very close to something (癗癎癎癰!!?) Keep pecking in that area, taking small steps and changes in direction. If you don't hit the item the first couple of tries, come at the general area of the (癗癎癎癰!!?) from another angle and try again. -After getting an item, it seems that the whole board is reset. Forget about where you already looked, it's almost certain that there is an item somewhere you already looked. (Can anyone confirm this?) -Once you get 4 items, Mene ( 蔼發 ) will give you an extra 10 seconds on the clock. There might be other ways to get more time. I am not sure if you get 10 more seconds after getting 4 more items. -Once you get 8 items, the game will end and you get bonus points. Thanks to Ng New Yam for this info The following info on Bonus Points comes from Hibiki637@aol.com. Thanks! The amount of bonus points you get depends on how much time is left on the clock. These ranges are approximates only. 0-4 seconds left = 50pts 5-8 seconds left = 70pts 9-15 seconds left = 92 points 16-22 seconds left = 150points -If you're in the game long enough (longer than 1:00 you get to start with) a male voice comes in on the song and sings a very quick line in what I think may be Spanish. No this doesn't help you at all, but it is kind of neat (^_-) Tips for Chocobo Lagoon, before Sea Upgrade -This area is very small, and the game only costs 30 gil, but you only get 30 seconds. It's a great place to build up your Chocobo's level. -Start each game by quicking turning around, taking a step, and pecking. If only get the (癗癎) (not even close) message, there's nothing in that entryway. But if you get 癗癎癰!? (getting close) or 癗癎癎癰!!?(very close), you can save valuable time by checking here right away. Tips for Chocobo Forest, after the Mountain Upgrade -You can now climb on the two ledges in the area. Just walk near them and an ! will appear over your Choco's head. Press the square button to climb up. -In my experience, the item rarely comes up on the ledges, but ocasionally it does. Every once in a while, if you happen to be near one, just head on up, and give a quick peck. if you get (癗癎) (not even close), head back down right away. Tips for Chocobo Lagoon, after Sea Upgrade -The board is now bigger and you get 1:00 instead of :30. Use the same strategies as before. Tips for Chocobo Sky Garden -There are 2 areas here. To move between them, find the areas that look like ramps, an "!" will appear, press the square button. In my experience, the items are on the platform you start on more than 2/3 of the time. -There's more to this place than meets the eye... --Items you can find:--------------------------------- Note: "Dig Number" refers to the number that appears when you hit it and that you must reduce to 0 by pressing the button. Name: Choco Graph / 癭敖癛皗癘芭皌 Desc: This is your main objetive in the whole Chocobo raising process. Dig Number: (Forest - ~50-60) (Lagoon - 80) Point value: (Forest - 10) (Lagoon - 20) Name: Choco Graph Piece / 癭敖癛皗癘芭皌瓖 Desc: Tells you where the black shadow for the Chocobo Sky Garden may be. These can be viewed from the items menu under rare items (the rightmost option, 瓐 ) Dig Number: (Forest - Not yet found) (Lagoon - ?) Point value: (Forest - Not yet found) (Lagoon - ?) Thanks to Etoh21 for this info Name: 癴癰癶皔癰皃 Translation: Dead Pepper Desc: Using one while riding your Chocobo (the second option when you press the Triangle button) will cause it to do things like break cracks in walls or fly up high (when flying) Dig Number: ??? Point value: ??? Name: (This is the item that the "Special" enemies ask for, icon is a black gem) Translation: Dig Number: ??? Point value: (Forest - 1) (Lagoon - ?) Name: 癭般 Translation: Dig Number: ??? Point value: (Forest - 1) (Lagoon - ?) Name: 瓑瓎瓌 Translation: Dig Number: ??? Point value: (Forest - 1) (Lagoon - ?) Name: 200 癕把 Translation: 200 Gil Dig Number: (Forest - 25) (Lagoon - ?) Point value: (Forest - 2) (Lagoon - ?) More to come... --Items you can buy from Mene (蔼發)-------------- Note that these items cost Points (皘癈般癵) NOT Gil [癕把] Name: 百猍皍癐皍百猍癶 Translation: Robe of Lords Description: The best armor for magic users Cost: 10,000 Thanks to Etoh21 for this info Name: 瓎瓐瓘 Translation: Description: Cost: 85,000 Name: 癊癈般癘癎癰癢 Translation: Wing Edge Description: Cost: 3500 Name: 颁癇把癵癒般癤癑猍癶 Translation: Virutogansu (?) Card Description: Cost: 1800 Name: 癎猍癳把 Translation: Ether Description: Restores 50 MP Cost: 450 Name: Translation: Description: "Special" enemies ask for it, icon is a black gem Cost: 250 Name: 皌癇癹癰癗癤 Translation: Phoenix Down (?) Description: Revives one party member Cost: 150 Name: 癕癟猍把鰮侬 Translation: Description: The item used to call Chocobos on the world map Cost: 10 --(2.) Chocographs(癭敖癛癘芭皌)------------- I have provided the Chocographs in the order they are listed in the Chocograph menu. 1.)Streamside / 茡瓘 Location: Not far from the Chocobo Forest and the bridge that go over the river on the Mist Continent. This one's easy to find. Items acquired: I don't recall, I found it before writing this. It was just a bunch of curing items, nothing spectacular. 2.)Between mountains / 赗瓎 Location: Mountains in southwest Mist continent, just like the clue says Items acquired: Potion x 5; Hi-Potion x 5; Tent x 2; Cotton Robe x 2; 3.)Uncultivated land / 瓲鈔 Location: South of Alexandria / 癆霸癗癟般癶吧癆, at the bottom of the hill, along the river. Items acquired: Antidote x 10; Jade Armlet x 1; Wing Edge x 3; Cargo Ship Card x 1; 4.)Healing shore / 瓑瓖餷 Location: Northwest beach on Mist Continent. Items acquired: Reef Upgrade 5.)Abandoned beach / 瓙偃餷 Location: Southern-central part of the Outer Continent, south of Qu's Marsh / , it's around the shore. Items acquired: Phoenix Pinion x 9; Phoenix Down x 5; Peridot x 12; Diamond Gloves x 1; 6.)Cold Field / 瓈螌鈔 Location: Lost Continent, just east of the beach at the south. Items acquired: Echo Screen x 5; Hi-Potion x 7; Tent x 3; Theater Ship Card x 1; 7.)Forgotton lagoon / 鯵瓙瓖瓙茥魃 Requires: Reef Location: Northern part of the Forgotton Continent. To get there, get your Choco at the south beach of the Lost continent, then walk on the shallow water, which is also where the treasure is, in the water. Items acquired: Gysahl Greens x 8; Ether x 5; Hi-Potion x 7; Dragon's Claws x 1; 8.) Faraway lagoon / 陪茥魃 Requires: Reef Location: Forgotton continent, to the right of the long thin piece that sticks out, there's a bulge. The treasure is in between those rocks depicted in the Chocograph, in the water. Items acquired: Potion x 37; Magic Tag x 6; Shield Armor x 1; Gaia Gear x 1; 9.) Abandoned Lagoon / 躁瓙沛瓈瓓茥魃 Location: Outer continent, find the beach just south-east of th Black Mage Village, go west. When you see the view in the Chocograph, the treasure is in the area that far away in the picture. Items acquired: Soft x 6; Ether x 4; Feather boots x 1; N-Kai Armlet x 1; 10.) Bird's-eye lagoon / 瓥茥魃 Requires: Reef Location: Western part of the Mist continent, just off the U-shaped beach, shouldn't be too hard to find. Items acquired: Potion x 8; Phoenix Down x 4; Ether x 3; Magician Robe x 1; 11.)Small beach / 堵餷痤 Requires: Reef Location: Mist continent, south shore, dead center. There's a small island off the coast. As usual, it's in the water. Items acquired:Remedy x 4; Elixer x 2; Rising Sun x 8; Oak Staff x 1; 12.) Dawn Lagoon / 鰩茥魃 Requires: Reef Location: Mist continent, south east shore. A small island off the coast. Items acquired: Mountain Upgrade 13.) Forbidden forest / 疱瓙芚 Requires: Mountain Upgrade Location: Mist continent, at the very top of the mountains, a little to the south west of the center of the continent, you should see the forest within the mountain crater, pretty easy to spot. Items acquired: Ether x 7; Elixer x 2; Wing Edge x 10; High Mage Staff x 1; 14.)Green Plains / 饍侪垣 Requires: Mountain Upgrade Location: Mist continent, north-east beach (you can see it in the picture on the graph) It's on the plateau above the beach. Items acquired: Sea Upgrade For #'s 15 & 16, you MUST have an airship or a golden chocobo to reach them. 15.)Dusk Plains / 癪瓙侪垣 Requires: Mountain Upgrade Location: Southern shore of the western continent, just above the largest of the islands off the coast. It's in the center of the area pictured in the graph, the low ledge. Items acquired: 皌癇癹癗癤 x 12; x 14; 癑癈癠猍癷癰癗把 (Kaiser Knuckle) x 1; 瓈瓕瓥癑猍癶 x 1; 16.) Forgotton Plains / 鯵瓙瓖瓙侪垣 Requires: Mountain Upgrade Location: On the western continent, where that "hook" part on the west coast begins, on the plateau, parallel to the top grass strip. Items acquired: x 17; Ether x 5; 癐皃猍把 (Opal) x 14; 癴碍般癥蔼癈把 (Demon's Mail) x 1; 17.) Sea at Dusk / 癪瓙蒀垣 Requires: Sea Upgrade Location: Western Continent, the east shore. The area is parallel to the tip of the long thin part on the other side of the continent (You want to be on the EAST side of it though. I just mention that part because it's very visible and to give you an idea of where it is north/south) The treasure is somewhere in that water, it's a bit of pain, good luck (^_^) Items acquired: Phoenix Down x 15; 銣百猍皍 (Sun(?) Robe) x 1; 癬癈碍般癶 (Diamond) x 1; 皚癟哎發癑猍癶 (Masamune Card) x 1; 18.) Ocean / 蒀 Requires: Sea Upgrade Location: This is probably THE hardest one to find On the western side of the western continent, find the long, thin island that has long stretches of beach on both sides. Just west of that island, you'll find the treasure, *somewhere* in the water. Items acquired: x 27; 百猍皍 x 1; x 1; 癆霸癗癟般癬猍癑猍癶(Alexander Card) x 1; 19.) Cold Lagoon / 鲏 銦瓘賋 Requires: Sea Upgrade Location: Northern continent, at the top part, there's a "C" shaped land mass. It's in the top part of the picture in the graph, past the "C" shape, in the water. Items acquired: 皔吧癶癰癵 x 11; 癐皃猍把(Opal) x 9; 癟皌癅癈癆(Saphire) x 15; 癵皃猍癥(Topaz) x 19; 20.) Mist ocean / 靓 痤鋇 Requires: Sea Upgrade Location: At the north eastern part of the Mist Continent, you see the small islands in the graph, it's dead center of the area pictured. Items acquired: Sky Upgrade 21.)蒓污憬 Requires:Sky Upgrade Location: Off the north east coast of the Outer continent you'll see the island in the graph. You'll find the treasure on the part of the island that's at the bottom in the picture, to the left. Items acquired: 癆蔼癢癤癵(Amethyst) x 21; 癒猍發癵 (Garnet) x 16; x 1; 芭癘癷百癗(Lagoon Rock) x 1; 22.) 蒓污憬2 Requires:Sky Upgrade Hint translation: Location: Off the northern coast of the Outer continent, just east of the big island there. the treasure is on the island shown in the pic (very tiny) at the edge of the forest. Items acquired: 癟皌癅癈癆(Saphire) x 11; 癟猍癗霸癰癵 X 1; 瓑  瓖 x 1; 皅把癬癒把癴3 癑猍癶 x 1; 23.) 瓙憬 Requires:Sky Upgrade Hint translation: Location: Just west of the outer continent you'll see the island in the graph. The treasure is on the west side of the mountain, near the base. Items acquired:Potion x 23; 癭般 x 15; x 1; 癬猍癗皚癪癑猍癶 (Dark Matter Card) x 1; 24.) 鯵瓙瓖瓙憬 Requires:Sky Upgrade Hint translation: Location: The island where treasure #7 was, but this time it's on the island, not the water around it. It's in the plateau wast of the forest, near the edge facing the water. Items acquired: 吧皗般(Ribbon) x 1; x 1; 癆蔼癢癤癵(Amethyst) x 13; 癆猍癗癑猍癶 (Arc Card) x 1; --(3.) Evolving your Chocobo--------------------- Certain treasures will transport your Chocobo to the "Chocobo Dream World". Here it will acquire one of the upgrades, which allow it more freedom in moving around the map. Please note that these upgrades are cumilative, meaning that once you acquire a new one, you keep the abilities from previous ones as well. The upgrades: Reef Upgrade: Chocobo becomes Light Blue. Allows your Chocobo to walk in shallow water. (This is the lighter colored water) You can only enter and exit shallow water from a beach. Acquired from the fourth treasure Mountain Upgrade: Chocobo becomes Red. Allows your Chocobo to walk over mountains and other high terrain. Note that even with this ability, you can't go from shallow water to land unless you use the beach. Acquired from the 12th treasure Sea Upgrade: Chocobo becomes Dark Blue. Allows your Chocobo to walk on Deep Water. You still can not go in or out of the water except at beaches. Acquired from the 14th treasure Sky Upgrade: Chocobo becomes Gold. Your Chocobo can now fly. To do so, you have to be in any forest on the map and press the Circle button. The controls while flying are similar to the Airship. You can only land in a forest To do so, press the X button while over a forest. Acquired from the 20th treasure --(4.) Locations of Key Places-------------------- Chocobo Lagoon- Southwestern part of the map. You'll see an island with a cave in it. To reach it, you have to get on the island north of it with Chocobo tracks on it. Use your Chocobo with the Reef upgrade to walk along the shallows to the cave entrance. It's a long, roundabout walk, but don't worry, you can get there. Chocobo Paradise- There's an island at the very corner of the map (any corner, you can't see it on the mini-map but it's there) Find the crack in the mountain and use a Dead Pepper while standing in front of it. This will allow you to enter. Chocobo Sky Garden- This one's tricky. It appears as a small, round shadow in one of several set locations. The easiest of these to find is dead center of the map. Simply go there with your flying chocobo, if you don't see the shadow, save and reset. Check again. Repeat until you find it. When you do find it, fly under the shadow and use a Dead Pepper. Once you enter it, it's location will be visible on the world map (press select) from then on. --(5.) Un-answered Questions-------------------- --(6.) Credits------------------------------------- Thanks to everyone here for info they provided. If you're on here and you'd like me to add you e-mail, let me know. Porker - Provided the basis for Section 0: General Progression of Chocobo Raising The location of the Chocobo Lagoon and the trick for finding it. Etoh21- Pronunciation and info on 百猍皍癐皍百猍癶 ("Robe of Lords") Info on 癭敖癛皗癘芭皌瓖 Fanatic Crisis- Provided me with the location of the Chocobo Lagoon. Ng Yew Nam- Provided info on scoring in the digging game. Jesse (Tenoh@aol.com)- Provided many, many Kanjis throughout the file. Shreekant Date- Translation of 般癑癈 (N-Kai Armlet) EOF