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Last weekend I was at a department store in Tokyo, and since Valentine’s Day is coming up, the confectionary section was packed with candy makers hawking limited-edition chocolates for the romantic holiday. As I looked at all the sweetness on display, though, something struck me.

In Japan, women give chocolate to the special guy in their life, but the aesthetics are still entirely feminine. I saw dozens of candies shaped like hearts, ribbons, and even teddy bears and other cute woodland animals.

While the craftsmanship was impressive, none of the designs were the sort of things men actually want for themselves, especially when they could have these awesome Final Fantasy chocolates instead.

Developer Square Enix is offering three different sets of Final Fantasy chocolates, all based on the popular seventh installment in the series. The top of the heap is the five piece Final Fantasy VII Materia chocolate, modeled after the magical power-granting materia orbs used by the player’s party in its quest to save the world. At 3,000 yen (US$28.85) the set doesn’t come cheap, but that price does get you five different flavors of chocolate, plus the undying gratitude of your game-loving Valentine.

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If the sticker shock on the materia set is a bit much for you, there are alternative Final Fantasy chocolates that don’t require you to spend 10 hours killing dragons (or working overtime) to acquire the wealth necessary to purchase them. The five-piece Advent Children set includes designs such as protagonist Cloud’s wolf motif and the logo of the sinister Shinra Corporation for 2,000 yen. While it doesn’t have quite the impact of the materia set, the more traditional design does make it more likely the recipient will actually eat them. With the materia set, there’s the definite risk that your boyfriend will just display it proudly on the shelf next to his Tifa figurine until both are overrun with ants.

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Easier still on the wallet is the three-piece Advent Children, which goes for 1,400 yen.

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All three sets are available at Square Enix’s official merchandise shop, Artnia, in downtown Tokyo.

Shop information
Artnia
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 6-27-30, Shinjuku Eastside Square, First Floor
東京都新宿区新宿6-27-30 新宿イーストサイドスクエア1F
Website
Open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Closed Thursdays

Sources: Hachima Kiko, News 2U
Images: News 2U