Metareview -- Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise
by David Hinkle 
{ Sep 7th 2008 at 2:30PM }
So let's get to the scores!
- IGN (85/100) thinks it's quite the game: "Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise takes the original 360 effort as a template, and brings the 'go at your own pace,' free-form design to the Nintendo DS, beautifully. The visuals are crisp and colorful, the audio is a mix of in-game animal sounds and VO taken from the TV show, and its easy to control the world with a quick swipe or tap of a stylus. There are some basic changes to be had, such as the lack of camera control, the removal of the somewhat pesky mini-games for mating, and the general spectacle of watching your Piñatas move around in beautiful HD, but the core gameplay more than survives in its conversion to the pocket platform, and Viva Piñata is left with just as much magic on DS as it has on 360."
- Eurogamer (80/100) says the game isn't for kids, but good nonetheless: "However, what Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise loses in coming second, and not having a triple-core PowerPC chip to drive its graphics, it makes up with its new, much better stylus-based interface, and Rare's impressive feat of retaining the vast majority of the original game's best features, in roughly the same measures. It's still a bit too complex to work as a kids' game (for that you might be better with the 360 sequel's co-op mode, where you can pick up a second pad and offer a helping hand), but for everybody else it comes highly recommended."
- Edge Magazine (70/100) said: "If Pocket Paradise makes you want to throw it against something, though, it's only because it succeeds in making gardening compulsive." [Oct 2008, p.96]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shoyz @ Sep 7th 2008 2:59PM
I personally find the -forced- videos from the show annoying; that happen whenever a new species dances (Mates).
As for the gameplay, I've only played it for two days, but it's decently fun. It's not the type of game you get a craving to play, but once you suck it up and turn it on you'll get hooked into it. My only complaints are that some pinatas breeding requirements are overly hard for breeding a pinata that isn't really worth much, and that getting 'wild?' pinatas to do their requirements (Like eating one of your pinatas, or eating one of your seeds to join your farm) can be a real pain sometimes. My 1 concern is of money making. After building an upgraded farm and having tons (my farm overpopulated once) of pinatas, it seems like a worthy investment to get rid of everything and make my farm(or garden?) perfect; grasswise/plantwise/etc., without the animals being in the way, but I'm not sure if it would conflict with my ranking % or not.
Aside from that, it's a decent game. I rate it 7.5/10, worth a purchase (Unlike those cliche Mystery Dungeon Pokemon games whose saves keep going backwards and difficulty fluxuates ridiculously.
Nigeria @ Sep 7th 2008 3:11PM
I still haven't got round to picking this up yet. I almost brought it, but then I saw the Xbox version was cheaper.
???
Then we left the store. So, yeah.
That orange pinata looks kinda pissed off.
Brittany @ Sep 7th 2008 5:00PM
You'll learn not to like the preztail (the angry orange one), he usually ends up picking fights with other pinatas anyways :P
Roto13 @ Sep 7th 2008 4:39PM
I didn't even know there WAS a tv series.
Brittany @ Sep 7th 2008 4:59PM
it's out? I show it coming out on Tuesday next week!?!?
I got Viva Pinata :TiP for the 360 when it came out last week, you guys do have the date wrong for the DS version in North America don't you?
I'm not crazy am i?
Pizza Pasta @ Sep 7th 2008 6:30PM
I've been playing it for a few days now, it's really fun.
rgreasons @ Sep 7th 2008 8:19PM
It come out on the 8th.
chibi_wings @ Sep 7th 2008 10:33PM
you do realize that's tomorrow, and in which case no one should have the game.
Brittany @ Sep 7th 2008 10:50PM
Ya, so where I'm at the 8th is tomorrow...
Are we crazy chibi?
Pizza Pasta @ Sep 7th 2008 11:59PM
I have the European Release.
Confuzzled @ Sep 9th 2008 10:17AM
I have called every GameStop and BestBuy in a 50 mile radius and no one has this game yet. Everyone lists the release date as 9/8 but both GameStop and BestBuy are showing they're still on order and they have no idea when they'll actually show up. I got TiP last week on release day without an issue.
Boo!? @ Sep 10th 2008 11:14PM
Seriously, I think this game deserved better scores (around 9 and 10 only). I'm new to the Viva Piñata franchise but I'm really impressed by this game. Good graphics (even though it's 50% 2D, the 2D part is done very well), supports a lot of simmultaneous happenings and piñatas in your garden, very original concept, a LOT of characters (I've been playing it for 3 days and I'm still at 30%), pretty long game apparently.
The only thing I didn't like about the game was the cutscenes from the cartoon...
But still, I'd say this was one of the best DS games I've ever seen. I hope it won't get overlooked =/
Niz @ Sep 10th 2008 4:24PM
Anyone in the UK
http://www.asda-entertainment.co.uk/asda/9990881.product
£18 delivered to your door!!
Jinx @ Oct 7th 2008 8:06AM
Didn't know there was a tv show, but just loved those little pinatas on the box so bought it and am hooked ever since. Seems like time flies while gardening, maybe it's therapeutic afteral xD
I'm at level 5 now and find it hard to get the new pinatas and to meet their resident reqs. Was looking for some useful hints and tricks but since it's so new, there's nothing much to find.
I wudn't give this game to a 3 yr old as it says on the box though, or 3 yr olds are much smarter nowadays ;) It has too many things to think about at the same time. Grow ur crops, water the plants (or monitor sprinkling) mate ur pinatas, dont get too many and what abt those sour ones?? Gosh, long way to go for me hahaha But loving it every bit.