At first the colorful visuals and cute graphics make it seem like Viva Pinata is a game designed exclusively for children... wrong!. This game has much more depth to it that fist appears, with a deep strategy and unfolding story line.
***Background Information***
Developed by Rare Ltd, ... Read review
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In a nutshell:Ex-Nintendo developer Rare is bringing a rather different style of game to ... more
the Xbox 360 as you tend a virtual garden to attract and tame magical talking piñatas. It may sound twee but its ability to addict is far more powerful than its...
Postage & Packaging: £1.94 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In a nutshell:Ex-Nintendo developer Rare is bringing a rather different style of game to ... more
the Xbox 360 as you tend a virtual garden to attract and tame magical talking piñatas. It may sound twee but its ability to addict is far more powerful than its...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Viva Piata is a wacky, zany, and anything-can-happen comedy series that answers the ... more
question, for the first time ever, "Where do piatas come from?"In a lush environment on Piata Island, a multitude of happy, colorful Piatas live the sweet life, frolicking, dancing and filling themselves up with the most delicious goodies a child could ever want.Then they eagerly await the glorious day when they are 'chosen' by the Piata Factory to attend birthday parties, and special celebrations all over the world, bringing joy, treats and tons o' fun to kids of all ages.Viva Piata is a window to fantastical world full of wild-roaming Piata.Players choose from hundreds of elements to customize their world in order to attract piatas, foster good relationships among the 60+ piata, and navigate the conflicts and dangers that threaten to break them open.
Piata live on picturesque Piata Island, an idyllic land where they have fun adventures and ... more
enjoy dancing, all in preparation for the day when they get the chance to entertain people at parties...The piatas demand a well-maintained garden before they'll settle in. Cultivate and maintain your garden to attract your first basic Piatas. Keep them happy and more will arrive - the better your garden the more exotic the Piatas. You can buy houses and accessories for your Piatas to keep them happy and you can even swap them with friends using the wireless DS function.Create and cultivate a beautiful and welcoming garden to attract PiatasCollect Piata to complete your Piata Pyramid - over 60 Piatas to collect including 7 exclusive brand new speciesCare for and customise your garden and your residents by tending to their needsCarry out missions for favourite characters from the TV seriesCollaborate with friends - share any piata, accessory or object from your garden via wireless
The original Rare Ltd. team behind "Viva Piata" has reunited to bring gamers "Viva Piata: ... more
Trouble in Paradise," the newest piata adventure that invites gamers to return to magical Piata Island. Unfortunately, not all is well on the island, as Professor Pester along with his gang of Ruffians have wiped out Piata Central's computer records, which poses a threat to parties everywhere. To help Piata Central, players must gradually rebuild the computer database by sending piatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world. While thwarting Professor Pester's evil plot, players still build and maintain piata gardens - using their creativity and imagination to attract, trap, protect, train and manage more than 100 different piata species. Available exclusively on Xbox 360, "Viva Piata: Trouble in Paradise" reinvigorates a colorful and engaging gaming experience on the Xbox 360 platform. Now with full cooperative and online gameplay modes, the "Viva Piata" franchise opens its doors even wider with a new game that provides hours of fun for gamers of all ages, fans of the animated series and animal lovers alike.
Advantages: Fun, addictive, cute graphics. Disadvantages: Could have better XBOX LIVE features.
...graphics make it seem like Viva Pinata is a game designed exclusively for children... wrong!. This game has much more depth to it that fist appears, with a deep strategy and unfolding story line.
***Background Information***
Developed by Rare Ltd, Viva Pinata is a colorful simulation game often likend to The Sims, Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. The original concept began as "Your Garden" in 2002, this idea ... ...Viva Pinata was officially anounced on the 15th March 2006 and later released on the 6th November 2006 with a "general audience" or "everyone" rating.
***Basic Gameplay***
In a nut shell- the aim of the viva pinata game is to create a beautiful garden that will act as a haven for pinata species. Starting out with a small neglected plot of land and only a few basic tools you begin to transform your ... more
At first the colorful visuals and cute graphics make it seem like Viva Pinata is a game designed exclusively for children... wrong!. This game has much more depth to it that fist appears, with a deep strategy and unfolding story line.
***Background Information***
Developed by Rare Ltd, Viva Pinata is a colorful simulation game often likend to The Sims, Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. The original concept began as "Your Garden" in 2002, this idea then went on to evolve as Viva Pinata. Viva Pinata was officially anounced on the 15th March 2006 and later released on the 6th November 2006 with a "general audience" or "everyone" rating.
***Basic Gameplay***
In a nut shell- the aim of the viva pinata game is to create a beautiful garden that will act as a haven for pinata species. Starting out with a small neglected plot of land and only a few basic tools you begin to transform your garden. As your garden comes together you attract pinata species, for instance when ou turn over the soil at the beginning of the game you'll attract a whirlm to the garden.. whirlms in turn attract sparrowmint and so on. The rarer a species the more requirements your garden will have to meet before that particular species will visit and decide to stay. There are also may achievements you can unlock by reaching a new experience level and discovering secrets.
***Characters***
~Pinata species~
Over 60 different species roam Pinata Island. Each can be attracted to your garden under the right conditions. Here are some examples of pinata species from the booklet that comes with the game.
*Horstachio- Bigger and stronger than most pinata steeds, and a good sign that youre on the way to earning your racing stripes.
*Parrybo- An eye catching pinata, but with a voice as large as its plumage, its not a good choice for anyone with sensitive ears.
*Elephanilla- A Pinata worth boasting about, but be prepared to pay for its huge daily diet and a certain amount of property damage.
Theres so much more to the game than attracting species, complexities I encountered involved conflicts between different pinata species. Some species are natural rivals such a Kittyfloss and Barbark. Pinatas actually fight by bombarding each other with missiles... after a fight a pinata may become sick and you would need to call a vet pronto before your pinta turns to candy!! Aswell as pinata theres a huge range of plant life to grow, as you gain experience new seeds become available to plant and grow. Plants need to be watered to the correct level (over/under watering is harmful to plants) and fertilizer can be applied for extra growth.
~Garden personalities~
During your time as a resident of Pinata Island you will meet other local character sand stories unfold about how each character fits into the history of the Island. Viva Pinata offers a wide range a characters including a variety of helpers, good guys and enemies. The character diversity keeps the game interesting.
Here are some of the characters
*Leafos- As one of the characters you will talk to on a regular basis, Leafos will provide you with advice throughout the game.
*Storkos- Delivers eggs to expectant Pinata parents (How cute!).
*Seedos- A slightly eccentric character, but a great source of new seeds to plant and grow in the garden.
*Jardiniero- Pinata Islands legendary gardener, who ran the garden before you.
Garden Help
A really cool thing about Viva Pinata is that you can draft in your own work force to do some of the tasks for you!. Theres Sprinkling (for watering), Weedling (removes weeds), Gatherling (collects produce lying around garden and sells), Watchling (drives out pests) and Diggerling (Uncovers burried treasure). One thing annoying about garden help is that the helpers homes take up a big chunk of space in the garden. Also Gatherling sells some of the items I need!
The Bad Guys
*Dastardos- A bit of a grim reaper character, Dastados makes your Pinata sick and will offer to "fix" Pinata.
*Ruffians- Spread bad sweets and cause mayhem in your garden.
*Sour Pinatas- Wild Pinatas that appear when certain conditions are met. Unlike other pinata species these guys cant be described as friendly- and will harm your garden if given half the chance!.
***Tools/Resources***
Garden Tools
At the start you are provided with a few basic tools including a shovel, watering can, grass seed packet. These tools allow you to shape your garden, grow plants, dig ponds and remove junk. As the game goes on better, stronger tools become available to you that make your tasks and gardening easier.
Currency
Chocolate coins are the currency on Pinata Island, collect all chocolate coins that you find. You can also make coins by selling Pinata that you have attracted to the garden or bred. Use chocolate coins to buy new items, like seeds, accessories, tools and pinata.
Journal
Another useful tool is the Journal which logs all your discoveries and progress. The journal shows you all the garden events, leafos' comments and tips.
***Caring for Pinata***
Each Pinata has a set of its own requirements for making an appearance and visiting your garden. If the pinata likes your garden and certain conditions are met it will decide to stay. Theres a whole host of things that pinatas might need to stay in your garden... from bodies of water (ponds, lakes) to food and even the prescence of another pinata species. Such complexity and diversity makes for very good game play. Once the Pinata is a resident of the garden you can build it a home, customise it with its own name and accessories!. Two pinata of the same species or sometimes different species (Im not giving too much away!) can be "romanced" in the right home to make baby Pinatas!. Romancing involves a little mini game, consisting of a maze which you have to go through without hitting the walls to complete. On completion the Pinata do a romance dance (so sweet!) and egg will be delivered!. Baby Pinatas turn to adults through transformation involving a cocoon stage. Some species of pinata cant be attracted to the garden the usual way and you would need to experiment in order to attain them, perhaps by feeding a certain food or crossbreeding. Speaking of food, that brings me onto the subject of sweets (Yum!). There are a number of sweets available to Pinata, some are mood enhancing, others needed for romancing but some (Bad Sweets) are poisonus and make Pinata Sick!.
Another thing I like about Viva Pinata is the range of village shops you can utilise including a general store, a pet shop- for all the accessories you need, a post office- for trading pinata via the Xbox Live connection and a builders yard to construct homes for pinatas and helpers.
***XBOX LIVE***
One weakness with the game is that you cant do much with the XBOX LIVE connection apart from trading pinatas and other items with friends. There is no on-line multiplayer options like some other games have. On the other hand I do like the use of the Post Office to trade Pinata by virtual post.... Its the attention to detail that makes this game so good!
***Summary***
Overall this game is superb, with attractive graphics,good audio quality and excellent game play. Viva Pinata immerses the player into a rich, vibrant simulation game, with so much to do that its almost impossible to get bored. The games complexity and depth mean that its suitable for people of all ages. I personally have found this game to be addictive and you get a real glow of pride when you attract a rare pinata species to your virtual garden!
Advantages: Stunning Graphics, Customise Everything, Interact with friends using Xbox Live Disadvantages: Can Feel Childish
...Rare's latest wonder that is Viva Piñata and while it isn't quite what I was expecting, I was certainly surprised with what I saw.
To explain this game to people who don't know, basically you are given a patch of land which you must make into a garden which is unique and colourful enough to attract the wild roaming piñatas and make them become residents, as your garden improves and you attract more piñatas, you will then be awarded with different ... ...and therefore more piñatas.
Viva Piñata is a game which is rich in colour and gameplay, it may not appeal to everyone but I would recommend it highly, it is equally playable by adults and children and anyone with a family may find themselves arguing over the Xbox 360 controller, thankfully you can each have your own garden though so it's just a case of sharing your Xbox 360, so while this game is unusual, if you want to play something fun and different ...
TJGardner 12.04.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
Advantages: Very fun to play, very deep and involving. Disadvantages: A bit to deep for some, the graphics might put older gamers off.
Viva Piñata is a simulation game developed by Rare Ltd., for the Microsoft Xbox 360. The project was headed by Gregg Mayles and the team behind the Banjo-Kazooie series. Viva Pinata has only been released on the Xbox 360 but there is no Only on Xbox 360 visible on the case and following E3 this year, a version for Windows and the Nintendo DS have been announced. Viva Pinata is a simulation game where you take up the role of a Gardener, thats right ... ...is no story really to Viva Pinata, you just make the best garden possible to attract as many Pinata species as possible. The further you get into the game, the more you can put in your garden and the more Pinatas you attract. Pinata's are those animals you see on the case and yes they are made from paper and they are filled with sweets. But with so many Pinatas to attract to your garden there is enough here to keep you going for a while. Some Pinata's ...
dan89 06.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
Advantages: lasting gaming experience, fun, great visuals Disadvantages: you might prioritise your Xbox... :-)
...The second picture shows the Viva Pinata logo.
The third picture is Hudson Horstachio, one of the Pinatas that appears in the TV series of the same name.
The forth picture is a Juicygoose - a variant of the Quackberry after feeding it *some* fruit... :-)
The fifth picture is a picture of the Squazzil house so that you get an impression what gorgeous detail is used throughout the game.
And finally, the sixth picture is a random shot from Pinata ...
Achtel 09.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
Advantages: Addictive gameplay, family game for all ages, good value for money Disadvantages: You won't want to do anything else other than play it
...first caught my boyfriend playing Viva Pinata, I laughed at him for playing a child’s game. How wrong was I? I gave it a go, and 50 hours playing time and 50 Xbox 360 achievements later, he is laughing at me for having no more social life.
The game is addictive. It's not just the graphics, although the piñatas are beautiful, colourful and full of character. The gameplay is stunning, very easy to master, and there are games within the game adding ... ...is a background story to Viva Pinata, which is told in chapters in the story book. Each chapter is unlocked as your garden improves. This tells you about all the characters in the game, and how they got there. You will meet Seedos, who gives you free seeds; Leafos, who will give you advice; Storkos, who delivers the eggs; Dastardos, who will smash your piñatas if you don't look after them properly; and Professor Pester - look forward to meeting him...
...
JoannaScott 20.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
Advantages: Fun, unique gameplay, relaxing but engaging Disadvantages: Controls can be awkward, especially navigating menus
...introduced to the concept of Viva Pinata is a weird experience. It is hard not to be sceptical about a game which is based around attracting Pinatas to your lovely garden, but this game proves why you should never judge a book by it's cover, and why you don't need to shoot anything to have fun in game.
The concept is a simple one. You start with a small plot of land which you can landscape into a garden with the hopes of tempting the game's creatures, ... ...for something different then try Viva Pinata today, I know I did and I don't regret it.
If you like this game it is worth pointing out that as of October 2008 a sequel is available - Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, which adds more Pinata species, and a lot more to do so it is worth checking out. I'm waiting to play my own copy. A DS version of the game is also available. ...
alienduck 14.10.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
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Reviews which might be of interest for "Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)"
Advantages: The cute little fuzzy animals.. Disadvantages: The mean sour Pinata's..
, and after being given a 'everyone' rating it was possible, to be played by children and casual game players alike.. The brightly coloured packaging was made for this attraction.. Well it seriously worked on me!
The game is similar to Sims and other creator based games, in that there is no real win or loose situation the game is totally dependant upon you to choose which tasks to undertake and which piñata's you want to mate and build houses for to keep in your garden..
The original game released initially for Xbox360 was later released onto PC and onto Nintendo DS, with the new sequel on Xbox360.. 'VivaPiñata : Trouble In Paradise,' which is the reason I am writing this review!
Plot of 'VivaPiñata : Trouble In Paradise'
I am going to give you a general idea of the plot of the game without ruining it for any of you that may ...
Advantages: bright, colourful, online multiplayer and fun for all ages, Disadvantages: you can spend quite a few hours on it, but is that a bad thing? :)
Theres trouble in Pinata Paradise, in the newest edition of the hit series : VivaPinata.
After spending countless hours on the first, cultivating my garden, and tending to my pinata's every need, i heard about the second instalment on the Xbox360, and knew i had to buy it!
From the smallest pinata's like the "Whirlm", to the huge "Eliphanilla", theres over 50+ different species this time round. Each with their own unique and funny little quirks.
So you start with the smallest plot of land available, its basically a patch covered in hard soil, in which you have to turn into lush green grass in which will first of all attract the small easy to handle Pinata's.
Each Pinata has its own requirements that you must meet before it wants to become resident in your garden. When you have certain items in your garden, pinata's come to visit ...
Advantages: Simple and just plain fun! Disadvantages: Races can become repetitive
As a fan of the original VivaPinata, I brought this as soon as I saw it was available, And I have not been disappointed in the least.
The Game
--------------
As the name suggests, this is a party game. Best played with up to 3 friends.
You can choose from 8 of the original characters from VivaPinata, including my favourite, Francine Fudgehog!
Depending on if you choose a short, medium or long game. The format is as follows. Each round starts with a race, then is followed by either 2 , 3 or 5 mini games. The long games have more races and are followed by more mini games. Your place in the race will determine how much candy you get for the mini games, and your place on the leader board. The more candy, the higher you are. Top person wins simple!
Races
---------
I believe in total there are 10 racecourses. The point ...
Product Information for "Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)" »
Product details
Publisher
Microsoft
Developer
Rare
Release Date
1st December 2006
Age
3+
Genre
Simulation; Kids/Family
Sub Genre
Life Sim
Max Number of Players Offline
4 Player
Max Number of Players Online
2 Player
Format
DVD-ROM
Platform
Xbox 360
Aka
Viva Piñata
EAN
882224277310; 882224277051
Manufacturer's product description
Viva Piñata, an original intellectual property and the latest innovative gaming experience from leading U.K.-based developer Rare Ltd., invites gamers to create an immersive world where living piñatas inhabit an ever-changing environment. Beginning with a few basic tools, players build and take control of this environment, using their creativity and imagination to attract, protect and manage over 60 different piñata species that can visit their world and make it their home. Utilizing hundreds of customizable elements, players can create a unique piñata paradise.
Pushing the capabilities of the hardware, Viva Piñata brings a vibrant and engaging gaming experience to the Xbox 360 platform. Appealing to kids, adults, casual gamers and enthusiasts alike, this uniquely customizable and social game rewards and challenges all players regardless of their skill level.
The Viva Piñata gameplay experience presents a customizable, social and spontaneous world in which gamers play an absolutely crucial role. The Viva Piñata world is an evolving paradise teeming with fantastic living piñata creatures and vibrant plant life, all determined by the player¿s choices and actions. Viva Piñata boasts the following qualities:
Customizable. - Viva Piñata allows players¿ imaginations to run wild by providing them with expansive freedom and choice:
Your world. Your choice of contents will determine which of the piñata species are attracted to your world, since they all have individual requirements. Sowing grass, digging ponds, planting flowers and growing trees all affect which of the unique piñatas you will see. It¿s not just about plants, either; there is a whole range of ornaments and structures that could be decisive. Your reward for creating an appealing paradise is to watch the piñatas visit and eventually reside there, which is where the fun really starts.
Your piñatas. Once you have resident piñatas, you can begin to personalize your loyal community. Piñatas can be individually named and given their own personally designed tag to put on display as a declaration of their home turf. And the customization doesn¿t end there. You can make the colorful critters more distinctive by customizing them with all kinds of costumes and accessories.
Social - The Viva Piñata community is a rewarding place to be, whether you remain within the boundaries of your own world or venture out into the real world or your friend¿s piñata world via Xbox Live, the first and only global, unified online console games service.
Interact with the piñatas. Getting to know and understand the personalities and requirements of your piñatas is essential if you want them to stay happy and thrive. Make your world their ideal paradise, and they¿ll want to raise a family and expand your community.
Interact with the characters. Players decide how much help they want from the local guides, shopkeepers and work force. Go it alone or get them involved you choose.
Interact with other players online. Via the Xbox Live online community, players can contact other gamers to lend a hand, lay down a competitive challenge or trade items.
Spontaneous - Viva Piñata is a constantly changing world where anything can and does happen:
It¿s happening outside. It¿s not just new piñata species that are drawn to your world; untamed sour piñatas with bad attitudes and troublemaking ruffians do their worst to spoil your creation and must be dealt with.
It¿s happening inside. Maintaining harmony within a growing community isn¿t always easy when rivalries, illness, injuries and even candy-spilling fights occur. If players turn their backs, who knows what their piñatas will do?
