Viva Pinata Pocket Paradise DS Review

Viva Pinata Pocket Paradise

Nintendo DS Review
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Rare
Released: September 8, 2008

Viva Pinata has already proven to be a major hit on the Microsoft Xbox 360, and has now made its way onto the Nintendo DS handheld, courtesy of publisher THQ and developer Rare.  Is it just as fun in the move from the Xbox 360 to the DS?  Simply said, yes it is!

Viva Pinata started out on the Xbox 360, and has enjoyed a great deal of success on the platform as it has been able to appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers.

I was skeptical at first when I heard it was coming to the DS, but thankfully, developer Rare has pulled off the move with flying colors.

The Nintendo DS game is pretty much a conversion of the Xbox 360 game over to the Nintendo DS.  You get some new options, new game modes, new piñatas, etc.  The game is not easy, as it is definitely deep.  It still maintains that same great style though that allows it to appeal to the masses.

The visuals of Viva Pinata were always a highlight on the Xbox 360, and also look great on the DS.  The game combines 2D environments with 3D character models in such  way that everything is extremely colorful and pleasing to the eyes.

Viva Pinata is a very deep game, and will appeal to those who enjoy Animal Crossing, Sim City, and stuff such as that.  You start out with an empty garden, and from there you can build up it up all you like.  As you build your garden, you end up getting more piñatas to inhabit it.

You use the stylus to do all of your designing, allowing you to dig things to create all types of terrain.

Once you really expand your garden, the variety of the land will help the different types of piñatas show up.  Once they do, you have to do enough to keep them around, and to keep them happy.  You will have to adapt to learn what they enjoy to eat, etc.

The game moves at a quick enough pace that you never get bored, yet is deep enough that there is tons of information to check out.

The DS version has some new game modes, such as the free play mode known as Playground mode.  On top of that, there are also plenty of your standard Viva Pinata modes and unlockables for you to check out over time.

The game really has no goal to be quite honest, but that is the highlight of it as it never ends.  The end comes when you simply get bored, which will take some time.

If you enjoyed Viva Pinata on the Xbox 360, the Nintendo DS release is top-notch stuff.  Even if you didn’t, if you enjoy games such as Animal Crossing, or Sim City, this is also a must-buy.  Rare has done a great job bringing this franchise over to the Nintendo DS, and hopefully it will not be the last.

Graphics: 8.8 A great looking DS game with tons of style, colors, etc.

Audio: 8.8 The audio is perfect, as it does just enough to set a nice atmosphere for the game.

Gameplay: 8.5 The game converts from the Xbox 360 over to the DS well, nice use of the touch-screen.

Replay Value: 8.0 The game will last as long as you want it to last.  For the next release, Wi-Fi would be a great addition.

Final Score: 8.7

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