Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise

"Innovative fun that doesn’t run out! A truly rewarding experience!"

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise

Innovative fun that doesn't run out! A truly rewarding experience!


Viva Pinata was something of a sleeper hit. It was an amazing game that was very interactive. The game was very intuitive, innovative, and it constantly rewarded the player. So why was it such an overlooked game? Well, im guessing it had something to do with its appeal to children, its colorful environments, and its cute and ever so cuddly looking Pinatas. It is a shame that many gamers couldn't at least try the game with an open mind. Every thing good has a dark side, the Sour Pinatas and other enemies are what took the game that extra mile that instantly made it a classic in my collection. Trouble in Paradise puts a larger focus on this “dark side of things” and with that, Rare hits another home run.


First let me start off by saying, Trouble in Paradise doesn't really feel like a sequel. It feels more like an expansion where you do not need the original to play. It features more of everything, including, new Pinatas, new Sour Pinatas, new areas, and even new environments. That's not all, There are new garden items, new seeds, new plants, new trees, and really so much more. While it has tons of new stuff and lots of new features, it just plays a lot like the original Viva Pinata. Don't worry thou, that is not at all a bad thing. It just doesn't cross that line that separates an expansion from a sequel. It does offer tons of new Game Play elements and the online experience has everything that was missing the first time around. The online experience is greatly improved. While on Xbox Live you can swap Pinatas with friends, make a garden with your friend, compete in mini games, plus more. There are even leader boards for your Pinatas.


If you haven't played the original, don't worry, this game is very easy to pick up. You start in a garden with one random Pinata. You go from there. You plant seeds to grow plants, bushes, and trees. You can dig ponds, you can even lay grass, sand, or snow (sand and snow are new to Trouble in Paradise). Believe it or not, but you actually level up in this game. Every time you make another Pinata a resident, every time you successfully grow a plant or tree, every time you romance 2 Pinatas, you gain EXP. Gain enough and you level up. Its rather traditional. Every time you level up thou you are rewarded nicely with something new. The game keeps on giving and it doesn't stop. This game's lasting appeal is through the roof. If you did play the original, don't worry, there is plenty of new stuff that keeps this game feeling fresh.


This time around there is, as they say it “Trouble in Paradise.” Professor Pester along with the baddie Ruffians, are out to ruin your garden. They were present in the original, but now they are jump started and really sinister. They will cause a lot more havoc this time around. Professor Pester will actually destroy your hard earned Pinatas. Ruffians will ruin your scenery, fill your ponds with dirt, and even leave bad candy for your Pinatas to get sick. Professor Pester and the Ruffians aren't the only threat on Pinata Island. There are also Sour Pinatas, which are the dark and evil Pinatas. Each different one has its own specific task to help terrorize your Garden. This can range from leaving dirt piles around your garden, attacking your helpers, or even eating your hard earned Pinata eggs. Not only that, but they spit out bad candy as well for your naive Pinatas to find. If a Sour Pinata breaks in your Garden, Seeds will be revealed. These aren't normal seeds, these seeds grow weeds. Weeds can quickly overtake your garden and wipe out your entire Pinata population. The Sour Pinatas can be tamed thou, fulfilling certain requirements for each one will tame the Sour Pinata. The Sour Pinata will become a normal cute Pinata and will even become a resident of your garden. One more threat lurks (as if there weren't enough), his name is Distardos. He thinks he is doing the right thing by destroying your sick Pinatas. Whenever a Pinata eats a bad candy or a weed flower head, it will get sick. You will need to call the Doctor to come heal the sick Pinata. If you take too long, Distardos will come and destroy it. So not only are there a lot of threats, these threats keep the game fresh and interesting.


In addition to the new Pinatas you will Attract, there are 2 new areas that have a completely different style of gameplay. You can travel to 2 other areas of the Island. One is called Dessert Desert and the other area is called Pinartic. Now, when you are at one of these areas, you wont be tooling around with the traditional Viva Pinata Gameplay. You cant build anything, you cant plant anything, you cant change any thing, but what you can do is capture Pinatas to bring to your garden. All you can really do while at these areas is buy Traps and bait. You generally set a trap down, and then buy bait to put around the trap and on the trap. So you basically lure Pinatas into traps with bait. Trust me, it is a lot more innovative then it sounds. There is a method to the madness, Each Pinata likes different bait, other Pinatas will be eating the bait your setting out for the Pinata you want. All you can do is scare them if they get too close to your trap or bait and hope they don't come back. What happens when you do actually catch one of these Pinatas? The closed trap is transferred to the post office for easy delivery to your Garden. Whenever you want it, just go to the Post Office and get it. When it is in your garden, you then get to unpack it. The Pinata you captured will not automatically be a resident. You will still have to fulfill whatever Resident requirements the Pinata requires. If you don't fulfill the requirements quick enough, the Pinata will see no reason to stay in your garden and leave. In which case you will need to go catch one all over again.


I Believe if you actually look past the cuteness and play this game with an open mind, that anyone will find this game enjoyable. Never have I played a game as rewarding as this one. The game is constantly unlocking stuff and making new things available to you every time you gain a level, which in turn, can attract new Pinatas. Overall, if you can overlook the cuteness you will see that there is a classic buried inside. I hope this review has helped in your decision to either buy or not buy this game.


Closing Comments;

Presentation; Everything looks good. A stand alone Expansion/Sequel for $40. Improved Menus, Graphics, with tons of new content.

Graphics; Not much has changed with the graphics since the original. You will notice some graphical improvements but nothing really major. The only thing I really noticed was how the water looks. It looks absolutely amazing and is a huge improvement from the original.

Sound; The music is still catchy. The nighttime music is soothing. All the sound effects of the garden, Pinatas, and items are on key and sound just right.

Gameplay; All the controls fit like a glove, even if it is your first time playing. Everything is easily accessible and the innovation will suck you right in.

Lasting Appeal; You will be occupied forever. You will always find something new every time you play. There is just so much you can do in this game. There is no doubt about it, this game is definitely worth $40.00

Score: 9.6

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/06/08

Game Release: Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (US, 09/02/08)