Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise

"If you refined the gameplay of the original, you'd end up with this."

This game has hardly been advertised over in the UK, and when I saw it in the shop I was surprised that it was released so quietly. I enjoyed the original VP, so thought this couldn't be too bad. I was surprised to find it is one of the best games for the DS in a long time.

Gameplay:
The core gameplay is very similar to the original, with the same basic goals - attract as many pinatas as possible to your garden, to gain the ability to attract even more different pinatas, and send them off to the occasional party for rewards. There are around 60 different pinatas, all based around animals (although a couple are based on mythical creatures). It is a sandbox game, like a cross between Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, but without the commitment, waiting and boredom those games entail. You have a selection of tools available to shape your plot of land, which as you progress gets larger so you can hold more pinatas. There are several in game shops as well where you can purchase houses, accessories and plants for your pinatas and garden. The main game mode can be quite difficult, especially for younger gamers who just want to see the cutest pinatas as soon as possible, which is why the introduction of 'Playground' mode is a fantastic addition to the game. It is basically a garden that is randomly generated from the cards you pick, deciding how much grass, water and foliage you want initially, and where the criteria for attracting pinatas is much easier to meet. You have instant access to all items from the shops, and infinite coins, so it is a less challenge focused mode, and more about casual fun. There is another new mode, called 'Episode' mode, which are mini tutorials interspersed with FMVs from the Viva Pinata TV series, which are genuinely helpful. All these modes combined create a deep gameplay package. The game is played from an isometric perspective, so is very different to the original's, but it allows you to see more of the garden at once and select pinata much faster. The only hang ups with the gameplay is that the camera can't be rotated, and as there is a lot of crowding of objects, selecting somethings can be difficult. 9/10

Controls:
The controls in the game are a vast improvement on the 360 original, with touch screen control allowing you to very easily control what's going on in your garden and navigate the menu. The controls make this game seem perfectly suited for the DS. 10/10

Graphics:
The colours are as vibrant as the DS allows, and the FMVs are of relatively good quality, with just a little lag and frame skipping in them. The character models are good for the DS, especially as there is practically no slowdown during the actual gameplay, even when there are two-dozen pinatas on screen. Rare have done well managing to keep the charm and detail from the original game's graphics in the scaled down DS version. 10/10

Sound:
The ambience from the gardens inhabitants remains, and is very calming compared to the sounds of many games around at the moment, with no gunshots or sword clattering. The music in the game is kept to a minimum, only in menus, shops, and during when pinatas are fighting or romancing, and the music has retained a lot of the quality of the 360 incarnation. In 'Episodes' mode, the FMVs retain all the voice acting from the TV series, and once again in good quality, so sound is another of the game's strong points. 10/10

Longevity:
There is a lot to do in the game, if you are to collect every pinata, find each of the pinatas variants, and become Master Romancer for each one, so it is by no means a short game, and it is fun to play in both long sessions or short bursts, so it won't be one you trade in after a week. 10/10

Overall, a great addition to anyone's DS catalogue, and a game that's as fun to watch as it is to play.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/15/08

Game Release: Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise (EU, 09/05/08)