The Observer, December 8, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 13
Cuddly games for Xbox 360
Throughout 2006, the Xbox 360 has slowly amassed a solid library of games spanning many key genres (especially shooters). However, for all of the big hits this year (Dead Rising, Gears of War, Rainbow Six Vegas), gamers do not have many choices that can be played in front of younger siblings. For better or worse, the 360 has become synonymous with violent action and M-rated bloodbaths. Don't get me wrong – I enjoy online death matches as much as the next guy, but Microsoft desperately needs to diversify its offerings. Luckily, Rare's Viva Piņata is a colossal step in the right direction.
I was not expecting much out of this bizarre farming simulator. Both the colorful, oddly shaped box and the television tie-in would lead one to believe that this is strictly a kids' game, perhaps Microsoft's answer to Pokémon. Also, the once legendary Rare's recent track record has been inconsistent. It is hard to believe that derivative efforts like Kameo came from the same studio that created Goldeneye 007. However, I can assure 360 owners with similar reservations that Viva Piņata will far exceed anyone's expectations. The amount of depth and originality found here is incredible.
If you have any experience with series such as SimCity or The Sims, the basic mechanics should be familiar. Instead of dealing with people, you're in control of living piņatas. You can build homes for them, plant gardens, and shape the landscape. The 360 controller works just as well here as a keyboard/mouse setup would. The first hour or so seems very conventional, until your first pair of Whirlms mate. Creating this lowly prey attracts the predatory Sparrowmints to the environment, which in turn attract even larger, more dominant piņatas. It is at this point that the gameplay really opens up.
The virtual ecosystem dynamic forces players to make some difficult decisions. Because only so many piņatas can coexist, gardeners will have to pick and choose which species they want to propagate. In order to get specific piņatas to "romance dance," the environmental conditions have to be met, and some species have drastically different requirements (for instance, Chippopotamuses will only mate if your garden is flooded). The limited space is also a consideration.
Players are heavily encouraged to make their gardens profitable, adding yet another layer to Viva. You can sell piņata offspring, hire local workers to tend to your crops, and even dig for treasure. There is just so much to discover in this game. I haven't even touched upon some of the more nuanced elements, such as evolution, "sour" piņatas, or produce production. With so much to do, I found myself constantly playing "just a little bit longer." Viva is incredibly addictive.
The presentation is bold and colorful, without being garish like some of Rare's other recent games. The piņatas are well-animated and have plenty of personality. The layers of frayed paper covering the piņatas are particularly impressive. Sound is a mixed bag: the voice acting of the helpers can be annoying, but the chirps and squeaks of the piņatas are typically endearing. Rare has used the power of the 360 to create a convincing, albeit fantastical, world. Unfortunately, all of the beauty produces some obnoxious load times when cycling through menus.
The only disappointing part of Viva is the community aspect. You can send piņatas and chocolate coins to friends' gardens, but you cannot actually visit them. I would have preferred Animal Crossing's approach, in which you can interact with friends' gardens, but only with their permission. Considering how diverse these environments can be (my friend and I have progressed in very different directions), it's a shame that a multiplayer component was not included.
I know that cute visuals may be unappealing for "mature" 360 owners, but I hope that in this case, they are willing to make an exception. There is nothing else like this game on the system, which is an absolute shame. Why would you want to play yet another WWII shooter or sports game when you could be experiencing something truly novel instead?
