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RARE’s second Xbox360 title – after Launch Title
Perfect Dark Zero - comes in the form of Viva Piñata,
a
Simulation game in which player must cultivate a garden in order to
attract various Piñatas. Yes, we know that won’t sound too appealing
to your average Halo gamer, but RARE do have a reputation for
great games, although not necessarily great stuffed donkey games.
Despite it’s less than gripping premise, Viva
Piñata does look like it could be a decent game and is likely to
be popular with gamers that appreciate titles such as Animal
Crossing or Pokemon. By creating a pleasant garden
through the use of simple tools, players attract Piñatas. Each
Piñata likes different things players must figure-out exactly what
features, such as waterfalls and trees, will entice each Piñata to
their garden. Once the Piñatas have settled down they can be tamed
by the player and then customised through the purchase of
accessories. Viva Piñata also features an online mode where
players can compare and trade Piñatas.
While the player must manually maintain their
garden in the early stages of the game, later on they may hire
workers to aid them in their task. The player must also watch for
sour Piñatas that will attempt to ruin their
 painstakingly
created garden. These bad Piñatas can be removed by the player, or
with a little work, tamed and allowed live in the grounds.
Viva Piñata features some nice colourful graphics
although at moment there are occasional drops in framerate. With
over sixty Piñata and online play, Viva Piñata is likely to
become very addictive if given a little time. Hopefully RARE’s flair
for original gameplay will shine through, but it’s unlikely that
Viva Piñata will appeal to everyone. |
