Game developer, Rare, has been slightly lacking on the game front recently. Aside from the two Xbox 360 launch titles, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo, the UK-based developer hasn’t produced nearly as much as fans could hope for. But their brand new title, Viva Piñata, looks very different from any of their previous ventures and is a welcome addition to Rare’s lineup. Not only is Viva Piñata catered for the younger gamers, but it is also set to become a huge moneymaker when it launches next year alongside its very own TV show. The question really is, what can this game provide for a mature gamer? While it is a formality that the game will not offer a huge amount of variation for an older gamer, it has some very intuitive elements that are bound to turn heads.
Viva Piñata puts you in charge of a slightly barren landscape. With nothing of interest for a good distance, you must turn this dilapidated land into a lush, glorious tropicana in order to tempt the wonderful piñata’s to join your refuge. Essentially, using the many tools at hand, you must build a garden that caters for every species, and ultimately attract the full list of over sixty different piñatas. Think Pokemon, without the “technological” catching element.
Awwwww....
While it seems rather shallow, the way you go about attracting all the Piñatas is a step in a very fun direction, as was Rare’s plan. There are literally hundreds of items that you can acquire in order to make the Piñatas come to you. Items such as pieces of foliage, houses, fences, and even your very own Piñata disco room; all of which can be purchased. Some items will actually make the piñatas feel unwelcome and that will drive them away from your garden. Given that every single piñata has a different personality and a different taste for their surroundings, it is simply essential that you include a little bit of everything so that all types will be interested in moving to your patch of land. Putting in some grass, a patch of daisies, and a nice section of buttercups would attract a Moozipan piñata, for instance.
The way you build your garden is also very innovative. You are given a complete set of tools that you use to procedurally change the entire land. You can dig up land for a pool, add building structures, and basically make the entire garden truly yours. Rare has promised that no two gardens will ever look the same. You can even completely customize your Piñatas when they have joined your garden. You can change their colors, as well as give them individual names, and equip them with various items to give them that extra unique look. Not only that, but if you hop on Xbox Live after its release, you can download new items and trade piñatas with other people.
However, not all things about the environment will successfully lure piñata. There are some types of piñata that will look around at other friendly faces to see if they find the same species as themselves. They will then be more likely to drift on over and interact. Likewise, if two species are natural born enemies, you will have to make sure that they are both cordoned off from each other – it’s only way to keep the peace.
It isn’t all smiles and sunshine mind. With so many contrasting personality’s, the piñatas will not always get along, regardless if they’re not natural enemies. If they upset each other, they will ignore one another, respectively, until you the gamer sort out their differences. Some piñatas will also become highly aggressive depending on their current mood and station. If one species does not have the right food, they will become highly agitated and try to upset others – misery loves company right? When they become too riled up, they will actually start a fight and that will obviously decrease their mood entirely. If their mood goes down to a certain point, they will leave your garden and search for greener pastures. Rare has also included a type of evil Piñata, which will come in, from time to time, with the only the focus of causing trouble. It is key that you get this piñata out as quick as possible, as it will try to completely destroy the mood in your otherwise serene camp. You can drive it away yourself, or you can let your Piñatas do the dirty work for you.
Evil Piñata....
Graphically, Viva Piñata is quite simply an incredible, if quirky, game to look at. Rare has also made sure that each piece of the game is unique – including the eye candy. The lighting blooms off the ground in a very cartoonish way and is very good looking in motion. Grass is very detailed, and takes on the form of the piñatas ‘fur’. The piñatas themselves also look the part, with fully detailed face animations and nicely detailed textures covering them. Rare has also implemented a day-to-night cycle, as well as a dynamically changing weather system.
Viva Piñata certainly isn’t missing fresh ideas, and while it may not appeal to all audiences, it still has some wonderful ideas that most open-minded gamers will enjoy. If you like original games, that offer original characters and ideals, then Viva Piñata is most certainly for you.
