Tieno
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Gamespot: 8.3/10 (Justin Calvert)
Viva Piñata is game that can be enjoyed by players of any age and certainly shouldn't be dismissed because of its colorful visual style.
The Good: Accessible and fun for players of all ages; gorgeous visuals with or without high-definition display; deceptively deep; no fewer than 50 varied achievements.
The Bad: Online support is very limited; ruffians who come in and mess up all of your landscaping efforts.
Video review:
Text review
IGN: 8.5 (Erik Brudvig)
If you've played The Sims or Animal Crossing and enjoyed them, Viva Pinata is a safe bet. The gameplay is more interactive and hectic, and facing the consequences of your actions, be they good or bad, is enjoyable gaming. Viva Piñata may have been designed with children in mind, but Rare has created a game that anybody with an open mind can get into and have fun with. The characters are endearing and the abounding sense of discovery can't be denied. Despite the slim interpersonal Xbox Live interaction we would hope for in a game like this, Viva Piñata has enough to explore and keep you busy that it makes for a solid purchase.
Text review
1up: 9.0/10 (John Davison)
Emotional engagement in games is unusual, to put it mildly. For something to tug on the heartstrings to the degree that this does is simply stunning. Viva Piñata is an emotional sandbox unlike anything else, because its morality isn't simply a binary choice between good and evil. The freedom it affords allows you to mess with your own head and examine your own ethics as you slowly move the line of what you feel is "acceptable" in order to succeed. Sure, you can play it dispassionately -- but to do so is to deny yourself of its brilliance.
Rare has certainly recaptured its former glory here, and in producing one of the most misunderstood games of the year, it has also produced one of the finest in its history, and certainly one of the most intriguing on 360. To dismiss it as "just for kids" would be foolish. You are not too cool to enjoy this game.
Text review
Gamespy: 4.5/5
Rare's magical garden may look like a game aimed squarely at children, but don't be fooled. It's one of the most fun games you'll play this year.
Pros:
Surprisingly deep strategic gameplay; breathtaking graphics that are more vibrantly colorful than anything you've seen before.
Cons:
Some of the decisions you'll need to make may be heartbreaking; Xbox Live support is minimal; controls could have been more refined.
Text review
NICE!
Viva Piñata is game that can be enjoyed by players of any age and certainly shouldn't be dismissed because of its colorful visual style.
The Good: Accessible and fun for players of all ages; gorgeous visuals with or without high-definition display; deceptively deep; no fewer than 50 varied achievements.
The Bad: Online support is very limited; ruffians who come in and mess up all of your landscaping efforts.
Video review:
Text review
IGN: 8.5 (Erik Brudvig)
If you've played The Sims or Animal Crossing and enjoyed them, Viva Pinata is a safe bet. The gameplay is more interactive and hectic, and facing the consequences of your actions, be they good or bad, is enjoyable gaming. Viva Piñata may have been designed with children in mind, but Rare has created a game that anybody with an open mind can get into and have fun with. The characters are endearing and the abounding sense of discovery can't be denied. Despite the slim interpersonal Xbox Live interaction we would hope for in a game like this, Viva Piñata has enough to explore and keep you busy that it makes for a solid purchase.
Text review
1up: 9.0/10 (John Davison)
Emotional engagement in games is unusual, to put it mildly. For something to tug on the heartstrings to the degree that this does is simply stunning. Viva Piñata is an emotional sandbox unlike anything else, because its morality isn't simply a binary choice between good and evil. The freedom it affords allows you to mess with your own head and examine your own ethics as you slowly move the line of what you feel is "acceptable" in order to succeed. Sure, you can play it dispassionately -- but to do so is to deny yourself of its brilliance.
Rare has certainly recaptured its former glory here, and in producing one of the most misunderstood games of the year, it has also produced one of the finest in its history, and certainly one of the most intriguing on 360. To dismiss it as "just for kids" would be foolish. You are not too cool to enjoy this game.
Text review
Gamespy: 4.5/5
Rare's magical garden may look like a game aimed squarely at children, but don't be fooled. It's one of the most fun games you'll play this year.
Pros:
Surprisingly deep strategic gameplay; breathtaking graphics that are more vibrantly colorful than anything you've seen before.
Cons:
Some of the decisions you'll need to make may be heartbreaking; Xbox Live support is minimal; controls could have been more refined.
Text review
NICE!
