Viva Pinata

Crash-prone PC port loses some of the original's garden managing charm

Nov 20, 2007

Viva Pinata stole our hearts with cute candy-filled pinata-on-pinata love-making when it debuted on the 360. Unfortunately, the PC version loses some of the original version's charm due to its late release and crash-prone nature. But if you're willing to put up with the occasional unexpected trip back to your desktop and Microsoft's usual shenanigans - that try to tempt you into buying into their Games for Windows plan with a one month pass - Viva Pinata is still worth checking out.

Those unfamiliar with the 360 version may brush off Viva Pinata as a silly kids' game that's not worth your hardcore gaming time. But if you've got an open mind, you'll find a uniquely addictive and pleasantly colorful change of pace that scratches that Animal Crossing itch without all the hassle of little dogs yelling at you for not playing in a couple days.

You start with a ramshackle plot of land strewn with garbage and rocky ground and it's your duty to pound the land back into shape, providing a safe haven for the local piñata wildlife. It's a relatively simple concept that ramps up complexity fairly gradually (though seasoned gamers will find that the difficulty level keeps pace nicely after the fairly brief tutorial period).

The Knowledge
Viva Pinata
Viva Pinata

Genre: Family
Release date: Nov 6, 2007
Developed by: Climax
Min system requirements: PIII 1.8 GHz or equivalent, 1GB RAM, 10GB HD space, NVIDIA 5900, ATI 9600, or above
Recommended system: P4 3.8 GHz or equivalent, 2GB RAM, 10GB HD space, 256MB DirectX 9.0c video card
Multiplayer Modes:
Offline
1 player SOLO
Online
2 player CO-OP
Latest Articles About This Game
Crash-prone PC port loses some of the original's garden managing charm
PC Review  -  Nov 20, 2007