Review: Viva Pinata

Superb family game

Viva Pinata: sleeper hit on Xbox 360, now out for PCs.

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Viva Pinata

For: Windows PC

From: Microsoft Game Studios

Classification: G

Score: four stars

Viva Pinata was a sleeper hit with gamers -- both hardcore and casual -- when it came out on the Xbox 360 last year. It was Microsoft's first real attempt to attract children after years of wooing the hardcore gamer with shoot 'em ups, racing games and adventuring.

Viva Pinata PC is the same game you'll find on the 360 and it will appeal to both children and adults with its bright, colourful creatures, cartoony charm and ability to engage you.

You start the game with a bare piece of land that has to be cleared of long grass and debris using a spade. You then throw on some grass seed, plant some trees, develop the land and hope some of the wandering pinata will move on in and make it their home.

If the pinata like what they find, pretty soon your patch of land will be playing home to myriad pinata with names like Fudgehogs, Moozipans, Pretztails, Mousemallows and Syrupents.

Your patch of bare land has suddenly turned into a multi-coloured wonderland.

Don't be deceived by the cartoony exterior, though. Once the various breeds decide to live in your garden, micromanagement kicks in -- you have to develop your garden so the pinata stay there and stay happy -- and you'll suddenly find yourself taking a special interest in what plants attract what pinata, what breeds like each other -- and what breeds don't.

It's almost like a game of The Sims but with colourful creatures that need feeding, watering and so forth. You'll be a guardian and protector as the passive pinata can often fall prey to more aggressive creatures, and yes, like real pinata, these ones spill lollies when they get cracked open.

Viva Pinata PC deserves to have the same impact as it did on the 360. This is an inoffensive, family friendly game that children will love and adults will (secretly) adore. Recommended.