Ever since Microsoft got a hold of Rare, the developer's list of titles has slipped in quality compared to what the company once was. The innovation and wonder that brought about great games such as Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct, and Conker's Bad Fur Day seemed to have fluttered away. Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Perfect Dark Zero, and Kameo all lead the way and garnered a lot of hype but ultimately led to disappointment in fans used to the developer's knack for raising the bar. Don't misunderstand me, I did enjoy PDZ and Kameo; just not as much as Rare's older titles.
Because of this trend, when I first heard about Viva Pi�ata I truly didn't know what to think. The concept was oddball and obviously designed with younger gamers in mind. I mean a game where you do little more than raise cartoon pi�atas? I've heard of niche games before but that took the cake as far as I was concerned. Then I got the chance to play it.
On so many levels this game broke my preconceptions. In what could have been another "okay" release, Rare went the extra mile to create a game that truly is unlike anything that you've ever played. It draws comparisons to many titles that came before it but the fact remains that Viva Pi�ata is a work of innovation. This is the kind of game that I had come to expect from Rare in the past and this time they delivered on all fronts.
Gameplay:
What makes Viva Pi�ata so much fun to play is that it's entirely unconventional in presentation. The game starts you out little more than a patch of dirt with some bits of junk strewn out across it. Your goal is to cultivate it and make it attractive to local pi�ata animals because you are living on Pi�ata Island after all. Pi�atas are this lands number one export and in order for a party to be had somewhere in the world you need to supply your nation with this valuable commodity. It's such a simple concept that can be as deep or as easy as you want it to be.
At first the game will throw a lot of information at you. Instructions for how to operate your shovel, the finer points of growing plants, and even what it takes to attract a pi�ata to your spot of land are thrown at you in rapid succession. It's so much to take in at first that it can be overwhelming if you don't take the time to tinker with things before plowing right ahead. Because of this the title may be a little too complex for younger gamers. There are a lot of things to do and be aware of so there's a bit of frustration to be had. Still, no matter how bad you think you are doing in the beginning; do not get discouraged. There is a process to this game and the learning curve will only really be like an hour or so. Once you've got the basics down that's when the game really starts.
Viva Pi�ata is really kind of a difficult game to describe. To compare it to other games I think the best way to do it justice is to say that it's a little bit of Sims meets Animal Crossing with maybe some Harvest Moon tossed in. If you have played and enjoyed any of those games then there is something in Viva Pi�ata that will appeal to you. Be warned that there is quite a lot of micromanaging here and that some things require patience and persistence. If you possess neither of those virtues then you probably won't get into this game because this is a title that requires a lot of time.
As far as the gardening aspect is concerned there are a multitude of things to keep in mind. First and foremost is the fact that you have a shovel; use it. Pound that hard soil, dig ponds, make holes for seeds, and break things that you don't want in your space. Once you've beaten the snot out of your land and feel that you're ready to start getting your thumbs green it's probably a good idea to lay down some grass seeds first. Now that you've got a nice field of green you can begin dropping seeds and growing a variety of vegetables, trees, and flowers. This is the biggest, most important thing to keep in mind when starting the game; if you build it, they will come.
Each pi�ata on the island has a certain thing that will attract them to your garden. Whether it's fruit from a tree, a certain amount of water, a particular type of plant, another breed of pi�ata, or even your skill level; there are many a reason that a critter will come to see what you've done with the place. Discovering what will bring the new animal on board is part of the challenge in Viva Pi�ata but it's also what makes the game fun.
The first time they show up the game will give a cinematic of the pi�ata and you'll notice that they are strictly black and white. The lack of color means that you have met the requirements to make that pi�ata appear as a visitor. In order to make them a resident you have to meet yet another batch of requirements which is usually more complex. Luckily some in game menus found in the Journal helps to eliminate most of the guessing work. Once you have met the residency requirements and that particular breed of pi�ata has chosen to live in your garden there are a few things you can do for them.
For starters you will want to get that pi�ata a mate and a house as soon as possible. Romancing is one of the key elements in Viva Pi�ata because in order for you to make money and sometimes get new species you have to breed the creatures. Since this is a kid friendly game parents don't have to worry about their children witnessing a nature channel documentary. Instead you control a pi�ata through a maze of sorts to initiate things and then you're treated to a cut scene of the two lovebirds dancing around in their house. It's cute and mildly entertaining but may turn off some older gamers.
One thing to keep in mind is that the game limits the amount of pi�atas you can have at one time. Since you are limited in garden space you are forced to implement some strategy into what you keep, who you breed, and what you plant. In the beginning while you're just learning the basics this is a daunting task. Making things a little more difficult is the fact that new pi�atas are thrown at you left and right. It really takes time to experiment and get a system going so while you can figure everything out in about an hour it will be about five before you begin to feel comfortable. That kind of leads into one of the complaints I have with the game.
Just as you get into that comfort zone and begin structuring things the way you want and taking the reigns, things really slow down. There were a good couple of hours where I had no new pi�atas appear and my level growth was stagnant. I kind of found myself fiddling around and not really accomplishing anything because I lost my sense of direction. The game does a decent job at first of getting you started but when it gives you the room to grow it's probably a little too much. Since more children will most likely be playing this game than adults a little more structure could have gone a long way. Then again it's the open-ended nature of the game that is so appealing.
Within the confines of your garden you are basically free to do whatever you want. The game doesn't end in either a good way or bad despite the fact that there is a story buried in the deep recesses of your Journal. You could go on gaining levels (from accomplishing things such as breeding and growing) and until the pi�ata cows literally came home. The amazing part is that even after twenty hours with the game you'll still feel as enthralled as you did with your first five. Viva Pi�ata is just that endearing of a title.
Since this is a 360 game it's no surprise that there is some Xbox Live functionality. Unfortunately it's a little more limited than we'd expect. You can essentially check out some Leader Boards for comparisons to your buddies and mail things to other gamers. Items and pi�atas arrive in crates and certainly contain some pleasant treats but I wish I was able to take a more active role in interacting with other gardens and gamers. I guess since children will be most drawn to the game it's good that there are safeguards in place but as an older gamer I'm slightly disappointed.
As far as the actual control in Viva Pi�ata is concerned it is very functional. Navigating menus and performing tasks is easy enough and responsive though there were a couple of snags that stood out. The action icon automatically locks on to objects directly beneath it but sometimes it gets caught on other items such as pavement or a pi�ata that will walk by. I frequently found myself having to fiddle with it just in order to select what I want. Other tasks like selling items also take a little more effort than they should due to the amount of steps required. The camera is fine and provides a great amount of visibility and at all times you can see essentially everything going on in your garden if you wanted to. You are limited to how far you can zoom out though so if you wanted to see absolutely everything from a bird's eye view you're out of luck.
If you're looking for a unique title that will keep you, your kids, or other family members entertained, Viva Pi�ata is a solid choice. Many will scoff and write it off as strictly a children's game but there is so much depth and enjoyment to be found in this title that not trying it out just once would be a travesty. For those of you who had doubts about Microsoft and Rare teaming up this is a perfect example of the potential that partnership has. Here's hoping for more endeavors like this in the future and many more download updates via Xbox Live.
Achievements:
Viva Pi�ata brings an assortment of achievements to the table that are more or less easy to obtain. With 50 in total worth 20 points a piece they revolve around simple tasks that will most likely happen during the course of the game. On the easier side of things are achievements based on naming a pi�ata or getting a land upgrade. Later on when you've unlocked some of the more interesting creatures there are a few that are more complex. A good majority of the achievements are also listed as "Secret" so you can't purposely go after them unless you've done your research.
Graphics:
One of the biggest aspects about Viva Pi�ata that makes the game so addicting is the style utilized by the graphics. Cartoon animals and unique looking characters fill the world of Pi�ata Island and part of the appeal of attracting new creatures to your garden is the discovery what is out there. The colors are vibrant and the picture is remarkably clear with crisp visuals and some fantastic looking effects. As I already mentioned this is a game that will appeal aesthetically to children but older gamers will be able to appreciate the style as well.
If I had anything to complain about with the look of Viva Pi�ata it would be that there is some slight slowdown at points. These usually happen when the game is autosaving and will frequently stop the action completely or slow it down to a crawl. Despite this annoying flaw this is still one of the brightest and most attractive games that I have ever seen.
Audio:
Viva Pi�ata utilizes 5.1 fantastically with its music and sound effects. The quality of both fits this game like a glove with cute animalistic grunts and audio that absolutely pops. Because Rare is an English developer many of the characters in the game also have British accents and given everything that adds a certain charm not found in most releases. Phrases do get repetitive after a while but that's only a minor gripe amidst the sheer amount of quality.
Conclusion:
I think it's safe to say that Viva Pi�ata is a game that every Xbox 360 owner should at least check out. The concept is so simple yet the execution presents so much depth. This is a title that kids and adults can both enjoy which is a very rare thing. It truly has been a long time since I have played a game this addicting, challenging, and enjoyable.
Despite the fact that you basically just grow plants and breed pi�atas the game forces you to make moral decisions. Do you kill a certain pi�ata with a shovel in order to make room for more? Is it ok to feed that mouse to the cat so you can breed it? It's decisions like these that help add depth to Viva Pi�ata but truly it's the quality of the gameplay and aesthetics that completes the package. The bottom line is; don't feel embarrassed to play this game and don't listen to your friends when they make fun of you for owning it. They are the ones that are missing out on one of the best games for the 360.
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