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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 34 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Rare
Genre(s): Virtua Pet
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Summary
In Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise, players inherit a neglected garden on Pinata Island and turn it into a pinata paradise by tending to all aspects of cleaning the garden, growing and maintaining vegetation, caring for and breeding pinatas, as well as attracting new pinata species. The game features seven all-new pinata species, each with new requirements, houses and unique cut scenes. Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise also includes twelve full motion video clips that serve as tutorial levels within the game. The videos feature the stars of the Fox 4Kids Viva Pinata TV series, including Hudson Horstashio, Fergy Fudgehog and Paulie Pretztail. The brand-new Playground mode allows players to create a lush garden full of exciting and exotic pinatas in a very short amount of time. In addition, certain rare pinatas can only be acquired by using the Nintendo DS local wireless connection, where players can transfer items from their garden to a friend's garden. [THQ]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website Predict this Metascore
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
GameShark
As a Viva Piñata first timer, I was totally at home right from the start. The game is pure, well-paced fun, with a great deal of variation and customization available.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise is anything but a loveless port. If you loved the 360 version then you'll love this, despite the drop in graphical quality.
Read Full Review >Official Nintendo Magazine UK
This is Rare back at their best. Original, absurd and utterly addictive, Viva Pinata is a riot. [Oct 2008, p.90]
Deeko
Overall, it is a fun game. Kids may need help from parents for reading. Other than that, anyone at any age can enjoy this game.
Read Full Review >n-Revolution Magazine UK
It’s one of the most appropriate titles on the DS, both in terms of control and overall experience. A definite must-buy.
VideoGamer
The introduction of stylus controls makes for a far simpler experience, the presentation is spot on and the challenge is balanced enough for players of all ages.
Read Full Review >Play.tm
The visuals may not delight to quite to the same degree as the 360 version, and the view can be a little close-up at times, but new features like wi-fi animal trading, the interface, and of course the icon-based menus that are much more intuitive, make for an experience that can hold its own against the original title and will hopefully attract a few new players to the series too.
Read Full Review >Pocket Gamer UK
Supremely addictive and utterly charming, Viva Piñata ranks as an absolutely essentially DS purchase.
Read Full Review >IGN UK
It's a beautifully polished product and the ease of interaction immediately places this DS version miles ahead of its rather cumbersome console predecessor.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
Pocket Paradise's brilliant control scheme elevates it well beyond the original's greatness. [Oct 2008, p.71]
IGN
The experience can get a bit complicated as the game clock ticks on, and afterwards you may be left with a "what was the point?" attitude about it all, but for those that get simple pleasure out of tweaking their Animal Crossing towns, running around in a Sims experience, or nurturing a lifeless farm back to its former glory, Pocket Paradise is a must-play DS game, and one that fits portable gaming wonderfully.
Read Full Review >GamerNode
Viva Pinata's style of play fits perfectly with the Nintendo DS model. Pocket Paradise may not look as nice as the original, but it's the true embodiment of the Viva Pinata experience.
Read Full Review >NGamer UK
A great port of a game that feels like it was always made to be played on the move - and with DS controls. [Nov 2008, p.64]
GameZone
There’s something to be said for a game that can keep you glued to your tiny DS screens for hours on end without so much as taking a bathroom break. Incredibly addictive and fun to play, Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise is one of those games.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
If you're a fan of the original title, than I can definitely suggest picking this one up, but even if you missed out on the Viva Pinata hype for the original release, this version is easy to pick up and learn, and should appeal to just about everyone.
Read Full Review >1UP
The team at Rare did an awesome job of retaining a surprising amount of features in this DS iteration. Even the colorful art style makes the transition, though it's understandably nowhere near as gorgeous as Pocket Paradise's console counterparts.
Read Full Review >Da Gameboyz
With solid visuals, surprisingly good sound, and some pretty addictive gameplay, how can one not love this game?
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
Pocket Paradise succeeds in condensing a console experience into a portable game without many sacrifices and even some improvements.
Read Full Review >Nintendojo
Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise packs everything from the console original into a DS game.
Read Full Review >Thunderbolt
It’s a game that rewards you if you stick with it, and one that you’ll have a hard time leaving.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
If you’re a massive fan of the original then you should be aware that this game is incredibly similar to the 360 instalment, but newcomers should consider this essential. [Nov 2008, p.114]
Pelit (Finland)
Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise combines gardening to piñata collecting quite pleasantly. At first there seems to be almost too much to accomplish, but all too soon game play becomes repetitive. Pokémon makes better creature collecting challenge and Harvest Moon better farming experience, but Viva Piñata is nevertheless a fun experience for us who like serene gaming for a change. [Jan 2009]
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
If you want to be happy for your whole life become a gardener. Pocket Viva Piñata is as fun as its “full-grown” siblings. [Oct 2008]
Worth Playing
In many ways, Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise is a perfect game for the DS.
Read Full Review >Meristation
RARE built a pocket -but charismatic- paradise for the Nintendo DS with this new addition to the Viva Piñata series. Take care of some little paper-animals, cultivate flowers, and keep your garden tidy in this brilliant adaptation of the Xbox 360 game that also includes multiplayer options and a very colorful graphic engine that takes the DS to the limit. Play just five minutes and you’ll get lost; it’s incredibly fun.
Read Full Review >Modojo
Though the action in Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise comes unexpectedly and some boredom sets in, this is still a great DS game.
Read Full Review >Gamers.at
Pocket Paradise is truly the Rare-franchise in your pocket. True, it doesn't bring the same graphic quality of the console versions, but it's still pretty playable. Besides that, the control scheme is much beter than that of his counterparts. This is one DS title that can compete with the big boys.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
It's still a bit too complex to work as a kids' game (for that you might be better with the 360 sequel's co-op mode, where you can pick up a second pad and offer a helping hand), but for everybody else it comes highly recommended.
Read Full Review >Destructoid
The world of Viva Piñata seems right at home on the DS. Despite carrying over some faults from the original and dealing with minor limitations, Pocket Paradise is a terrific addition to the DS library and in many ways improves upon the Xbox 360 version.
Read Full Review >3DJuegos
Piñatas jump in the dual screen in order to get into a pocket paradise which has a lot of points in common with the original Xbox 360's Viva Piñata. Same gameplay mechanics and same characters in a very funny and well finished colorful gardening simulator.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Though you won't find a paradise in your pocket, Viva Pinata makes animal romancing fun while you're on the road.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
If Pocket Paradise makes you want to throw it against something, though, it’s only because it succeeds in making gardening compulsive. [Oct 2008, p.96]
Nintendo Power
Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise has all the depth of its console cousin, but is missing some of its charm. [Nov 2008, p.98]
NintendoWorldReport
An enjoyable experience, though clearly flawed in the same way its source material was flawed.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Krypter gave it a6:
A fun little game but nothing spectacular. The graphics are very crude, just very-low-rez polygons and would have benefited from a more 2D sprite approach. The gameplay is good, with interesting things happening all the time, but it's a bit frenetic. The storyline, as such, is minimal and most of it is spent teaching you the basics of the game. Collecting all the necessary bits to make your garden attractive to new pinatas can be a pain sometimes, since seeds and other items are not clearly marked nor are pinata requirements all that obvious until you've memorized all the game elements. However, it's still a good game for people with a strong collector's instinct.
