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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Altered Beast
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Compete in a variety of zany battles and races in the social party game Viva Piñata: Party Animals. Control the fame, fortune, and destiny of all your favorite characters from Viva Piñata: Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Franklin Fizzlybear, and Hudson Horstachio. Viva Piñata: Party Animals includes more than 40 mini-games and a dozen foot races for players to compete against one another. Collect candy and special bonuses in all sorts of exotic and hazard-filled locations. Up to four players can gather together in the family room to play, or join a game on Xbox LIVE, and take the party global. [Microsoft]
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... 85
NZGamer
It's filled with fun!
 80
Team Xbox
The wide range of minigames almost guarantees everyone will find at least something they like in the title, and I’ve yet to find anyone who didn’t get a thrill out of the game’s fast paced racing.
75
Official Xbox Magazine
Party's certainly not as deep as its predecessor, but it features some of the most engaging mini-games on 360 to date. [Holiday 2007, p.80]
75
DailyGame
Viva Pinata: Party Animals is a fun family game that might be a little too easy and repetitive for adult gamers, but the kids will love it especially when you play it with them.
75
Gaming Nexus
While the game is billed as a dreaded party game (usually hit-or-miss), Viva Piñata Party Animals is able to blend the beauty of Piñata Island and it’s original cast a characters into a playable game that is both entertaining and fun to play in a group.
70
Digital Entertainment News
Party Animals gets a little out of control with its shortcomings, but that doesn't keep it from being entertaining for the little ones. A great presentation and some quirky moments make it charming for children.
70
Cheat Code Central
Viva Piñata: Party Animals is a colorful and good looking game, and it's suitable for kids and parents alike. No one will get too tired of playing the game, unless the kid turns it into a daily chore!
69
GamingTrend
Thanks for the demo Krome, when does the full game come out?
65
Da Gameboyz
Fans of the original Viva Piñata game will likely be disappointed in Viva Piñata: Party Animals as the originality and depth of the first game has vaporized.
65
GamePro
Viva Pinata Party Animals is squarely aimed at a specific audience populated by those that find burping hilarious and think cartoon violence and comic mischief are peak entertainment; i.e. children.
65
Console Monster
It is by no means perfect but it is a polished title with no major bugs or glitches and with its budget price tag it’s worth getting, particularly if you fancy some mini-game fun for a change.
64
GameZone
With the mini games and racing both falling into repetition; the gameplay ultimately suffers from [lack of] any type of depth.
64
Planet Xbox 360
With the 360 so devoid of family-friendly party games, Party Animals should have been a slam-dunk, not just slightly better than Fusion Frenzy 2. The game gets the tone and characters right, but this time the piñatas feel stuffed with quick-cash rather than candy.
61
GameTrailers
The Viva Pinata Universe is a creative one, and has loads of potential. Party Animals doesn’t really harness all of that, but it does provide a somewhat shaky foundation for a much better sequel.
60
Worth Playing
A graphically impressive party game. Although it may seem a bit droll and uninspired to the hardcore gamer, it does an admirable job of being a fun party game for the younger crowd.
60
GameDaily
Party Animals completely lacks what made the first Viva Pinata so endearing.
60
MS Xbox World
Due to a lack of diversity and interest within the party games, the extreme shortness of the competition mode and a lack of options within the ‘options’ screen, I’d be surprised if you play this more than thirty minutes a sitting.
60
GameSpy
If a sequel comes along with a greater variety of mini-games, more playable characters, and plenty of new dialogue (the two hosts' back-and-forth conversations get old quick), we'll be happy to play it. With this one, however, you might want to wait for a price drop before joining this party.
60
Games Radar
Fans of the original should avoid this one - kids will enjoy it, but Party Animals doesn't have the heart or charm of its predecessor.
60
Gaming Target
Overall, it’s a decent effort but the repetitious gameplay makes it little more than a rental.
58
Gaming Age
All together Viva Pinata: Party Animals is a decent entry into the franchise, but nothing that will keep you entertained for very long. In short bursts it can be a lot of fun, and it's kid friendly appeal will make quite a few parents very pleased.
57
GamingExcellence
While it shines with striking décor and beautiful backdrops, Party Animals fails at engaging its audience and providing a solid game experience.
56
IGN
The inherent problem that really bogs down the action in Viva Pinata's aesthetic successor is that the mini-games simply don't stem from a fun design scheme.
55
1UP
It doesn't bring anything new to the table, and while its party games provide some casual fun, it relies far too heavily on the Viva Piñata license for the bulk of the entertainment.
55
GameSpot
There's simply not enough of a game here to prop up the pretty pictures.
55
Game Informer
The races, which conclude each tournament, offer smooth controls and track designs loaded with jumps and tight turns, but given how frequently players get power-ups, they end up being more of a crapshoot of who is dealt the best hand.
55
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Younger players might want this game for its cute characters, but it’s not as fun as it looks. It’s possible that some less demanding children might like it, but there are better party games available out there. [Jan 2008]
50
Gameplayer
Yes, it looks pretty, but without the competitive spirit and creativity of other party games, Party Animals gets old faster than a progeria sufferer. This one is sadly a bit of a party pooper.
50
Gameplanet
This one's strictly for the under tens. Big kids would be well advised to revisit the original Viva Piñata for their 'party animal' fix.
50
360 Gamer Magazine UK
Worth it if you’ve got a gaggle of screaming kiddies to keep quiet or you simply want a quick 1000 Gamerpoints (the game is very generous), Party Animals certainly won’t be cut the mustard with anyone who’s gaming habits extend beyond the casual.
50
VideoGamer
For all its charm and my early enthusiasm for Party Animals, there simply isn't enough creativity to make this a title families will keep coming back to.
50
Official Xbox Magazine UK
This is never going to be the game that sets the world alight or is a critical success - but it is far from a cheap cash in like many party games, and might just prove the right direction for Rare's misjudged franchise.
50
Kombo
Even little kids will probably be turned off by the lack of options – unless they don't mind literally playing the same over and over.
48
Games Master UK
A minigame compilation that lacks any real charm, and simply isn't enough fun. [Jan 2007, p.69]
46
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
We appreciate that mini-games must be simple and intuitive, but that doesn't mean they can't be imaginative, or hide subtle depths and plenty of replayability, or at least pretend they're doing something exciting. Party Animals does none of these.
45
Gamers Europe
For a fun party game - even one aimed at kids, who let's face it are just witless dwarves who'd be impressed by a cardboard box if it had a picture of a monkey on a skateboard on it - Viva Piñata is horribly oversimplistic, repetitive and just plain lacking in oomph.
40
Xboxic
Single players will be disgusted at the AI and lack of options and variety on offer. There’s zero substance here. Multiplayer gives a short-lived fun experience, with the mini games making players laugh for all the wrong reasons. The mini games lack imagination that we see in other party games such as Mario Party which actually has something to go back for.
35
PALGN
Party Animals is one of the worst mini game compilations released in the past few years. The game is a sad moment for the franchise.
30
EuroGamer
There's very little challenge or strategy, and very little imagination has gone into anything besides the visuals, which were done by other people anyway. Xbox 360 wasn't a good system for kids and families before this came out, and nothing's changed. Teach them to play Viva Piñata instead.
30
X360 Magazine UK
Awfully disappointing spin-off that insults on practically every level. The developers at Krome deserve to be punished, just like we were when playing this. [Issue 27, p.95]
25
GameShark
A pretty big disappointment – the only fun there is to be had for adults are the GamerScore points, while kids didn’t enjoy the game either and would rather hit the Wii for some casual gaming. Even if your kids like the series, this is a tough game to recommend.
25
Game Revolution
Piñatas are good when they contain candy and treats, but these so-called Party Animals only hold the broken dreams of the Public Broadcasting System. They shower the poison of lost opportunities and stink of failed marketing schemes.
Bob P. gave it a7: |
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