GAMES: GameSpot | GameFAQs MUSIC: Last.fm | MP3.com MOVIES: Metacritic | Movietome TV: TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

xx Altered Beast
58 Arkanoid Live!
73 Banjo-Tooie
xx Battlefield 1943
76 Battlestations: Pacific
xx Bigs 2, The
70 Bionic Commando
xx Black College Football: The Xperience - The Doug Williams Edition
90 BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
57 Blazing Birds
xx Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island
77 Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
71 CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars
82 Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, The
xx Comix Zone
52 Crystal Defenders
37 Damnation
75 Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, The
xx Droplitz
59 Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires
49 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
61 Fable II: See the Future
82 Fallout 3: Broken Steel
83 Fallout 3: Point Lookout
76 Fallout 3: The Pitt
66 FIFA Soccer 09: Ultimate Team
88 Fight Night Round 4
xx Final Fantasy XI: A Crystalline Prophecy
68 Flock!
65 Fuel
xx G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
xx Garou: Mark Of The Wolves
73 Gel: Set & Match
80 Ghostbusters: The Video Game
65 Godfather II, The
84 Guitar Hero: Metallica
76 Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
xx Gunstar Heroes
xx Hannah Montana: The Movie
69 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
73 Hasbro Family Game Night: Battleship
71 Hasbro Family Game Night: Boggle
74 Hasbro Family Game Night: Connect Four
78 Hasbro Family Game Night: Scrabble
71 Hasbro Family Game Night: Sorry!
xx Hasbro Family Game Night: Sorry! Sliders
78 Hasbro Family Game Night: Yahtzee
xx Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
xx Infernal: Hell's Vengeance
xx King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, The
xx King of Fighters XII, The
25 Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust
76 Lode Runner
79 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
xx Midnight Club: Los Angeles - South Central
63 Monsters vs. Aliens
74 NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition
xx NCAA Football 10
50 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
68 Ninja Blade
79 OutRun Online Arcade
74 Overlord II
89 Peggle
xx Phantasy Star II
xx PopCap Arcade Vol. 2
78 Prototype
76 Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
73 Raiden Fighters Aces
85 Red Faction: Guerrilla
85 Resident Evil 5
57 Resident Evil 5: Versus
70 Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock
82 Rocket Riot
72 Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
xx Saints Row 2: Corporate Warfare
51 Saints Row 2: Ultor Exposed
74 Sam & Max Save the World
70 SBK 09 Superbike World Championship
xx Shinobi
79 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
80 Space Invaders Extreme
53 Star Trek: D-A-C
48 Stormrise
64 Superstars V8 Racing
49 Terminator Salvation
65 Texas Cheat 'Em
82 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
66 Tomb Raider Underworld: Lara's Shadow
64 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
66 Trivial Pursuit
83 UFC 2009 Undisputed
77 Uno Rush
65 Up
56 Velvet Assassin
71 Virtua Tennis 2009
73 Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram
73 Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures Ep 1: Fright of the Bumblebees
62 Wanted: Weapons of Fate
64 Wheelman, The
59 Wolfenstein 3D
81 Worms 2: Armageddon
69 WSC Real 09: World Snooker Championship
71 WWE Legends of Wrestlemania
75 X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Uncaged Edition
64 Yosumin Live
49 Zombie Wranglers

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise xbox360 Game Reviews
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
Critic Score
Metascore: 82 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.3 out of 10
based on 64 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 18 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Now with full cooperative and online gameplay modes, the Viva Pinata franchise opens its doors even wider with a new game that provides hours of fun for gamers of all ages, fans of the animated series and animal lovers alike. Family members and friend now can share in the joy of creating a garden by simply plugging in an extra controller. The second player has access to all tools, actions and activities, but he or she also can collect magic by helping. Player two can spend magic by tinkering items, healing a sick pinata or filling a pinata candiosity meter. It's a new way to play. Trouble in Paradise also offers a vast level of customization within your main garden. Now, along with planting grass, trees and flowers, and digging ponds and lakes, players can place sand and snow in their garden to make exotic species of piñata feel more at home. Players also can choose to enhance their garden with themed object packs - make your garden into a space center, a pirate cove or a haunted graveyard. Buy objects to change the weather, or new toys for your piñata to play with. You have total freedom to create any kind of paradise you want! Thirty-two new species of pinata can run, crawl, fly and swim into your garden. Large, small, fierce and cute, the new pinatas will join all your favorites for thriving activity throughout your garden. Among these new species are sour piñatas that will infiltrate and wreak havoc in the garden. [Microsoft]

PUBLISHER: Microsoft Game Studios
DEVELOPER: Rare
GENRE(S): Virtual Pet, Adventure
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2008

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...

100
1UP
If you hated the original, Trouble in Paradise isn't going to change your opinion. If, however, you somehow missed out completely on the piñata party the first time around, I implore you to check it out now -- it's certainly much deeper and more addictive than its playful visuals would lead you to believe.
Read Full Review
94
WonderwallWeb
For the gamer who is looking for a different type of entertainment, Viva Pinata Trouble In Paradise fills in a huge gap in the Xbox market, a great single player game, even better in co-op or online mode.
Read Full Review
92
Cheat Code Central
The sound in Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise is particularly good, and I really enjoyed the classically-inspired score. The relaxing orchestral tunes really provide an excellent catalyst for creativity and definitely help you feel like creating a piñata masterpiece.
Read Full Review
92
XboxAddict
Without a doubt this is one of the top games for the Xbox 360 console and should definitely be included in every 360 owner's library.
Read Full Review
91
Gaming Age
It might not have as many improvements as other sequels can boast, but it's still a solid game that I think everyone can enjoy.
Read Full Review
91
Planet Xbox 360
Teaching your piñatas tricks, playing co-op with a friend, romancing piñatas, having the ability to trade piñatas with players online and much more make up countless reasons to pick up and have a wonderful time with one of Rare’s best Xbox 360 titles to date.
Read Full Review
91
Play.tm
TiP is a confident and well realized evolution that leaves the way open for more sequels. If/when Microsoft release a motion controller this game is already well positioned to become a masterpiece at the flick of a patch.
Read Full Review
90
MS Xbox World
Viva Pinata was a great game with an interesting and addicting gameplay direction, but Trouble in Paradise is a great reinvention of this title, not quite a complete sequel, but Rare proves to us that there is still a lot of life in this to experience and cater for.
Read Full Review
90
VideoGamer
Although this sequel could be labelled as Viva Piñata +, in that it more or less builds on the original rather than doing anything drastically different, it's still an absolutely must-own Xbox 360 game.
Read Full Review
90
Gamervision
Some people might be surprised by the high score given to this game. However, when you look at the whole package, you have a second game in a series that brings improved gameplay, better graphics, and many additional features—all for a lovely $39.99 retail price point.
Read Full Review
90
GameSpy
Even without some of its improvements, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise would be a solid sequel, but the more user-friendly gameplay, online features, and variety make it better in nearly every way.
Read Full Review
90
Team Xbox
TiP is a unique, genre-bending title that may not be for everyone, but it pulls off what it intends to do masterfully. Its combination of creativity-encouraging gameplay, irresistible characters, and the addiction of crafting the absolute coolest garden—all complemented by candy-colored visuals—serve up hours of piñata-fueled fun.
Read Full Review
90
Games Master UK
Don't let the colours put you off. Viva caters for the hardcore to the casual - ie, everyone. [Nov 2008, p.78]
90
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Swallow the shame of buying this and you'll own one of the 360's finest. [Dec 2008, p.94]
89
MEGamers
This title is certainly not as big as the other titles coming out later this year, but it’s very solid in its own way.
Read Full Review
88
Xbox World Australia
If you didn't enjoy the first Viva Piñata, then Trouble in Paradise isn't going to turn you around on the matter. However, if you were an avid fan of the original, there's every reason you'll still be in love with this series.
Read Full Review
88
Console Monster
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is – quite embarrassingly – one of the best titles I have played this year.
Read Full Review
88
GameFocus
If you loved the first one, this sequel will sure keep you busy and entertained for a long time. Still on the fence? Rent it but give it a serious look this time around, it’s a far better game.
Read Full Review
86
IGN AU
Less a sequel and more the definitive version, you can't really go past Trouble in Paradise if you've got the Viva Piñata bug.
Read Full Review
86
Gamer 2.0
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise doesn't change much from the first title in terms of originality, but the new additions definitely make it feel more refined.
Read Full Review
86
GameZone
Utterly charming, downright cute and one seriously enjoyable game that players of all ages can enjoy. As far as sequels go, this one doesn’t reinvent but the new content is worth the purchase price and even more so if you missed it the first time around.
Read Full Review
86
GamingXP
Pure fun, nice graphics and a good sound go side by side with a charming gameplay.
Read Full Review
85
Gamers.at
Viva Pinata 2 takes all the good stuff from the first part and adds some more pretty thoughtful new features that make it even more fun to play. A very well-made sequel!
Read Full Review
85
IGN
And although Rare is not presenting anything remarkably new, it has added nearly everything many gamers found missing from the previous game, thus creating the definitive Viva Piñata experience.
Read Full Review
85
GameSpot
There's no trouble in this paradise: The second Viva Pinata is just as captivating as the first, with enough tweaks and new additions to make this great for everyone.
Read Full Review
85
Extreme Gamer
A lot has been done to improve the minor problems from the first game mainly the pinata intelligence and the general control of the game.
Read Full Review
84
Talk Xbox
If you have not played Viva Pinata, then it's most unlikely this release will do anything to change your mind to the contrary. If you expressed an interest but did not make the plunge the first time around, I would highly recommend this as your first foray due to all the excellent additional features included.
Read Full Review
84
Da Gameboyz
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is a must buy for fans of the original and newbies alike as the game will please those piñata collecting needs.
Read Full Review
83
Game Informer
Viva Piñata retains its child-like charm, but the content is layered with deep strategies and entertaining gameplay that can suck anyone’s life away.
Read Full Review
82
Xbox360Achievements
A great gardening/breeding game that improves upon the original in many ways, but maybe not enough to justify you paying full price.
Read Full Review
81
GameTrailers
The lack of downloadable content or a custom piñata creator is disappointing, but the card content will suffice for now. With the numerous improvements and its bargain price, Trouble in Paradise is one party you shouldn’t miss.
Read Full Review
80
DarkZero
It is clever, smart, and once you get into it, damn addictive.
Read Full Review
80
Meristation
Life is pleasant in Pinata Island, and this time it’s even better. Rare took the garden-pinata-simulator and upgraded it at every possible level: better visuals, more creatures, a great coop mode, and several new features to decorate our place. With a much better tutorial at the beginning and the incredible Pinata Vision, Trouble in Paradise is the best simulator for Xbox 360, and everyone can enjoy it thanks to its simplicity.
Read Full Review
80
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Viva Piñata is a very peculiar game, hardly attractive to the casual player. Even so, it’s charm and the way it reveals the game’s complexity seduces the players looking for something different. A few game modes ease this sequel for the younger players, the game’s main target. [Oct 2008]
80
games(TM)
Although the formula is very similar to the first title, the sheer number of extra elements makes it fun to collect all those piñatas again. [Nov 2008, p.98]
80
Edge Magazine
A sequel with a suitably Darwinian focus on simple refinement. [Nov 2008, p.100]
80
Video Game Talk
It's hard to improve upon a solid game when making the sequel, but Rare has done that and more with Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.
Read Full Review
80
Worth Playing
If you're looking for a game to play with a less-experienced sibling or spouse, you could do a lot worse than Viva Piñata. It's playful, charming (assuming you ignore the grim potential inherent in the idea of sentient piñatas), easy and simple enough that even young players can pick it up with ease.
Read Full Review
80
3DJuegos
Trouble in Paradise is a really interesting sequel to the already remarkable Viva Piñata, although we were expecting more new features. The only excellent characteristic that Rare have added this time is the online multiplayer option, a fantastic addition that will allow us to help others with their gardens and the other way around. An addition that might not be that tempting for the occasional piñata caretaker, but certainly it will be essential for the most enthusiastic players.
Read Full Review
80
GamePro
Despite some irritating design elements, Trouble in Paradise is a fun game that retains the charm of the first Viva Pinata. It's sort of like trying to hit an actual pinata while wearing a blindfold-you'll be frustrated at points but it's still pretty awesome.
Read Full Review
80
GameDaily
The gameplay is about the same, but fans of micromanagement and virtual pet care will thoroughly enjoy it. Co-op mode is fun as well, in case a frustrated player needs a hand from a parent or a buddy.
Read Full Review
80
EuroGamer
The whole is deep, compelling, personal and capable of so much incidental humour and charm.
Read Full Review
80
Gamer.nl
What looks like a kiddy game for some gamers, may well be serious business for others. And that's the case with Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise. With an upgraded interface and a lot more Piñata's to choose from, this sequel is more than worthy of his predecessor.
Read Full Review
80
Giant Bomb
Trouble in Paradise offers everything the first game did--literally--with a heap of new content and enough streamlined gameplay mechanics to get even an experienced gardener's green thumb back into action. And if you never tried the original game, first of all, shame on you. Second, go play this one.
Read Full Review
80
Level7.nu
The formula from the previous game is intact in this overly cute followup to Rare's first Viva Pinata game, so you won't find much news to be exited about. But online co-op, 30 new pinatas and a whole slew of other new features is still enough to make this game worthwhile. This is one of the most harmonious and family friendly games out there for the Xbox 360. A definite recommendation for fans of the genre.
Read Full Review
80
360 Gamer Magazine UK
Trouble in Paradise only suffers in that it feels like more of an expansion pack to the previous game. Yes, many of the improvements help the overall experience and it still offers the same incredibly addictive gameplay, but there’s the niggling feeling for piñata experts that we’ve seen and done a lot of it before. Of course, if you’ve never played the original, then bump that score up to a nine.
80
Gameplanet
It doesn't change a whole lot, but improves on most of the weak spots from the original. The most fulfilling and fun title in the series yet, and as a bonus, it's playable by the whole family.
Read Full Review
80
Official Xbox Magazine UK
A clever cross between life sim and silly little collecting game with a lot of fun online party action thrown in, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise will appeal to a hell of a lot of people, thanks to its superbly created and welcoming open world.
Read Full Review
80
Total Video Games
Addressing virtually every complaint we levelled at the first game, the stronger structure, more developed concepts, and extra features undoubtedly make for a better game, but we suspect it's a game that will only really appeal to fans of the original.
Read Full Review
80
Kikizo
It may not stray far from its roots, but thanks to a cornucopia of on and offline treats Rare's one-of-a-kind garden sim gets our recommendation once again.
Read Full Review
80
Kombo
Viva Pinata 2 doesn't bring anything revolutionary to the table as a sequel, but it does fix most of the first game's problems and add some features that many felt should have been in the first game to begin with.
Read Full Review
80
ZTGameDomain
Underwhelming when viewed in the context of its predecessor, Trouble In Paradise gets so many things right it cannot be dismissed.
Read Full Review
80
Games Radar (in-house)
But for more serious pinata fans, as well as newcomers to Pinata Island, Trouble in Paradise is nearly flawless.
Read Full Review
75
PTGamers
Trouble in Paradise manages to improve the previous game and not much else, and is intended to the true piñata fans.
Read Full Review
73
Destructoid
Online integration, what I think is the most fascinating new feature of the game.
Read Full Review
72
HellBored
While still pretty and all, Trouble in Paradise doesn't move forward enough to warrant a purchase if you've played the previous ones.
Read Full Review
70
Thunderbolt
Like many sequels, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise excels at adding additional content to an already workable premise, but fails at properly expanding on the core experience beyond the original.
Read Full Review
70
Hardcore Gamer Magazine
It’s cute, approachable by all, and most of all its addicting and creative gameplay can get its hooks in you pretty deep if you let it.
Read Full Review
70
Gamestyle
If this is your first foray into the VP world then you’ll love it, but for those of us who were waiting for a true sequel, we’d best be more patient.
Read Full Review
70
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
Here comes cooperative multiplayer – the “family fun” at its best. Sequel to colorful strategy game brings lots of improvements unfortunately many of them are only cosmetic changes. [Oct 2008]
70
NZGamer
I can’t help but feeling that, while a good deal of effort has gone into enhancing the essential Viva Piñata experience, the limitation of things I can put in my garden when there is so much on offer really does kill my buzz.
Read Full Review
70
X360 Magazine UK
Attempts to open up Viva Pinata kind of miss the point. Whether this is a failure in marketing or development is anyone’s guess, but adults will still have fun.
Read Full Review
65
Official Xbox Magazine
Even if there were room to experiment, a few dozen animals aren’t sufficient to lure back veteran gardeners for long, and newcomers are bound to wonder why life on the island is so needlessly difficult. In the end, Trouble in Paradise proves to be aptly named.
Read Full Review
55
Gameplayer
Unfortunately the final experience feels exclusively created for folk stuck in a confined area with a lot of spare time on their hands and few other recreational options. Like, say, in prison.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sarah gave it a6:
The single player mode kept too many things from the first game, you feel deja vu romancing all the creatures and finding the variants that were there the first time around. There are some new animals and plants but there is not enough new material here to get excited about. The XBL achievements are not nearly as cool as the first game either.

Rob H gave it an8:
If you haven't played VIva Pinata, this is your chance to see what all the excitement is about. If you *have* played Viva Pinata, you may be disappointed to find this feels more like an expansion than a true sequel. Yes, they've added some stuff, but the general gameplay experience is exactly the same. (Of course, the same might be said of Halo 2 or NHL '09, so take that as you will.) The minigames and artic/desert areas are woefully underdeveloped; one gets the impression they had more in mind but ran into a time limit.

juancho m. gave it a10:
this game is as fun as entertaining, it has a good design, well-done graphics and easy-to-learn controllers.

Thomas G. gave it an8:
Trouble in paradise may not be a revolution compared to Viva Pinata 1, but it definitely is an evolution. Enriched by online multiplayer functions, interesting usage of pinata cam to get new pinatas into your garden - Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is a very deep simulation that may aliante Simulation enthusiasts because of the graphic style, but it definitely is fun and provides hours of fun gameplay.

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: iPhone 3G | Fantasy Football | Moneywatch | Antivirus Software | Recipes | E3 2009

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use