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DSA Recommended! Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise
Topic Started: Monday Apr 13 2009, 11:43 PM (832 Views)
Ingram Monday Apr 13 2009, 11:43 PM Post #1
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
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Welcome to the very first in hopefully many DSA Recommended titles that we've played and feel deserve your attention. Only the good stuff is worthy of our recommendation. Please feel free to leave a comment about our recommendation or ask any questions you might have.

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[xtable]Most people say that Rare lost the plot a long time ago. I should point out to those people that Rare are responsible for the hugely addictive Viva Piñata series, proof Rare still have what it takes! Pocket Paradise was released on the DS simultaneously alongside the sequel to the original sleeper hit on the Xbox 360 in late 2008. And much like its original 360 version has become for the most part a sleeper hit.

Pocket Paradise is an incredibly faithful portable version of its console big brother. At its roots you’ll find a sandbox styled gardening management game. The catch is that you’ll also have to attract, romance and manage Piñatas. Think Pokémon crossed with a healthy dose of cute, and stuffed with candy!

Once you get your fingers dirty you’ll find some incredible depth underneath the cute kiddie appearance of the game. Certain Piñatas will only appear if your garden meets specific “visit” requirements. There’s no single garden setup that will successfully attract all the Piñatas, so you’ll constantly be managing your garden, changing it to suit your needs as well as your Piñatas.

The overall point to the game is to get all the Piñatas and romance them enough until you gain “Master Romance” status. On top of that most of the Piñatas have a variant you can create, usually by making them eat a certain type of fruit which will alter their appearance. There’s also a few Piñatas that you can fully evolve into an entirely different breed.

There’s a full fledged economy system you’ll have to deal with too, planting seeds, watering them and selling off the grown fruit is one way to raise some cash, or you can just breed lots of Piñatas to sell.

There really isn’t enough room here to go into complete detail about everything you can do, there’s just so much depth to it! I have no doubt about giving this game the thumbs up, once you’re addicted you won’t even notice the hours flying by.[/xtable]
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[toggle=Gameplay Footage][video]http://www.youtube.com/v/EXi8Uk6WHwU&hl=en&fs=1&allownetworking="all" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="468" height="384">[/video] [video]http://www.youtube.com/v/VZJlEX77YDc&hl=en&fs=1&allownetworking="all" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="468" height="384">[/video][/toggle]
Developer: Rare Ltd
Publisher THQ
Released: 25th Sep 2008
Common Price: $34 (When on sale, can be had cheaper still)

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Edited by Ingram, Wednesday Apr 15 2009, 01:34 PM.
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Ingram Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:24 AM Post #2
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 If anyone wants to know more about this game feel free to ask, I've clocked quite a few hours into this already, and I've still got a long way to go!

*Goes to bed to play some more* :-P
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latterdayaint Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:38 AM Post #3
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Aladdin Sane
 I saw it on sale at Big W for $25 and was really tempted to get it. Is there more stuff to do than in Animal Crossing? Because I kinda lost interest in it after two weeks.
 
Ingram Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:55 AM Post #4
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 It's not really the same kinda game as AC. Sure you manage a garden, grow stuff, water stuff. But the reason you're doing it is for the Pinatas, you're not doing it for a pretty garden. At least that's how I've felt about it.

I get so obsessed trying to get Pinatas that I usually end up trashing my garden in my attempts :-P

Also call me crazy, but I've been playing this over GTA: CW! That's got to mean something :-P
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trinest Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 10:04 AM Post #5
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I am Trin
 It's different to Animal Crossing to my experience its like Sim Animals on the DS as well (you all know what/how I play games) but that doesn't make it good- it is a semi good game- I recommend it for children both those titles.

In both those titles you have to keep animals coming to your garden/park. BUT in Viva you plant the garden etc. and roll grass and stuff- which is pretty cool.
 
Ingram Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:08 PM Post #6
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 Viva was a game before Microsoft turned it into a TV show to attract kids. Which I've always found kind of funny, considering the amount of depth there is to these games, it would simply blow over 99% of children's heads. Sure they'd play it, but I don't think it would grab them and hold onto them as much as the average adult would.
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trinest Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:25 PM Post #7
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I am Trin
 I just think its not something I'd go out and buy for myself- but if someone younger wanted it- sure.

It's fun yes- appeals to everyone yes, but I just think kids would find it more enjoyable.
 
Ingram Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:38 PM Post #8
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 I disagree, it's most definitely a game you'd need to be old enough to fully appreciate its complexity. If you want to label it as a kiddie game and miss out on it go right ahead.
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trinest Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 01:39 PM Post #9
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I am Trin
 I'm not labeling it as kiddie- more like early teens, anyway I'll leave it at that.

I have played it, enjoyed it like I said- so still recommend it regardless.
 
Ingram Tuesday Apr 14 2009, 02:01 PM Post #10
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 That's good. I guess I didn't quite understand you fully. All I was trying to say is that this game can be enjoyed by all, but to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of it all you'd have to be pretty attentive to what's going on. Which usually means you're not in the single digits :-P
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nunami Monday Apr 20 2009, 07:30 PM Post #11

I bought this today at Dick Smith for $20. I also recall seeing it for $20 at Game.

I've played a heck of a lot of Viva Pinata on the 360 so hopefully it plays well on the DS. I've just started playing Phantom Hourglass so it might be a while before it gets some gameplay
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Ingram Monday Apr 20 2009, 11:55 PM Post #12
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Hello, Dexter Morgan!
 Shit that's a good price. You should enjoy it if you like the 360 version :D
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