Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise (DS)

Is that a piñata in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
9/18/2008 6:30 PM | 3 Comments | Page 2 of 2

Other Pocket Paradise features include Playground mode and unlockable Episodes. The Playground gives players access to a full-sized garden, as well as a fully upgraded toolbox, so they can play around and test out different design ideas without having to worry about wasting coins or having nasties like sour piñatas or Ruffians coming along to muck everything up. Episodes, unlocked over the course of the main game, are short tutorials designed the help teach players the ins and outs of running a successful garden. To appeal to the younger crowd, each Episode starts and ends with a short clip snatched from the 4Kids animated television show. One thing surprisingly absent from Pocket Paradise is support for Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection. Sure, players can swap items and piñatas with one another over a wireless DS to DS connection, but if there was ever a DS game itching to include online trades, it would be Pocket Paradise. Nintendo's already included this in its Pokémon series, so there's no real excuse for Pocket Paradise not to have it as well.

Although Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise may not be an exact port of the 360 hit, Rare came as close as it possibly could, given the limitations of the DS hardware. And while it may come up a bit short when compared to its console brethren, it's still hands-down one of the most addictive DS games available. If you're a fan of the Viva Piñata franchise, this will definitely help you get your candy fix on the road. Even if you don't know a Buzzlegum from a Taffly, this is one game all DS owners should take a whack at.