Every once in a while, a game comes along that makes you question life, the universe and everything. At least, the life, universe and everything of pinatas. Do they feel• At night, when they sleep, do they dream• Do they say little prayers to me — their virtual god — that they not get eaten by sour pinatas in this surreal and super-mega-cute sim game? How am I supposed to feel about mating pinatas• When they’re in the mood, you play Darwin by selecting the two to mate, hook them up via minigame and sit back and watch them do the “romance dance” (completely PG, I swear). Then, the stork-fairy lady drops off an egg and a baby hatches … which you then sell to make money so you can customize your garden pinata paradise and attract more species to exploit. I feel … dirty. Despite my ethical qualms about breeding ultra-cute pinatas to cash in on their offspring, and despite my concerns for kids’ emotional upheaval upon watching pinatas die in yummy explosions of candy, “Viva Pinata” is a gorgeous palette for the whimsical gardenkeeper. The game draws its origins from the animated show, but it’s nothing like the wacky adventures of talking pinatas. This is strictly a virtual simulation where your goal is to create an eden to attract and keep safe pinatas. Time passes, predators lurk, lessons in the “donut” of life are learned. The simulation is solidly executed, although there’s not much depth. Keeping dibs on all the species of pinatas could get a little overwhelming for kids, and adults might quickly tire of the saccharine world. However, I sense potential for the sequel if the developer expands online options, improves “asset” management and expands objectives. But I’ll never be able to hit a pinata again. Additional Information:

‘Viva Pinata’

Developer: Rare Publisher: Microsoft Platform: Xbox 360 Genre: Simulation ESRB: Everyone How good is it? B

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