Format: DS
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft (?)
Mutilplayer: Probably - Unconfirmed
Wi-Fi: Probably - Unconfirmed
ETA: September '08

Probably one of the most overlooked games to be announced in the last 5 years is Viva Pinata DS, the sequel to the fantastic original on the 360.

A few issues that I noticed in the 360 version was that there were far too many menus and looking at them felt like long-winded processes. Simply looking at different types of Pinata in your encyclopedia took a lot of menus, button presses and doubling back because you made a mistake. There were no Macro features to quicken these processes and occasionally some sod would come and destroy the most valuable Pinata in your garden while his little minions trashed it.

So far you may have noticed that I have only put the game down but they are the only issues you must face. The rest of the game is addictive, gorgeous and exciting. Basically, you modify your garden to make certain Pinatas arrive and then you must meet certain other requirements for them to get their colour back and live in your garden. While some Pinata simply require grass like the Whirl (Worm - every Pinata name is based on the animal name and a certain sweet food. For example, Horstachio = Horse + Pistachio), others need certain trees or to eat a certain amount of a certain fruit etc. There're many features and options besides and it will be ages before you've achieved everything.

On the DS, everything will be simplified in terms of controls and menus. Controls, of course will all be done via the Touch Screen with menus popping up on the top screen showing the most recent Pinata to arrive, be seen or be obtained with other announcements such as which Pinatas are needed for parties (sending Pinata to parties will increase their value). The game is shaping up to be fantastic and a true realisation of the original with fantastic graphics and, if the original's anything to go by, excellent music. The Touch Screen should make it easier to stop the evil doers from ruining your garden too! Plus it's made by Rare and, even though Microsoft and Ninty are opponents in the console war, Rare producing games for DS may mean that we'll get Wii games and classic VC games by the company.

Anticipationometer: 5/5