Viva Pinata must be one of the most important games for Microsoft in their strategy to make their Xbox360 a bit more family friendly. There’s nothing wrong with that but it does mean that also other gamers than non-suspecting grandma’s, ignorant dads, and criticless enfants take a shot at this title. Like me!

The preview version is an almost final build so we get busy straight away. You get a couple of dozen mini games, every two or so varied with a race that reminds of Mario Kart, but less exceiting nor deep. Unfortunately these races are the best part of the game.

Playing is done with eight characters and up to four players in total, offline and online. Are present: Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Hudson Horstachio and Franklin Fizzlybear, just like their female versions. Disappointing fact is that they all control exactly the same way.

You can start the game by choosing how long you want to makei t, or by making one yourself with the events of your choice. The mini games themselves aren’t broken and the controls are well worked out, the animals respond as they should and you’ll rarely wonder whether it makes a difference of you take your controller in your hand. Some examples are the blowing forth of balloons, the boxing and collecting candy, a Brain Academy-like game where you need to remember how many piñatas are still in the house, some sort of bagwalking with exploding ground and so on.

So there’s quite some variation present and some games are even.. original. Don’t expect too much though as it never gets really immersive and if you were to have fun as an adult, then the annoying voices will make sure you’ll get terrified of ever starting it up again. Graphically everything is alright but the level nor immersion of Viva Pinata never gets reached here.

Viva Pinata: Party Animals will soon gets its full review but as things look right now the game will only appeal the youngest amongst us with solid but all but inspired or deep and well-finished mini-games. But hey, maybe that’s exactly what they want!