Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise

Porting a video game from a next-gen system to a hand-held system usually results in less than spectacular results, so it’s a huge surprise that Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise for Nintendo DS outshines its Xbox 360 cousin. Challenging players to cultivate a garden that will be inviting to myriad living piñatas, the game is a basic life sim with quirky twists. Though it’s rated E for Everyone, the game features simulated piñata sex and piñatas that will convert fruit to fertilizer, complete with hilarious sound effects. Streamlined user interfaces and garden progression are a relief after the tedious gameplay on 360. However, with some added tie-ins to the new animated series, you should crack open this piñata before the franchise becomes over-saturated like Power Rangers and Pokémon.