Having tasted the candy that is Viva Pinata, it has to be said that it can be a little perplexing when you realise there’s a lot more to it than it simply being a ‘little kid’s game’. Any youngster would probably be hard pressed to play it given the sheer amount of faffing about that’s needed to get your virtual garden growing.

Don’t be fooled folks, Viva Pinata may look outrageously cute (including sickly coloured box art), but it’s essentially one of those God simulations where you, as the player, call all the shots. Sure, it may appeal to those gamers who adore their bright colours and schlock, but, believe us, it can be tough too.

Parents on the lookout for an Xbox 360 game for the little tykes this Christmas may well be swayed by Viva Pinata’s 3+ age rating (E for Everyone), but it would be of no use giving this title to anyone under beneath the age of ten, despite the kiddie TV tie-in. It’s a shame that Rare never include a completely dumbed-down version on the disc along with the full game, thus keeping everyone from four-through-ten happy. As it stands, despite the child-friendly look of Viva Pinata, this one’s really more geared toward the adult gamer.