This is the the second installment in my series “Video Games I Find Disturbing.” The first was the Binding of Isaac; this is about a game called Viva Piñata; the third is a part of COD MW3.
Viva Piñata by Rare is a video game for children. In fact, the children expected to play this game are so young that the muliplayer mode allows both players to control the same cursor (sometimes a shovel, sometimes seeds, etc). This way, a parent can play along with the child and help her/him through the game. The game is a simulation game, similar to the Sims or Sim City. In it, you are tasked with controlling a patch of land. You need to break up dirt, plant stuff, and building structures so that piñata creatures will come and live in your garden.
1. The Romance Dance
The romance dance was the first part of the game I found really disturbing. In order to make baby piñatas, the adult piñatas have to go into their house and do the “romance dance.” Now, I don’t think procreation should be some shameful thing that happens (I think the Sims method is appropriate) but for some reason the romance dance in this game seriously disturbs me. See for yourself:
Or this one where the blue Pigxie is controlling the pink Pigxie:
There is something disturbing about this. I get the same feeling when the boat in Willy Wonka goes through the creepy tunnel. Just simply unsettling.
2. Cannibalism
In order to survive, piñatas have to eat each other. So once you have gone through the task of romance dancing your piñatas, you have to feed them to other piñatas for their survival. Talk about the disembodied mother. The first piñata you attract to your garden is the Whirlm. You are supposed to breed these and sell them to buy fancier stuff for your garden. Also, you need to feed them to exotic piñatas to attract them.
Now, again, I love FPS and killing just about anything I can. But this disturbs me more than the “No Russian” map on MW2. It just seems cruel. In the cartoons I watched the bad guys never actually killed the good guys. Wiley Coyote never caught the Road Runner; Elmer Fudd never shot, killed, disembowled, skinned, at ate Bugs Bunny. But we all still managed to understand the circle of life and whatnot.
Anyway, this is a game I find disturbing. Should you play it? Well, of course I always advocate for playing a game, but do it after a six pack while listening to Mad World. It may give you a new perspective on life.
