Cult life-sim Viva Piñata turns 20 this year and to celebrate, the game’s brilliant soundtrack has been rerecorded.
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Cute, chaotic farming game Viva Piñata was released in 2006 alongside an animated kids TV show. A Microsoft executive is rumoured to have called it the “most important” Xbox game at the time, but Viva Piñata was met with mixed reviews. Two sequels followed – Party Animals (2007) and Trouble In Paradise (2008) – alongside handheld spin-off Pocket Paradise but the franchise has remained dormant since. In that time, it’s developed a cult fanbase and this year, Viva Piñata turns 20.
‘Rare Treats: Viva Piñata Revisited’ is due to hit streaming services tomorrow (January 9) and will feature “reimagined and enhanced” versions of 25 Viva Piñata classics courtesy of original composer Grant Kirkhope.
The first taste of the album, a reworked take on ‘Over Fresh Day’, can be heard here via The Pop Insider.
The record is also being released as a gorgeous 2LP vinyl via Materia Collective. “Celebrate the vibrant world of Viva Piñata with this newly crafted reorchestration of Grant Kirkhope’s iconic score. Pressed on 2xLP confetti vinyl and housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket, this edition stands as the definitive way to experience the soundtrack, bringing renewed vibrancy, clarity, and emotional depth to every beloved theme from Piñata Island,” reads a product description.
“Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded at Smecky Music Studio, this lush new production elevates the whimsy, charm, and sweeping orchestral color that made Viva Piñata unforgettable – now presented with cinematic richness and refined detail. Mixed and mastered by Gareth Williams, the soundtrack shines with warmth, balance, and polish befitting its orchestral scale.”
The vinyl will also include liner notes by Justin Cook, lead designer for the Viva Piñata series, composer Grant Kirkhope and designer Steve Mayles. “This release offers an intimate look at the creative world behind the music and its enduring legacy.” Pre-orders will go live tomorrow here.
In other news, Lionsgate has confirmed new video games based on beloved horror franchise Saw and Keanu Reeves’ brutal assassin John Wick are in the works.
English (US) · 