Honor Viva Pinata's Anniversary With One Of Gaming's Best Commercials

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Viva Pinata, the criminally under-appreciated life-sim (ish) game from Rare. The game defied easy explanation, but it has become a cult classic among fans of its quirky style, humor, and chill vibes. But perhaps in part because it was so hard to explain, it received one of the best game commercials of all time.

Rare and Microsoft planned to build a whole brand around Viva Pinata, across games and even a cartoon series. The major mascot character was Hudson Horstachio, a fame-obsessed horse pinata in the cartoon series. The game ad centered on a horstachio as well--though not Hudson himself--talking his way out of being bashed to pieces at a birthday party. And while the televised version delivered on the punchline, the extended version is just an absurdist masterpiece.

It's worth noting that this commercial has absolutely nothing to do with the game whatsoever, and doesn't even really attempt to explain what the game is about. Viva Pinata, the excellent video game, is about tending a garden full of whimsical candy-themed creatures, tempting new creatures to your garden by making the environment attractive to them, and protecting them from both sour Ruffian creatures and each other. There's even a sort of pinata food chain, as some of the pinatas will prey on and eat other pinatas. They reproduce through elaborate mating dance routines. It's odd, but it's also fun and relaxing and unique.

Viva Pinata was followed up by Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, a semi-sequel that mostly refined some of the mechanics and progression from the first game. It also got a handheld version, Pocket Paradise, on the Nintendo DS, and a party game called, of course, Party Animals. But it has been years now, so the series would appear to be gone--or at least on extended hiatus. Both it and Trouble in Paradise are included in the Rare Replay collection and on Xbox Game Pass, though, so you can go bash open some fudgehogs to mark the occasion.