• Review: Plants vs. Zombies

    by
    Beatboxtaun
    Published on 06-25-2009 08:40 AM
    0 Comments Comments
    Plants vs. Zombies
    Developer: PopCap Games
    Publisher: PopCap Games
    Platform: Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X
    Genre: Tower defense
    Rating: E10+
    Release Date: May 5, 2009


    PopCap Games is back with another game that will consume you. Plants vs. Zombies is a tower defense game that uses charming characters to keep the player coming back for more. The game is extremely fun and addictive.

    Presentation
    PopCap games used an interesting and creative combination of plants and zombies and tossed them together into a game. The fact that the player is using plants to attack the zombies that are approaching the home, rather than shotguns and bats, is a nice switch up, for a zombie combatant game.

    Sound/Music
    The opening song is one that sets the mood for the game. The quirky pleasant music, grows on the player.

    The sounds of the zombies, warn the player that one is approaching. They moan and groan, in a way that is not really scary, but rather matches the cartoon setting of the game. The sounds when a plant is being planted, is fitting, along with the other sounds throughout the game.

    Graphics
    Plants vs Zombies offers some great characters with a cartoon look. The player will grow quite fond of the characters, whether they are the plants that are protecting their home, or they are the various zombies that are encroaching that give the player a chuckle.

    There's an almanac of the various plants that you obtain that gives you the name, cost, details and how much they will cripple the oncoming zombies.

    To match that, there is also an almanac of the zombies you encounter which will also give you their names, details and their strength level. There is also a "Dancing Zombie," that resembles Michael Jackson, who summons back up dancers to moonwalk their way up the grassy exterior of your home.

    Gameplay
    Plants vs Zombies is a sort of point and click strategy game where you plant different types of greenery in your yard to attack the zombies that are trying to get into your house and eat your brains. You need to make sure that you plant them strategically to work in your favor and not leave room for a zombie to slip by. Using your mouse, you click to pick up the plant you want and click on the space you want it to occupy.

    You start off planting in your front yard. When you totally secure the front yard, the zombies will then move to the back of the house and lurk across your back lawn to gain entrance. As you clear a level, you acquire a new weapon plant to work with. For example, in your back yard you have a swimming pool. Well, we all know you can't just put plants on top of the water. So you gain lily pads and other water plants like tangle kelp that will submerge the zombies wading through the pool.

    Just as you receive plants to compensate for the elements, same goes for nighttime plants. During your battle, you collect sun that your sunflowers give off to buy more plants to fill up your yard. So you need nocturnal plants to help in this war, too. You need mushrooms that will help give you sunshine called sun-shrooms and some mushroom shooters to take place of the daytime pea shooters.


    Lasting Appeal
    PopCap decided to switch it up every so often and throw in different games in the mix...like bowling for zombies or instead of Whack-a-Mole, whack-a-zombie. You will gain these in the mini games, as well.

    Crazy Dave will sell you extra slots for your plants, so that you can use more plants on each level. Just when you buy something from him that you desperately needed, he busts out with something else you'll need to go run and collect more coins to buy. The best way to rake up your cash is to play the mini games to get what you need for the levels to come.

    You will also unlock a Zen Garden, which allows you to water, fertilize and tend to your garden. When you do, the flowers reward you for taking care of them, by coins and gems, which will also help you buy more items from Crazy Dave. Instead of constantly checking your garden, you will see a watering can on the main menu and that lets you know if you need to tend to your Zen Garden.

    There are 20 Mini Games to include titles like: Beghouled, Big Trouble Little Zombie, Portal Combat, and Zombiquarium.

    There are 20 Puzzle Games to include: 10 Vase Breakers 10 Zombie Puzzle Games-Take a walk in their shoes and play as the zombies to try to get into the house. Plus 11 Survival Stages also keep you busy.


    Conclusion
    PopCap Games is known for making games that are quite addictive in nature, and they have done it again with Plants vs Zombies. They have found a creative way of bringing a zombie game to their lineup by using adorable plants as your combatants. This is a game that will offer hours, upon hours of entertainment, with so much to do throughout the game.

    Score
    9.5/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.