There's a zombie on your lawn
I've never really liked traditional tower defense games. I've always felt like they lack focus and variety, two components I like in my games. That being said, PopCap Games is not your traditional tower defense developer, and it shows. Plants vs. Zombies is a surprisingly fresh take on the genre, and is a fun, lighthearted game that should be enjoyed by both "casual" and "hardcore" gamers alike.
What Plants vs. Zombies shares with tower defense games is its basic structure. That is, your primary goal is to defend your house from zombies, and you do this by gathering resources and building immobile plants to get in the way and attack said zombies. But that's about where the comparisons end, at least with respect to tower defense games I've played. Where they seem to be simultaneously boring and overcomplicated, Plants vs. Zombies does a fantastic job at keeping things simple and streamlined, while introducing new stuff time and time again. Every level seems to showcase a brand new mechanic, be it a new plant for you to use, a new zombie type to deal with, or a new environment to play in. The result is a game that's changing all the time, and it somehow manages to make each new concept as intuitive as the last. Combine this with a slick, streamlined interface and Plants vs. Zombies becomes a game that's a joy to play.
That ease of play is one of Plants vs. Zombies' greatest strengths, making it a game that should appeal to a wide audience. That will probably come as no surprise to anyone familiar with PopCap Games' previous works. They have a knack for making games that attract casual as well as hardcore players, which is certainly the case with Plants vs. Zombies. It's accessible enough that anyone can get the hang of it, yet offers just enough different variables, modes, and collectibles to keep the devoted coming back after the main campaign is finished. That being said, Plants vs. Zombies isn't exactly the hardest game around. I don't think I died once throughout the entire game, and even then only a select few levels required a more than a modest effort. I don't feel that this made the game less enjoyable for me in any substantial way, which may be due in part to the game's fantastic style. The visuals and audio are chock full of charm, and the writing is pure gold. Who knew that plants and zombies had so much personality? I'll certainly never look at a sunflower the same way again.
Plants vs. Zombies' only real drawback is that it's not a particularly ambitious game. It doesn't push the boundaries of what video games can do, or otherwise provide an experience that's likely to stick with you for too long after you're done. This is a game whose sole purpose is to entertain you during the time you are actually playing it, and at that it's as good as any game out there. If you're in the market for a few hours of lighthearted fun, you can't go wrong with Plants vs. Zombies.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
