Kragg
09-21-2010, 09:37 AM
Title: Plants Versus Zombies
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Platform Reviewed: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: PopCap Games (http://www.popcap.com/)
Publisher: PopCap Games (http://www.popcap.com/)
MSRP: 1200 MSP ($15)
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Plants Vs. Zombies XBLA Review
Crazy Dave is still crazy.
If there is one thing PopCap is good at, it’s creating incredibly addictive games. Plants vs. Zombies stands as one of their flagship titles and has finally made its way to Xbox Live Arcade for your couch sitting, zombie decapitating enjoyment! Much like previous XBLA translations such as Peggle and Bejeweled 2, this version of PvZ adds new features and is customized specifically for the console.
For anyone who has been living in a sewer like a common CHUD for the past few years, Plants vs. Zombies is a streamlined, stylized spin on the classic “tower defense” genre. A horde of undead ghouls are trying to get into your house, and only your yard, your garden of trusty plants, and a few lawnmowers stand in their way. Utilizing your trusty cursor, you collect sunshine to place more plants in an attempt to slow, shoot and blow up the advancing corpses. Completing levels and collecting coins allows you to unlock new types of plants and upgrade items to better take on your adversaries who include everything from armored bucket-heads and Zomboni drivers, to a gang of disco dancing zombies.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla2.jpg
As previously mentioned, the XBLA port brings some brand new features and game modes to the table. Most new modes are unlocked by playing through the classic 50-level “Adventure mode”, and the best of these is the local co-op play. Now I know some of you will say “no online co-op? WHATEVER!”, but maybe just climb down from your high horse for a moment so you can hear me better. PvZ demands local co-op. The fast pace and strategy required to beat some of the later stages in adventure mode or the dedicated cooperative scenarios would be almost impossible to accomplish using headsets. You basically need someone sitting next to you on the couch so you can scream “NO! Put the walnuts THERE!” It is frantic, fun, and insanely addictive. To a lesser extent the versus mode has some merit, but didn’t hold my interest nearly as long as protecting my house from the advancing mob with a friend. There are also a host of mini games to be unlocked, such as a “slot machine” mode, and one based on another PopCap title, Heavy Weapon. You can also compare real estate with your Xbox Live friends after purchasing home upgrades and customizations from your neighbor Crazy Dave. He’s crazy!
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla4.jpg
All these modes and mini games play very precisely using the 360 D-Pad or analog stick, and the controls were effectively translated to this format from other mechanisms such as the touchscreens on various “i” devices. The graphics are also clean and sharp, with vibrant colors in high definition. It’s definitely easier to notice the minute details PopCap put into the animations when they are presented on a large screen. The sound is also appropriately goofy and scary to go with the overall theme of the game.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla3.jpg
The bottom line is that for 1200 MSP, PvZ is a bit pricey if you already own the game on another platform. However, if you’ve never experienced the awesome and hilarious fun that is blasting apart zombies with a peapod gatling gun, then you owe it to yourself to check this game out. It’s great fun for a 5-30 minute sitting, or longer if you have a friend to play with. The combination of easy-to-learn strategic game play along with a sharp sense of humor will bring you back time and time again. There may be less expensive ways to play the game, but this is the most feature rich version of Plants Vs. Zombies to date and another great offering from PopCap on Xbox Live Arcade.
Score: 4 out of 5
http://evavhost.com/public/4.gif
The Good Highly addictive game play. Fantastic art style and humor.
The Bad Lack of online multiplayer could be a sticking point for some. Arguably a bit pricey with so many other quality versions already out there.
The Ugly ”The dolphin is also a zombie.”
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Platform Reviewed: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: PopCap Games (http://www.popcap.com/)
Publisher: PopCap Games (http://www.popcap.com/)
MSRP: 1200 MSP ($15)
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Plants Vs. Zombies XBLA Review
Crazy Dave is still crazy.
If there is one thing PopCap is good at, it’s creating incredibly addictive games. Plants vs. Zombies stands as one of their flagship titles and has finally made its way to Xbox Live Arcade for your couch sitting, zombie decapitating enjoyment! Much like previous XBLA translations such as Peggle and Bejeweled 2, this version of PvZ adds new features and is customized specifically for the console.
For anyone who has been living in a sewer like a common CHUD for the past few years, Plants vs. Zombies is a streamlined, stylized spin on the classic “tower defense” genre. A horde of undead ghouls are trying to get into your house, and only your yard, your garden of trusty plants, and a few lawnmowers stand in their way. Utilizing your trusty cursor, you collect sunshine to place more plants in an attempt to slow, shoot and blow up the advancing corpses. Completing levels and collecting coins allows you to unlock new types of plants and upgrade items to better take on your adversaries who include everything from armored bucket-heads and Zomboni drivers, to a gang of disco dancing zombies.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla2.jpg
As previously mentioned, the XBLA port brings some brand new features and game modes to the table. Most new modes are unlocked by playing through the classic 50-level “Adventure mode”, and the best of these is the local co-op play. Now I know some of you will say “no online co-op? WHATEVER!”, but maybe just climb down from your high horse for a moment so you can hear me better. PvZ demands local co-op. The fast pace and strategy required to beat some of the later stages in adventure mode or the dedicated cooperative scenarios would be almost impossible to accomplish using headsets. You basically need someone sitting next to you on the couch so you can scream “NO! Put the walnuts THERE!” It is frantic, fun, and insanely addictive. To a lesser extent the versus mode has some merit, but didn’t hold my interest nearly as long as protecting my house from the advancing mob with a friend. There are also a host of mini games to be unlocked, such as a “slot machine” mode, and one based on another PopCap title, Heavy Weapon. You can also compare real estate with your Xbox Live friends after purchasing home upgrades and customizations from your neighbor Crazy Dave. He’s crazy!
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla4.jpg
All these modes and mini games play very precisely using the 360 D-Pad or analog stick, and the controls were effectively translated to this format from other mechanisms such as the touchscreens on various “i” devices. The graphics are also clean and sharp, with vibrant colors in high definition. It’s definitely easier to notice the minute details PopCap put into the animations when they are presented on a large screen. The sound is also appropriately goofy and scary to go with the overall theme of the game.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/pvzxbla3.jpg
The bottom line is that for 1200 MSP, PvZ is a bit pricey if you already own the game on another platform. However, if you’ve never experienced the awesome and hilarious fun that is blasting apart zombies with a peapod gatling gun, then you owe it to yourself to check this game out. It’s great fun for a 5-30 minute sitting, or longer if you have a friend to play with. The combination of easy-to-learn strategic game play along with a sharp sense of humor will bring you back time and time again. There may be less expensive ways to play the game, but this is the most feature rich version of Plants Vs. Zombies to date and another great offering from PopCap on Xbox Live Arcade.
Score: 4 out of 5
http://evavhost.com/public/4.gif
The Good Highly addictive game play. Fantastic art style and humor.
The Bad Lack of online multiplayer could be a sticking point for some. Arguably a bit pricey with so many other quality versions already out there.
The Ugly ”The dolphin is also a zombie.”