Plants Vs Zombies
Pop Caps Plants Vs Zombies is probably the best port of a PC game to iPhone we will ever see. The ‘Garden Defence’ game uses the iPhone touch screen better then most games that are designed specifically for the device. Its look and feel is translated perfectly from the PC version and apart from some distracting slowdown during huge battles, runs like a dream.
Each level starts with a quick tracking shot of your lawn followed by the player been given his or her choice of plants to use in defence of their cassa. So far, so castle defence’y; what sets PvZ so far apart from every other game in the massively over saturated TD genre is Pop Caps now patented super slick and humours level design and visual style. Not to mention the soundtrack which is amazing(not even counting the Michael Jackson Zombies entrance music)
At the end of each level you unlock a new plant or upgrade to help you defend your house and brains. It’s this constant carrot on a string that keeps the ‘just one more level’ vibe alive at the start of the game but once the difficulty ramps up and the later night time levels get their claws into you its shear will that keeps you shooting flaming peas at the opposition.
After level 2 you will unlock the ability to use a shop where more upgrades become unlocked as well as extra plant slots to fill in your load out. Fight the urge to purchase the Gatling gun upgrade first, believe me, you need that slot!
Levels are also broken up by mini games that help curve the pacing without feeling like filler; the touch screen controls are great here and I really can’t go on enough about how much this game is suited to the iPhone.
There is one technical hitch that as I mentioned above does become pretty distracting, once you have more then seven Zombies on screen the slowdown does turn the whole speed of the game down by about 10% and it’s a shame because once your array of weapons start firing from land and sea (well, swimming pool) the game can look fantastic in its bedlam. Luckily as with most iPhone games, after game support is almost a certainly and I’m sure this will be addressed in due course.
Anyway this is a short review for a great game, chances are you went out and splashed down the 2.39 the game costs (seriously this is a steel) the minute it hit the app store. If you didn’t then do it, fast.
When you see the winter Olympic zombies you will thank me. Go purchase the shit out of it!
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