Review: Plants Vs Zombies

Rated G for PC

BASIC: Don't be fooled by the simplicity. Plants Vs Zombies is a great game.

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Get ready to soil your plants - the zombies are coming. Your only defence against the relentless undead hordes is to sow a garden of perennial pugilist plants.

Plants Vs Zombies again highlights that PopCap is the modern master of creating wonderfully accessible "casual games" that remain hugely engaging even after countless hours of play. The game puts its unique stamp on the popular "Tower Defence" genre, and the result is hugely entertaining and addictive.

The idea is to plant defensive and attacking flora that can repel wave after wave of varied (and ravenous) zombie forces. Tools include peashooters, cactus spines, cabbages that hurl projectiles, poisonous mushrooms and explosive cherry bombs. The trick is to choose the right type of plant, as certain zombies are more susceptible to particular plants, and to make the most of your limited garden space.

It's a difficult juggling act dealing with waves of invaders with only limited resources at your disposal. The game's currency for purchasing new plants is sunshine, but planting sunflowers helps make more sun icons appear, which must be clicked upon to redeem, ensuring a relentlessly frantic pace with many competing items clambering for your attention.

As well as slowly introducing new plants and foes, the game constantly throws new challenges at the player, including night-time levels where solar power is limited, backyard interludes complete with a swimming pool, rooftop missions, fog-bound levels, and even a boss fight.

There are also hugely entertaining mini-games that expand or change the action in brilliant fashion, including an inspired version of another PopCap favourite, fun puzzles and the chance to turn the tables and see what it's like to be in the zombies' shuffling shoes.

The wit and design skill on display puts many other game developers to shame. For just $30, this is an essential addition to any gamer's library alongside other PopCap gems such as Bejewelled, Bookworm Adventures and Peggle.

- © Fairfax NZ News