So Plants Vs Zombies seems to have been released on every electronic device ever at this point, Popcap the small web-based, flash game, developer have really managed to create some truly additive games and make some serious amount of money out of them but why? Surely this is just another lame tower defence game you’ll play for an hour and then never look back…well no. Popcap have somehow given us a simple additive premise and then, the devious bastards that they are, have added a lot of depth to it.

But let’s get back to basics first shall we. Plants Vs Zombies is a tower defence game; zombies shuffle down one of the six lanes on your lawn in search for brains, you know, as zombies are known to do. You then must plant one of the many different types of plants to deflect their attacks. The game is very simple and the first few levels are deceptively easy designed to hook you in and then never let go.

 

 

How it does this is simple, after you complete a few levels you’ll unlock a new plant, which you’ll want to try out. Or it’ll unlock the shop where you can buy better defences, or new plants. Or maybe it’ll be the new mini-game that has popped up that will grab your fancy; then perhaps the zen-garden will tempt your green fingers. Oh and complete the game and you’ll be able to play through it again but this time you get to keep all your plants and the zombies will be harder to defeat.

 

At first you’ll have the standard lawn, the next section will see you fighting in the dark where there is no sun and thus less power for your plants. The backyard has a pool which forces you to invest in water plants and then there are two additional maps to play around in which I won’t spoil. Regardless each one requires you to change your strategy, review the plants your using and come up with the best combination to overcome the zombie horde.

 

 

Once you’ve played enough you’ll unlock more mini-games to play, survival modes and a wisdom tree to grow. Oh and the Xbox 360 has a local co-op/versus mode. While it is a shame that you can’t play it over Live it won’t stop you having a lot of fun with friends in the flesh. The only Live element is an endless survival leader board and the ability to check on your friend’s houses which are slightly customisable and display your achievements with bizarre lawn ornaments.

 

It’s perhaps the simple artwork and the subdued humour that truly makes the game that something special. You have various odd plants with back-stories if you care to look and the zombies are certainly an odd bunch of misfits filled with; American Football stars, disco dancers, dolphin riders and exploding tinker-box players. Then there are a couple of cheats just to make them look even more ridiculous.

 

 

Plants Vs Zombies is an incredibly additive game that will keep you playing for far longer than you would think. There is always something around the corner, always something keeping you playing until the wee small hours of the morning thinking “just one more level”. You really should at least try out the trial version (which has quite a nice chunk) of the game and then if you enjoyed that then pick it up for your electronic device of choice…like I said it’s on almost of them.