I can be honest to say that the FPS genre is a go to game genre for me but in recent years the games have almost blended in terms of what they offer and all feel rather similar and samey. But one game completely changed things up by bringing back true arcade action but in a fresh and fun way that felt new and different. That game was Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare back in 2014. Now two years to the day it released, the sequel is out and promising to be Bigger, better and….Bigger!
For those unfamiliar with this game the first thing to advise is do not assume that it is a game for the kiddy winks. PvZ GW2 is perhaps one of the deepest and rewarding FPS experiences you can have right now any platform. The depth it is has is as surprising in the sequel as it was in the first game with a broad appeal to all types of FPS fan. But what exactly does not offer to deserve such praise?
PvZ GW2 is exactly what it’s marketing tag line says it is. It is bigger, better and indeed bigger (so much so it is pointed out twice) than the first game. You start the game in the Battle Background, an entire town which serves as the main hub to the game world. Each battling force of Zombies and Plants have their own side in the town which they call home in their base camp area. In the middle you have the very opposite of a no man’s land with a skirmish area that will see troops from either side mixing it up.
This Battle Background will have the portals to the online modes fans will be familiar with but what is a new feature is now the free roaming nature to explore each side’s base and take on side quests which can serve as tutorials to the game modes, introduction to gameplay of characters in particular the new classes that join PvZ GW2 and is a great way to earn coins to spend in the Sticker Shop and levelling up characters. It brings both sides to life in such a vibrant way that it gives both Plants and Zombies far more character and presence than simply two sides trying to destroy each other. You can select any class and just wander around learning how they play by doing the quests which almost serve as a campaign of sorts and with each side having their own to experience, it gives a single player feature not seen before but with the bonus that you can share it with friends as well before heading into the competitive online modes.
One of my favourite modes in the original was Garden Ops, a horde like mode which saw Plants establish a garden on a map who must then defend that garden from waves of increasingly difficult Zombie attacks. That mode makes its return but finally now has the game type available for players more fond of playing as Zombies with Graveyard Ops. This for me is the best game type as you can play with friends or solo with AI team mates or matchmaking online. It is a great way to level character classes up and earn coins but for me it just exudes the pure sense of fun that PvZ GW2 offers on different levels.
The competitive online modes are a fun take on all the familiar game types FPS fans will instantly recognise. The online now has 12 Vs 12 match us across 12 maps on release and range from traditional team death match called Vanquish modes but also features fun spins on objective modes with Suburbination and Gnome Bomb serving as Domination and Search and destroy. The competitive mode really takes all the popular FPS game types and brings them all together her with a refreshing and fun adaptations that will offer so much to sink your teeth into.
With so many modes and game types to enjoy the only thing left to decide is which class you take into battle. Each side now has six classes to choose with PvZ GW2 adding three new classes for each side to the returning characters from the first game. Joining the plants comes Rose, Citron and Kernel Corn whilst Super Brainz, Captain Deadbeard and Z-Mech Imp. All bring impressive new abilities to the mix and are huge fun to use. However it is abundantly clear that the Plants sadly have the strongest line up of character’s and highlights a problematic issue with balancing whilst not really a problem in Garden or Graveyard Ops and solo modes, it is a glaring problem in the competitive modes and needs to be addressed quickly to keep the experience becoming very frustrating and to give both teams a fair sense of competing. Balance tweaks are often implemented after release but is it a shame that something that was evident in the beta was not addressed before release.
The imbalance issue although frustrating does not deter the sublime and fun experience PvZ GW2 really is. It offers great value for those who prefer both a single player experience and one with friends. It is great to see the split screen mode return and all the added features really make this game a strong alternative to the usual FPS heavy hitters available now. If you have played the first game you can import all the characters you have unlocked and your player level into PvZ GW2. Visually it looks fantastic with really fun animations for the new classes and their abilities, just wait till you play as Rose and transform a Zombie into a goat!
PvZ GW2 is full of cheeky nods to other EA game series and those Easter eggs are great to find and not overly used if they are rather cheesy at times. I found the game to be a real celebration of just why not just the FPS genre can be fun, but also to why so many of us fire up our games consoles. To have fun. PvZ GW2 is all about the positive aspect of gaming which is simply to escape to have a good time playing a superb game with friends and making new friends whilst sharing a solid experience.
Fun is exactly what video gaming should be about and this game is all about doing just that.
