Plants vs. Zombies, now for PS Vita
LOVED IT: Same addictive gameplay from tablet versions, lush visuals, brilliant sense of progression, easy to learn
HATED IT: Pricey, not easy to read text on Vita screen
GRAB IT IF: You haven't played Plants vs. Zombies elsewhere
There was a time, just a few short years ago, when Apple iPad games were measured against portable console gaming experiences. We wondered if they could hang, if the likes of Cut the Rope would ever captivate us as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII once had.
But oh, how things have changed. These days, it's the young Sony PS Vita that must prove its tablet gaming worth. And that process starts with Plants vs. Zombies, a classic iPad game that's landed on the Vita.
Can the Vita version of PvZ hang, we ask? Yes and no. Developer Popcap Games faithfully recreates its iOS brand of accessible strategy gaming on the Vita, changing hardly anything. Except for that price tag, that is, which jumps from 99 cents on iTunes to — wait for it — a whopping $14.99 on the PlayStation Network.
So much for value. Popcap's Vita price hike is horribly unfriendly, one of the few blemishes on a brilliant strategy gaming experience. Just in case you've been spending all your iPad time with Angry Birds, here's a quick recap: Plants vs. Zombies tasks you with seeding a series of backyard, pool and roof levels with all manner of plants in an attempt to hold off some slow-moving zombies from attacking a house.
Your plants can't move, but they can do plenty of other things, such as shoot, release suns (allowing you to plant more plants), freeze the zombies, and even launch giant watermelon bombs.
It's a ton to learn, with all the depth of a classic PC tower defense strategy game (think Heroes of Might and Magic). But Popcap makes it all easy to figure out, giving you new elements with perfect piecemeal pacing. You learn each plant before having to figure out another one, and, gradually, you grow excited after each level, dying to see the newest addition to your garden.
This is all present on the Vita version, and the game retains its silly charm. Unlike many other Vita ports, Popcap stays true to its touchscreen roots, ignoring the new console's bevy of control options and utilizing the touchscreen that worked so well on iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices. The gameplay experience is never distracting; it feels natural, and the Vita screen is fluid and responsive.
The simple controls also keep you focused on the beautiful action going on onscreen. PvZ's visual style is simple and cartoony, but everything pops on the Vita's fantastic OLED screen, colors looking lush. Text can be tough to read, but it's not unbearable. There's leaderboard support, too, and you can earn PlayStation trophies as well.
It's all well done, and just as addictive as it was on tablets, but Popcap works to add some value, too. There are a few minigames to busy yourself with, and a handful of added levels. The Vita version of Plants vs. Zombies just may be the most comprehensive one available on any device, and you'll never regret burning hour after hour playing it.
You'll only regret that hefty $15 price tag. The game itself is certainly worthwhile, with plenty of depth and charm. But it's also available – albeit without a feature here and there and without PlayStation Trophy support – on just about any tablet you can think of, for under 10 dollars.
If you don't own a tab or iPhone, though, then don't hesitate, because Plants vs. Zombies on the Vita can go toe-to-toe with any tablet version.
And that's something you never thought you'd ever think about.
Reviewed on Sony PS Vita
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters recommends: Donate to Wikileaks.
No comments:
Post a Comment