Is Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville a Good Game?
Yes, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a good game, albeit one with some caveats and a somewhat troubled history. It’s a vibrant, action-packed hero shooter that successfully expands on the established Plants vs. Zombies universe. While it does have some flaws, the core gameplay is fun, engaging, and offers a significant amount of content. The game boasts excellent level design, diverse multiplayer modes, and a considerable amount of PvE content, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, especially those looking for a family-friendly shooter. However, it is not without its criticisms which contributed to its ultimate cancellation. Let’s delve deeper into why it is enjoyable and also explore its shortcomings.
The Good: A Sunny Disposition
Engaging Gameplay
Battle for Neighborville shines with its solid gameplay mechanics. The transition to a third-person shooter format from the original tower defense is executed well, retaining the charming and comedic essence of the franchise. The core loop of selecting a character, jumping into a match, and unleashing quirky abilities is consistently satisfying. Whether you are playing as a plant or a zombie, each character has its unique strengths and weaknesses, encouraging experimentation and tactical gameplay. The hero shooter elements are well-integrated, providing an approachable yet nuanced experience for both casual and more hardcore gamers.
Rich Content
The amount of content packed into Battle for Neighborville is impressive. The game features a substantial single-player campaign with free-roam regions that offer tons of PvE missions and exploration opportunities. The six subregions of Neighborville, including Giddy Park, Dave Manor, and Zomboss HQ, are beautifully designed and brimming with character. Beyond the PvE, the game offers diverse and engaging multiplayer modes, ensuring there’s always something fresh to play. These range from objective-based team battles to more casual free-for-all encounters.
Great Level Design
The level design in Battle for Neighborville is one of its strongest aspects. The environments are well-crafted and visually appealing. They are not only fun to explore but also strategically designed, incorporating varied terrain and sightlines that add to the complexity of combat encounters. Each area feels unique and plays a vital role in enhancing the overall experience of the game.
Accessibility
The game is incredibly accessible, making it perfect for players of all skill levels. The controls are intuitive, the learning curve is gentle, and the overall tone is lighthearted and family-friendly. It’s suitable for a younger audience thanks to its lack of blood and gore and lack of strong language. Additionally, the game supports split-screen couch co-op, allowing for some fun local multiplayer sessions, though this feature is unfortunately not available on PC.
The Not-So-Good: Cloudy Patches
Flaws & Criticisms
While there’s a lot to love about Battle for Neighborville, it’s important to acknowledge its shortcomings. The most significant criticism from fans was the lack of a sticker shop and stickerbook. These were features in previous games that allowed players to unlock customization options. Their absence was a major point of contention for many fans. Furthermore, the game received criticism for some character redesigns that did not resonate with long time players. These alterations, along with other factors, unfortunately led to its eventual cancellation.
Marketing and Playtest Issues
The game suffered greatly from a lack of proper marketing and playtesting. The game’s launch was handled poorly, leading to a lack of pre-release hype. The lack of playtesting was evident upon launch, with balancing and bug issues. These problems undoubtedly impacted its initial reception and contributed to the eventual decision to discontinue updates and development.
Cancelled Development
The cancellation of further development and content updates in late September 2020 was a devastating blow to players invested in the game. While the core gameplay was strong, the game’s full potential was never realised due to the premature abandonment of development. This leaves a sense of what could have been for this potentially very successful game.
Final Verdict
Despite its flaws and unfortunate cancellation, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is ultimately a good game. Its engaging gameplay, rich content, fantastic level design, and accessibility makes it enjoyable. The absence of key features from prior titles and the issues surrounding its launch are important considerations, but they don’t negate the fun and excitement it offers. If you are looking for a quirky, lighthearted, and action-packed hero shooter with plenty of PvE and PvP content, Battle for Neighborville is a game worth checking out.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville?
It’s a third-person hero shooter developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts, part of the Plants vs. Zombies franchise. It focuses on class-based combat with various plants and zombies characters.
2. Is Battle for Neighborville a multiplayer game?
Yes, it has both PvP and PvE multiplayer modes, including various objective-based team battles, free-for-all, and co-op gameplay.
3. Can I play Battle for Neighborville offline?
Yes, you can play the PvE free-roam regions and private play modes offline. However, public Giddy Park and PvP modes require an internet connection.
4. Is there a campaign in Battle for Neighborville?
Yes, there is a single-player campaign with multiple free-roam regions, offering a substantial amount of PvE content.
5. How long does it take to beat Battle for Neighborville?
The main storyline can be completed in around 5 hours. However, achieving 100% completion can take upwards of 174 hours.
6. Why was Battle for Neighborville canceled?
The game was discontinued due to a lack of marketing, playtesting issues, and subsequent low player numbers, leading to EA’s decision to stop supporting it with new content.
7. Is Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville safe for kids?
Yes, it’s considered family-friendly due to its colorful cartoon graphics, lack of blood and gore, and absence of strong language.
8. Does Battle for Neighborville have split-screen?
Yes, it has split-screen couch co-op on PlayStation and Xbox, but not on PC.
9. How many playable plants are in Battle for Neighborville?
There are eleven playable plant classes, including seven from previous games and four new ones.
10. How many maps are in Plants vs Zombies Battle for Neighborville?
The game features six subregions, with three of them being PvE free-roam areas.
11. What are the strongest zombies in Battle for Neighborville?
According to player rankings, the top zombies are Space Cadet, Imp, All-Star, Captain Deadbeard, 80s Action Hero, and Super Brainz.
12. What is the major problem in Plants vs Zombies?
The Major Problem is a boss character that uses explosive cheese rockets, a flamethrower, and summons minions to fight the players.
13. Why is the original Plants vs. Zombies so popular?
Its popularity stems from its innovative gameplay, combining tower defense with unique mechanics of plants interacting with the linear movement of the zombies, making it stand out in the genre.
14. Is Plants vs. Zombies 2 better than the original?
Plants vs. Zombies 2 introduces more mechanics, levels, plants, bosses and even a PvP arena, but the original holds a special place as it began the series. Which is better depends on individual preference.
15. Is Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare dead?
No, while Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare is an older game in the series it maintains a surprisingly active community.