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Neo-opsis Review
Plants Versus Zombies
Popcap Games
www.popcap.com
Fred
Saberhagen’s Berserker series discussed the concept of “the noble
enemy.” The Berserkers in the series were self-replicating robots programmed to
destroy anything and everything alive. They were a “noble enemy” in the sense
that they can’t ever be converted to non-violent behaviour, so the only noble
act upon encountering them, was to do everything you could to destroy them.
Another common noble enemy in fiction are zombies. In many cases they are
portrayed as unredeemable beings, bent only on savagery and consumption of
pretty much everything organic, with a specific hankerin’ for the brains of
non-zombified humans. Zombies appear in both the fantasy and science fiction
genres, created by supernatural forces in some cases, and by complex genetic
modification technology in others.
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Plants
versus Zombies from Pop Cap Games” uses zombies as the antagonists in an
arcade style computer game (including a cartoon version of the recently
deceased Michael Jackson). I recommend this game, not just for its
playability, but also for anyone studying game design. In addition to 50
levels of plant versus zombie game play, the game has numerous sub games
which open up as you progress, and games which are variations on the main
theme, all of which allow you to make money which can be used to buy items to
help with other parts of the game. There’s even a variation of the well-known
game Bejeweled called Beghouled. |
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The game
also manages one of the rarest and most precious of gaming feature
combinations. It is both complex and easy to learn how to play. Some games
require a huge tutorial before you can even get past level one, while others
are easy to learn, but have game play so simple that the game is dull. Zombies
explains itself in simple steps, getting more complex as you go along. In fact
the Help section, is simply a letter from the zombies telling you to sit back
and do nothing.
When you
complete the 50 levels of ‘Adventure Mode,’ the zombies decide they’d rather do
a music video with you rather than eat your brains. This suggests they may not
be pure ‘noble enemies’ and might be capable of a level of redemption after
all. If you don’t want to work through 50 levels to see this J-popish video,
search YouTube for “There’s a Zombie on Your Lawn,” written and performed by,
Laura Shigihara.
This
game contains cartoon violence, including scenes of zombies losing body parts
and anthropomorphized plants being eaten. Parental digression is recommended.
Review by Karl Johanson,
Originally published in Neo-opsis issue 17.
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