Plants vs. Zombies: Green Warfare Revived

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Plants vs. Zombies is one of my favorite games. Its simplicity and charm led me to buy it on every available platform and even gift it to as many people as I could, almost like a devoted evangelist. So, when the Replanted remake was announced, I fantasized about writing this review.

    
The Zombies Are Coming
    
PvZ is the most significant intellectual property of PopCap, a studio that gained fame in the early 2000s for its casual and accessible games. After successes like Bejeweled and Peggle, they launched Plants vs. Zombies in 2009 for PC and Mac. The success was almost immediate, spreading through word of mouth over months. The game became so notable that it was considered a "Killer App" for the early iPhones and iPads, much like the Game Boy and Tetris.

    
Thanks to its success, Electronic Arts acquired PopCap in 2011, leading to the franchise's most prolific years. After creating ports for virtually all platforms and operating systems of the time, EA began releasing a wide variety of Plants vs. Zombies products, from comics to Facebook games, eventually leading to a sequel. Unlike the original game, this sequel was designed solely as a free-to-play mobile game packed with microtransactions.

    
While successful spin-offs like Garden Warfare emerged, the original tower defense gameplay of PvZ was demoted to mobile devices. Eventually, support for the original game ceased to promote the sequel solely. The available version looked pixelated and cropped on modern phones, and advertisements were added. For a long time, the best version of the game remained on Xbox 360, the only version playable on current Microsoft consoles, albeit at a modest 1080 pixels.

    
This is where Replanted finds its purpose, allowing us to experience or re-experience a game that is iconic of an era.

    

        
        
    

    
Replanting is Living Again
    
Although I have revisited the game over the years, mainly on PC, seeing that loading screen in HD for the first time was electrifying. Everything is as we left it; everything looks beautiful and defined now. The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.

    
I started playing on PC, where it all began 16 years ago. The main Adventure Mode gradually unlocks different plants, zombies, and scenarios. The difficulty progression is very fair; if you wisely choose your arsenal and pay attention to the zombies' abilities, the experience remains enjoyable and challenging. The game meticulously unlocks different modes like Minigames, Puzzle, Survival, and Zen, making the gaming sessions diverse and allowing your mind to relax when more challenging levels begin to arrive.

    
If you have played PvZ before, the wonderful music by Laura Shigihara is sure to captivate you. I had forgotten how good tracks like Watery Graves or Graze the Roof were. Adding to this the absurd humor and the plethora of Easter eggs scattered throughout the game, it is impossible not to smile.

    

        
        
    

    
Rainy Days and Permanent Death
    
PvZ Replanted has introduced new modes and ways to play, never seen before. The most celebrated mode is Cloudy Day, where clouds and rain appear intermittently during the level, causing sunflowers responsible for energy production to take naps.

    
The absence of sunlight turns it into a survival game, where you have to plan for the next wave of zombies, restricting your resources from the beginning of the level. As you can imagine, low-energy plants are crucial in this mode. However, timing is essential, as rain decreases the energetic cost of your plants, allowing you to economize and strategize.

    
Unfortunately, the progression curve in this mode doesn't feel as smooth as the rest of the game, as the difficulty can increase significantly from one level to the next. With limited energy and viable plant options, this mode can sometimes feel frustrating and repetitive. This issue could have been mitigated by including some preselected plants at a special price, for instance.

    
Another new mode is Permanent Death, where you play the adventure mode without dying, or you have to start over. Veteran players may find this challenge enjoyable, though it doesn't offer much else.

    
In addition to these new modes, Cooperative and Duel modes have been included, previously seen in the Xbox 360 and PS3 console versions. Cooperative mode often frustrates as you have to coordinate with another player who might have a different strategy. It is like playing Tetris with someone else placing pieces. On the Duel side, the problem is imbalance as some zombies are overwhelmingly powerful, complicating the plants' victory.

    

        
        
    

    
Is a Game Without a Soul a Zombie Game?
    
While Replanted is not marketed as an anniversary edition, it implements things that such editions typically include, like sketches and concept art. Unfortunately, according to Rich Werner, the original game's art creator, part of the so-called concept art was not part of the original release. Additionally, Laura Shigihara commented that her music was poorly implemented in the game, making it tedious and repetitive, impacting the player's experience.

    
On another front, some fans online noted that the game might have used artificial intelligence to generate its illustrations. PopCap officially denied the use of generative AI in the visual development of PvZ Replanted. However, this statement does not exclude other types of AI, such as image upscaling, which is common in remastering projects.

    
In an interview with Level Up, senior executive producer Jake Neri addressed the technical changes required to adapt the game to new formats. He told me: "We have countless hours of hand-painted work, truly working on each asset to ensure they are up to the standard."

    

        
        
    

    
A Partly Cloudy Sky
    
Plants vs. Zombies Replanted is an opportunity to reunite with a modern classic in gaming. Although the additional content isn't extensive, the meticulous work in reconstructing the original experience—alongside the myriad elements included since its first version—makes it the best way to enjoy PvZ on current platforms.

    
However, considering the people who were left out of the project and the questionable nature of some content and how it was added by PopCap, one is left wondering whether the final decision should be made ethically or qualitatively.

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