App Review: Plants vs. Zombies

If you haven’t yet been playing Plants vs. Zombies, it’s likely for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Zombies are gross
2. Tower-defense type games are too stressful
3. You don’t like fun

If it’s #3, I can’t help you.  But if it’s #1 or #2, let me put some concerns to rest.

1. These Zombies Are Hilarious.

I don’t totally get the zombie thing these days.  So many television shows, movies and books seem to be fascinated with the undead.  I predict the next surge of app trends will be games featuring vampires and werewolves, but for now it still seems to be zombies.  It manages to take the usual fear of death and add to it fears of being murdered (and eaten, to boot).  But the zombies in this game are something else. True, they lurch and groan across your backyard and will, if they reach the house, eat your brains.  But they’re also kind of cute and wear flair.  A metal bucket hat means that the zombie has higher armor and will be harder to squish.  A zombie carrying a screen door means that it can block certain attacks.  Plus, you find out at the end (spoiler alert) that the zombies have back stories, and the ones dressed as football players actually used to be football players.  If that sounds too morbid, the delight that the zombies seem to take in their daily activities should remove any concern that they’re rueful over their fate.

2. The structure of the game involves using plants as defensive weapons against an onslaught of enemy zombies.  You place the plants in strategic positions, and the plants all have some kind of individual attack power.  FYI, these attack powers can only be described as *adorbs*.  Pea shooters spit out peas.  Corn stalks throw niblets and pats of butter.  Squash plants jump on the zombies and, well, squash.  It’s all pretty tame and thoroughly non-stressful.  Some of the levels are difficult but almost all can be conquered on the first or second try.

Plants vs. Zombies has been one of the most successful app games out there, so this is a last-call for the holdouts.  This game is mega-fun.  The zombies won’t give you nightmares.  Spoiler alert: it ends with a dance party.