In the endless war between the plants and the zombies, the greatest battle begins. Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville updates the formula from the Garden Warfare series and adds a compelling PvE element and a boatload of the series’ signature brand of humor. It has its shortcomings, including some technical hiccups and a convoluted economy, but Battle for Neighborville’s wealth of gameplay options add up to a delightful and family-friendly alternative.
The Plants vs Zombies series has come a long way from its roots as a mobile tower defense game, with the Garden Warfare sub-series arguably eclipsing the main titles in popularity in recent years. Though the title is different, make no mistake: Battle for Neighborville is essentially Garden Warfare 3, and builds off the foundation laid by the previous titles.
There are three characters locked at the start of the game you have to purchase with in-game gold, one on the Plant side and two on the Zombie side, the only other things to buy are cosmetics like skins, hats, and shoes. Once you’ve had your fill of the single player, you can duke it out against the other team in several PvP modes. These include Team Vanquish, where the first team to 50 kills wins, Vanquish Confirmed, where you need to grab an enemy’s orb after defeating them, Suburbination, a standard point control mode, Gnome Bomb, where you need to destroy the other team’s three areas by planting a bomb, Turf Takeover, where one team defends an expanding map from the other, and Battle Arena, a deathmatch mode.
There are more refined shooters out there, but Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is one that offers large helpings of kid-friendly, easy-to-pick up fun. Fans of its high-energy art style and humor, in particular, will find a lot to keep them entertained for a long time.
