Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted Review

Plants vs. Zombies: Transplanted review

It's been 16 years since the gaming sensation Plants vs. first appeared. Zombies. Since then, the franchise has expanded with new games and even a comic book series. The original had two direct sequels that used the familiar tower defense structure. Additionally, the cleverly named Garden Warfare spin-off series took a more action-oriented approach to the franchise. Now we're going back to where it all started with Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, an HD remaster of the original game.

At its core, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is the same game you fell in love with 16 years ago. The campaign adventure mode has the same 50 levels. The same group of zombies will be stalking your backyard looking for brains, and in their way will be an eclectic group of plants you've planted. Oh, and your neighbor, Crazy Dave, is back to help, just like before.

Complete package

Adventure Mode is the core of the game, divided into five separate worlds. Each level requires players to fend off incoming hordes of zombies using a selection of plants, each with their own abilities. To plant a plant, you will need sunlight, which can be obtained in different ways. You will need to come up with the right combination of support, defensive and offensive plants. The levels have 5 levels of zombie attack, so you will need to place plants strategically. If the zombies get past your defenses, the last lawnmower will save your ass – but only once. If the zombies get past your defenses a second time, they will break into your house and eat your brains. Each world introduces new dynamics that affect the overall gameplay. All this means that there are many strategies at play here, but Plants vs. Zombies does a really good job of introducing players to new gameplay elements, plants, and even zombies in a balanced and easy way.

Once you complete Adventure Mode, you'll gain access to three additional modes: Mini-Games, Puzzle, and Survival, each providing unique new ways to experience Plants vs. Zombies. Here you get the entire Plants vs. package. Zombies, and this is exactly what the fans have been craving.

Instead of a simple port, the developers took several additional steps to add new content to Plants vs. Zombies, which is a pleasant surprise. Two new challenging modes included; Cloudy Day mode, where you'll face limited sunlight, and Rest in Peace mode, which involves permanent death – if you make a mistake in Adventure, you'll start all over again.

Flower power with other people

However, the biggest addition to Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted are new multiplayer modes. PvP mode allows two players to compete against each other locally. One player controls the plants and the other controls the zombies. While there are some balancing issues and not much depth, it's still enjoyable. Even better is the local co-op mode, which allows two players to work together in exclusive co-op levels or throughout the entire Adventure Mode. Adding a second player can make things a little easier, but sharing resources also means good communication skills are a must! There are no online modes.

There are a few more additions worth mentioning. An all-new library of art and concepts gives fans a look at never-before-seen sketches showing the story of Plants vs. Zombies. A collection of bonus levels will give players new challenges. And a wide range of achievements will encourage some players to prove themselves. Speaking of which, the Achievements section is worth a visit for fans looking for an Easter egg or two…

Beautiful Flowers

The big plus of Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted will be a repeat of the classic game with updated HD graphics. Everything looks very clear. The zombies are well detailed. It still retains its classic look but looks fresh at the same time. Switching between updated and classic visuals might appeal to purists, but alas, no such luck.

Speaking of visuals, I noticed a slight visual glitch in PvP mode. In PvP, the zombie player collects brains instead of sunlight as purchasing currency, which the zombies take onto the field. And yet, each zombie shows its value using a sunshine icon instead of a brain icon. A small oversight that I think will be corrected over time.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a worthy remaster of the beloved classic game. When it was first announced, I was genuinely excited at the prospect of replaying this game. I guess if you don't have the same nostalgic feeling about Plants vs. Zombies” you may not share the same enthusiasm, but fans will be pleased to be back in the backyard. The updated visuals are crisp, but don't expect anything too mind-blowing. I'd like to see a deeper PvP mode, but the lack of an online mode might put some people off. The co-op mode is great and worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of Plants vs. Zombies or want to know what it's all about, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted this is a great place to start.

***Plants vs. Zombies: Reinstalled key for Xbox Series X, provided by the publisher for review.***