Plants vs. Zombies Remaster: A Disappointing What-If

Hearing the familiar tune from the Plants vs. Zombies menu instantly brings back memories of sunflowers, pea shooters, and a game that was impossible to put down. Originally launched in 2009, this vibrant strategy title quickly became a classic, joining developer PopCap’s impressive roster of addictive games such as Peggle and Bejeweled. The newly remastered version, now called Replanted, allows players to experience the magic on current gaming systems. While the core game remains a timeless masterpiece, this update also serves as a stark reminder of how Electronic Arts mishandled a potentially incredible franchise.

For those unfamiliar with defending a home using only horticultural warfare, the concept is wonderfully straightforward. Your house sits on the right side of the screen, a target for the shambling undead approaching from the left. A grid-like lawn separates the two sides, serving as your battlefield. You defend your property by planting a variety of flora, each with a unique defensive capability. Pea shooters act as your primary turrets, firing projectiles at oncoming zombies. You have defensive options like Wall-nuts for protection and offensive powerhouses like explosive Cherry Bombs. The entire operation is powered by sunlight, which is generated by the ever-essential, cheerful Sunflowers.

Beneath its cartoonish exterior, Plants vs. Zombies is a surprisingly deep and challenging strategy game. The difficulty curve is expertly designed, gradually introducing new obstacles like rooftop levels and nighttime stages where sunlight is scarce. This forces players to constantly adapt their tactics while unlocking an ever-expanding arsenal of plant-based weaponry. The sheer diversity of plants encourages creative and experimental gameplay. Even now, there’s a unique satisfaction in setting up a Chomper behind a sturdy Wall-nut to ambush an unsuspecting zombie. The entire package is dripping with personality, from the bouncy animations of the plants to one of the most memorable soundtracks in gaming. It was a nearly flawless experience, and the remaster polishes the visuals, adds some cooperative play options, and includes a few extra single-player modes. Fundamentally, very little was altered, and that’s because it simply wasn’t necessary.

This sounds like the foundation for a legendary series, doesn’t it? EA appeared to share that sentiment when it purchased PopCap in 2011. However, rather than delivering a true successor, the publisher chose to expand the brand in different directions. This led to Facebook spin-offs, a quirky third-person shooter series named Garden Warfare, and a flood of comic books and merchandise. Plants vs. Zombies 2 arrived in 2013 as a free-to-play mobile game. It introduced some novel concepts but soon became weighed down by energy timers, aggressive microtransactions, and endless content updates. While it felt similar to the original, it lost the focused, polished vision that made the first game so special. From a business perspective, this didn’t concern EA much, as PvZ 2 reached a far wider and more profitable audience.

In the relentless pursuit of more players and higher revenue, the franchise lost something vital. The series achieved financial success, but the inventive spirit that initially captivated fans slowly faded. The original PvZ was a meticulously crafted experience with a clear narrative arc and a satisfying conclusion. It’s the type of game you eagerly revisit through a remaster because its quality is undeniable. In contrast, the sequels and spin-offs often felt like diluted imitations, more forgettable and transient. It’s hard to imagine anyone clamoring for a remastered version of PvZ 2 in the future. (A third mainline installment is currently stuck in a prolonged soft-launch phase.)

It’s a disappointing trajectory for a concept that once brimmed with potential. The fact that I find myself utterly absorbed by the remaster, repeatedly telling myself “just one more round”, only emphasizes this point. The outlook for a return to form seems bleak. EA is in the process of going private in a massive $55 billion deal, a move that almost guarantees further staff reductions and a more conservative approach to game development. This means a greater focus on blockbuster titles with proven financial returns, rather than charming, innovative games that capture the heart. In this context, the Replanted edition acts as a poignant time capsule from a more innocent and joyful period in gaming.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is scheduled for release on October 23rd for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

(Source: The Verge)