Our preview of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Publisher Electronic Arts has surprisingly, and without much prior advertising, conjured up a third installment of the brightly colored multiplayer shooter. We've put the game through its paces and are sharing our impressions with you.
Disputes between neighbors
As in the two previous installments, in Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Once again, two opposing sides clash: the plant and zombie factions are engaged in fierce turf wars over the eponymous town of Neighborville. True to the series' style, the story unfolds without a clear plot and is presented with the usual charm and humor.
We begin with a series of manageable tutorial missions that familiarize us with the hub world and some of the game mechanics. This should also help newcomers find their way around Neighborville – the world can feel a bit overwhelming at first. The headquarters alone is packed with NPCs and activities. Here we find, among other things, the multiplayer lobby, various shops, a training center, and the interfaces to the PvE areas. We can engage in casual practice battles with AI opponents and real players directly in the adjacent Giddy Park, between the two factions of the plants and zombies. As usual, we can freely switch between the two factions and try out the diverse characters.
In Battle for Neighborville, the character selection is more generous than in the two previous games, with a total of 20 playable heroes. The new additions are a real asset and are fun right from the start. It's generally worthwhile to try out and ultimately master the various zombies and plants. All characters can be leveled up and equipped with different perks. From level 10 onwards, you can promote them, which resets their level but grants them additional perks in return. There's also a huge number of cosmetic items. However, the multitude of different in-game currencies used to unlock these items is somewhat annoying. It's easy to lose track. Microtransactions involving real money are not currently in the game, but they are coming – publisher Electronic Arts has already announced this. They will be added at a later, as yet unspecified, date. Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville It will be expanded to include a premium currency that can be used to directly purchase cosmetic items. Loot boxes in the traditional sense are therefore not planned.
Much that is familiar, little that is new
After the brief introduction at the beginning, we're basically free to decide how we want to pass the time. Fortunately, there's plenty to do. The game offers a sufficiently extensive campaign. Across four areas, we can complete various quests solo or in co-op mode. Sometimes we fend off waves of enemies, sometimes we fight wacky bosses, sometimes we defend a territory – basically, it's all business as usual. Overall, the missions feel rather uninspired – which doesn't necessarily mean they aren't fun. Just don't have overly high expectations for the campaign. Some quests can even be quite frustrating in solo mode because they're difficult to complete without help. Ultimately, though, they're just a nice way to pass the time, designed to prepare us for battles with real players.
The real heart of the game is once again the competitive multiplayer area: In Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Several PvP modes await us. In the Battle Arena, two teams of four players each face off, with each player having only one life. Things get a bit more chaotic in "Turf Takeover": Here, 24 players fight for control of the map, with one team attacking while the other defends and tries to hold the front lines. Then there's "Team Vanquish," which is essentially an 8v8 deathmatch variant, "Ranged Renegades," where we fight with fixed character classes, and the "Mixed Modes," which are composed of various 8v8 games. Co-op fans are also catered for: In "Garden & Graveyard Ops," players fight together against waves of AI-controlled enemies. Don't expect a great deal of gameplay depth from the third installment of the series – but the battles are all the more entertaining and, above all, quite accessible, even if they are occasionally a bit chaotic. Anyone who enjoyed the predecessors will feel right at home here. However, those expecting fundamental innovations might be disappointed.
Pixar aesthetics at their finest
In terms of graphics, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville The game has been noticeably improved. The character models and environments are, as usual, beautifully designed, and the textures, lighting effects, reflections, and shaders are top-notch. On the PlayStation 4 Pro, a higher resolution ensures razor-sharp visuals. But what we're particularly excited about is that the game supports High Dynamic Range (HDR). Owners of an HDR-capable television can therefore look forward to an image with rich contrasts and vibrant colors. With such a colorful treasure trove as... Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville That looks very impressive.
