Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville explained
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a third-person shooter video game eveloped by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts. It was originally released for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One in October 2019, with a Nintendo Switch version releasing in March 2021. It is a continuation of the spin-off series of Plants vs. Zombies, being the third overall installment. The game was released as an early access title in September 2019 before its full release in October the same year. It received generally positive reviews upon release.
Gameplay
Similar to its predecessors, the game is a third-person shooter where players take control of the Plants (under Crazy Dave) or the Zombies (under Dr. Zomboss) in either a cooperative or competitive multiplayer environment. The game features 23 customizable gameplay classes, nine of which are new to the franchise. They are classified into four groups: attackers, defenders, supporters or swarm. Each team also has a new team play class that allows players of the same class to combine forms when they fight against enemies.[1] Players can compete against each other in various competitive multiplayer modes, including the objective-based Turf Takeover mode and the team deathmatch variant Team Vanquish and many more. The game also features several player-versus-environment open zones which allow players to explore, find collectibles, and complete quests.[2] Split-screen local multiplayer is also available for all gameplay modes.[3]
Development
Publisher Electronic Arts confirmed the development of a new Plants vs. Zombies shooter game in May 2019.[4] An alpha testing for the game, which was codenamed "Picnic", was held in early August.[5] The game was officially announced and released as an early-access game on September 4, 2019. Players who purchased the Founder's Edition would receive regular content updates until the game's full launch on October 18, 2019, and exclusive cosmetic items every week until the game's official release.[6] [7]
Battle for Neighborville received its last game update on September 29, 2020.[8]
On February 17, 2021, it was announced that the game would be released on Nintendo Switch on March 19, 2021, during the Nintendo Direct.[9] The version, subtitled Complete Edition, has no microtransactions with all content able to be acquired for free, has motion controls and can be played offline.[10]
Reception
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville was given positive reviews. Destructoid gave the game on PS4 a 7.5/10 said about the game as "Battle for Neighborville doesn't go out of its way to surpass expectations, but it's a silly, strange, joyful game – one I'm glad was greenlit."[11] GameRevolution gave the PC version 3/5 stars and said "Unfortunately, aside from its more robust [''Plants vs. Zombies''] offering and unique new characters, most of the other changes that have been made in Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville haven't been for the better."[12]
On review aggregation website, Metacritic, the Xbox One version of the game has a score of 76/100, and 77/100 from both the PS4 and PC versions, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Notes and References
- Web site: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a Destiny-infused Garden Warfare followup that's playable now. Connor. Sheridan. GamesRadar. September 5, 2019. September 15, 2019. September 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921224210/https://www.gamesradar.com/plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-founders-edition/. live.
- Web site: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a ton of fun, even in early access. Jordan. Devore. Destructoid. September 11, 2019. September 15, 2019. April 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411100443/https://www.destructoid.com/plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-is-a-ton-of-fun-even-in-early-access-566512.phtml. live.
- Web site: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville hands-on — It's time for cute combat. Dean. Takahashi. VentureBeat. September 4, 2019. September 15, 2019. September 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190906124150/https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/04/plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-hands-on/. live.
- Web site: EA Reveals New Need For Speed And Plants Vs. Zombies Games Coming This Fall. Jordan. Ramee. GameSpot. May 7, 2019. September 15, 2019. July 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190714115709/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-reveals-new-need-for-speed-and-plants-vs-zombie/1100-6466714/. live.
- Web site: EA quietly begins what looks like a Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 3 alpha. Tom. Phillips. Eurogamer. July 22, 2019. September 15, 2019. October 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191009194429/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-07-22-ea-quietly-begins-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-3-alpha. live.
- Web site: New Plants Vs. Zombies Shooter Announced, Goes Live Today. Mike. Fahey. Kotaku. April 9, 2019. September 15, 2019. September 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190915024732/https://kotaku.com/new-plants-vs-zombies-shooter-announced-goes-live-tod-1837874728. live.
- Web site: How EA and Plants vs. Zombies are battling binge culture. Xavier. Nelson. Polygon. September 11, 2019. September 15, 2019. September 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190914004246/https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/11/20859185/plants-vs-zombies-ea-release-neighborville. live.
- Web site: Plants vs Zombies Battle for Neighborville Fall Festival News. EA. September 2020. 2020-09-02. 2021-04-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210426172748/https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/plants-vs-zombies/plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville/news/news-from-neighborville-fall-festival. live.
- Web site: Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville Coming To Switch March 19. GameSpot. February 17, 2021. Kevin. Knezevic. February 24, 2021. October 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221021155958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-coming-to-switch-march-19/1100-6487673/. live.
- Web site: Arts . Electronic . 2021-03-17 . Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville™ Nintendo Switch Features - Official EA Site . 2024-08-01 . Electronic Arts Inc. . en.
- Web site: Review: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. Destructoid. 20 October 2019. 19 October 2019. 23 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423045518/https://www.destructoid.com/review-plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-568572.phtml. live.
- Web site: Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Review | Not the Garden Warfare 3 we wanted. GameRevolution. 18 October 2019. 19 October 2019. 18 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018171606/https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/607659-plants-vs-zombies-battle-for-neighborville-review-pc-ps4-xbox-one-garden-warfare-3. live.
