Blog Post #5: Plants vs. Zombies

Plants versus Zombies is a strange game. First of all, if one plays the online version there are 30 second advertisements between levels. I’m guessing that is one incentive to use the download version. In level 1. 2 the player is supposed to get as much sunlight, plants and sunflowers they can in order to stop the zombies. I learned pretty quickly that you need to accumulate plants to stop the zombies but each plant requires sun light. The sunflower provides sunlight and recharges

constantly. When it is “recharged” balls of sun fall from the sky and you have to click on

them to add them to your supply. As the player progresses more plants are added like the peas (which act like guns) the Wall-Nut, and the exploding Cherry Bomb. The levels move quickly and the learning curve is extremely quick. Each level presents you with new “gifts” at the end. These gifts are an incentive to keep playing and attain more gifts.

The graphics are decent and the bright colors are aesthetically pleasing for the player. Between the

colors, slow pace, and routine tasks, it seems as if this game is for very young children. IN fact, the game seems pretty menial. It is so menial that there should be a human verification button because literally a cat could play. All you have to do is use your mouse to click buttons that the game explicitly TELLS you to click. There is no intricate strategy to figure out or any real skills/brain function required. Each is pretty much the same with new good guys (plants) and bad guys (zombies) added.