Review: Plants vs. Zombies (Vita)

Reviewing Plants vs. Zombies seems kind of ridiculous, at this point. I mean, honestly, what platform is this game NOT on? It’s on PC, it’s on XBLA, it’s on PSN, it’s on iOS, it’s on Android, it’s on WP7, and more, more, more. It’s even on BLACKBERRY, for crying out loud! Aside from the drivel known as Angry Birds (I don’t like Angry Birds), I honestly can’t think of another title that is so widely spread as Plants vs. Zombies. Now, the Zombie infestation has made its way to the PlayStation Vita, and it’s up to you and your plants to keep them out of your head.

My main experience with the Plants vs. Zombies empire has been in the form of the XBLA and iOS versions, both released in 2010. The iOS version had the benefit of mobility, but the XBLA version was always my preferred choice. Now, the Vita version has taken what I love best about each and put them together into one addictive package. Plants vs. Zombies offers the full-featured XBLA version of the game, including game modes that are not available on the iOS version, and pairs it with the mobility of the iOS version and the option to use the convenient and fast touch controls and mobility that made the iOS version so fun.

The game itself is exactly the same. If you’ve played Plants vs. Zombies, you’ve played Plants vs. Zombies, and Plants vs. Zombies on the Vita doesn’t do anything to move away from the tried and true formula that other versions of Plants vs. Zombies have successfully used. I said “Plants vs. Zombies” a lot in that last sentence, and it totally wasn’t in order to buffer my word count. YOU CAN’T PROVE THAT IT WAS.

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If you want to know more about the standard Plants vs. Zombies XBLA experience, we reviewed it a year and a half ago, and nothing much has changed since then. Except, that is, the inclusion of Zombatar! Originally only available on the PopCap website as a way of creating your own zombie for avatar purposes, Zombatar! has made its way to the Vita version. The major difference here, though, is that not only can you create your own zombie and accompanying avatar, but your created zombie will find its way into your game as one of the flag bearing wave leaders. This is a really fun interactive feature that lets you insert a little bit of your own flair into the invading hordes.

When you get down to brass tacks, there’s nothing groundbreaking about Plants vs. Zombies on the Vita. The game is the same as it always has been, and most likely always will be. In this case, however, that really is a great thing. Plants vs. Zombies has a very solid setup, and doesn’t need much tinkering. If you have it on your iOS device and don’t feel like buying it again, that’s cool. If you want it on your Vita, and really want the more feature-rich version of the game with mobility and touch commands, it’s a hell of a deal for a hell of a game. At $14.99, it definitely falls into the lower pricing tier of Vita games, and is one of the easier recommendations for Vita owners.