Since getting the last achievement I think it is the best time to review this game.
What I like:
- that new modes were added including Survival Endless Day, Night, Fog, and Roof. This also includes the limbo page mini games, RIP Mode, Vs mode and Coop mode. I like that these can easily be accessed in the game without relying on third party apps
- multiplayer including local and Steam remote play
- controller support including the Steam Deck
- higher resolution graphics
- widescreen support
- hardcore (RIP) Mode
- speed up button
- glitches from original game are removed such as the infinite money trophy glitch
- the Peashooter Christmas skin, he looks so cute!
- the updates which make the game playable compared to its original state which was full of glitches such as being stuck in the Zen Garden when it unlocks and the retro zombie that could teleport to the house.
What I don't like
- unbalanced game play in Vs Mode since the zombies get too much sun compared to the Xbox edition of the game
- the Sunshroom when fully grown in the Zen Garden is its small form rather than its fully grown size like in all other previous PvZ games which contain Zen Garden mode
- using AI upscaling instead of the original artists to make all the sprites HD
- lack of new mini games or not including all the mini games from all versions of PvZ where possible to make it the definitive edition
- lack of challenge based multiplayer where players get matched to random opponents but I understand that maintaining a server for that is probably not viable due to cost
- fake concept art rather than including concept art by the original artist, as an artist myself I find this disappointing
- the Zen Garden plant drop RNG is terrible, it may just be bad luck on my end but it took so much longer to unlock all the Zen Garden plants, I had to take a break from this game for a while because I got bored, and this is hard to happen for me as a PvZ fan
- lack of more costumes for the other plants and zombies
- no HD Zombatar with more custom options than the GOTY edition
- lack of more in depth behind the scenes content such as videos
- no HD music video at the end of the game, instead putting the original video in a monitor
- general lack of artists or designers with a passion for the franchise, I got the feeling that this game was rushed and not cared about as much as it could have been
Would I recommend this game?
Only if you want to try the new modes and play the multiplayer modes with friends. As someone who has played most versions of PvZ, I would rank the Xbox 360 version the highest out of all of them. I would also recommend PvZ Replanted for Switch users since it is the only way to get PvZ on there. I hope that this game helps new people get into the game since they may not have played the previous games so cannot compare them. I love this franchise and really want it to succeed. I am still hoping for a PvZ movie given how many video game related movies that have been released lately.
