Tower Defense games are all the rage nowadays. Disposable, survive-this timekillers that run on minimal resources and require you to make the tough decisions on when to build that new tower. PopCap is probably the best casual developer to have ever developed casually. So when PopCap came out with a tower defense game, the result was expected to be fairly good.
But good God, this game is fan-freaking-tastic. The concept - zombies are invading your yard, and only plants - powered by sunbeams - can fight them off. The art style, cribbed directly from Penny-Arcade's whimsy, pits ultra-adorable "pea shooters" and smilin' sunflowers against zombies that drive zambonis and wear ducky innertubes is instantly endearing. There's literally nothing not to like in this game. But don't take it from me; here's EuroGamer, which says everything I want to but far more succinctly:
A masterful combination of serious strategy and cartoonish delights - and by adding mini-games, survival modes and a shop, PopCap is practically rubbing it in. The result is as fresh and accessible as Super Mario, and as refined and considered as Left 4 Dead, wading into another established genre and polishing the central ideas in a way that will make it a hard act to follow.If I can have any complaint at all about this game, it is that there is an element of dexterity in harvesting your sunlight that feels out of place, a slight bit of twitch gaming in a whole that is solidly in the strategy genre, though it is a minor nitpick, and there's certainly a polished way of expressing that to you in-game via plants that glow a moment before releasing their golden manna.
This is a short review, because there is literally nothing wrong with this game. Buy it right now.
Graphics: Brightly colored with hilarious and accessible enemies and utilities. 5.
Sound: Minimal music still sets the mood, and the zombies groan appropriately. The Thriller Zombie is a high note. 4.
Controls: Not too much really needs to be done, but everything controls brilliantly. 4.
Tilt: It's got zombies. And seed packets. There's nothing not to like. 5.
Overall (not an average): Tendrils' Top Pick
