Plants vs. Zombies 3, a step in the right direction!
Back when PvZ3 was first soft released back in early 2020, I was really disappointed by the gameplay, the lack of plantable sunflowers, the lack of lawnmowers, the lack of special levels, and the lack of level gimmicks, (and levelling, and randomly generated levels, and floor requirement, and time-based/energy-based progression, and online-only, but then it starts to get controversial.)
With so many wrong steps, I had no hope in PvZ3, even when the developers said that they'll go back to the drawing boards and redesigning stuff.
But man, I was wrong.
We actually got PVZ3 that actually plays like a PvZ game! I couldn't be happier! (Well, I can, but let's get to that later)
So, allow me to list things I like about this new PvZ3!
Sunflowers are back, authentic PvZ gameplay!
One of the major drawbacks of old PvZ3 is how it plays barely like a PvZ game, you automatically get sun over time, removing the major part of the PvZ gameplay, sun producing strategy.
But that problem is gone! Because sunflower is back!
Arts! ARTS!
I'm NOT the guy who complains about arts, so I didn't really mind the style old PvZ3 went with, (In fact, I think it's the overlooked part of the old PvZ3, getting more attractions than the gameplay itself.)
But wow, you guys really redeemed yourselves! It wasn't much work, (or maybe it is and I'm blind, sorry) but shading can make things look SO much better!
Although some still say that it's nothing compared to PvZ1/2, I don't think anyone preferred the old PvZ3's over this one!
No levelling?!?! I'M CRYING!
In happiness, I mean.
You guys really did an unthinkable, removed levelling, now THAT is a feature I thought will always stay.
But again, I'm glad I was wrong!
Nothing much else to say on this, but the levelling is gone for good.
Linear progression? Sign me up!
"Wasn't old PvZ3 also has linear progression?" not quite.
The "levels" were linear, but to "progress" through them, that's not so simple.
With so much grind you had to do in that game, the devour tower is barely your main progression, your true progress in that game is how much currency you grind and high your plants' levels are.
And that creates a not-so-enjoyable experience for those who couldn't be bothered less by the "incentive to play regularly" and just want to have the full experience anytime, every time.
Well isn't that nice! A lot of good things to talk about!
But, you know what's coming up next,
The dreaded...
...complaints.
I'll make it quick.
The levels aren't randomly generated, yay! But the designs...
The levels are handmade! Or at least, that's what I think when I see nine bucketheads in a 3x3 grid...
Like a sign that says "Hey! That cherry bomb power-up looks kinda juicy here, doesn't it?"
I haven't got to level 50, but many players say that it's almost impossible to win without power-ups, which is, uh, not good.
Hope this is unintentional and will be fixed.
50 levels! But all of them are kinda...
...bland? That's probably the right word.
I like that area mechanics are back! They make each level unique!
But one thing is holding them back, the lack of choose-your-seed levels.
It doesn't seem like you actually "unlock" new plants, you just "see a new one"
Locked and loaded can make fun levels, but not when it's all you get...
Not to mention conveyors and special objectives, but let's get one point across at a time.
Oh, also, the tutorial is really long, it's torturing...
10 levels where you stay in 3 columns, getting shovel at level 16?!
Not to mention that the game REALLY holds the players' hands.
I don't think explaining every single thing is a good idea, some are best left for players to explore.
Like in PvZ1, players only know what the plant does by reading the vague description of them, and only know what the zombie does AFTER they've encountered them once.
It encourages players to experiments, and when you tell the players everything, it gets less exciting.
Power-ups are okay, but not like this...
Aside from the fact that you are required to use them, I also don't like them for another reason,
They're plants, yeah.
It just doesn't feel right, why are some plants are seed packet plants and why are some plants strictly power-ups?
My proposal is that either you have those plants as normal seed packet plants also, or make the power-ups items instead, like, rather than cherry bomb, it's TNT, rather than Chilli Pepper, it's some sort of ice machine, etc.
Lastly, plant foods and tacos are something I want to see coming back, you can make plant food charges like in old PvZ3 and tacos drop from zombies? Or vice versa? I don't know.
Then, you can add an option to buy them in-level using in-game coins, I guess? And completely get rid of power-ups, maybe?
But I might be asking for too much.
Chargeable abilities are cool! Except...
It's automatic, yeah.
The poll already asked about this, but let me just say it again.
It REALLY should be manual.
It also would be nice if you can charge the second one in advance when the first one is fully charged but you haven't triggered it yet, but that might be too strong.
These plants and zombies are cool! Would be nice if there are more...
I mean, it's kinda obvious, but still.
I know that this is a very early beta, and clearly, you guys just wanted to show the world what you have been developing in the past year, and that's cool!
But, I hope these 50 levels aren't finalised, because 7 plants and 9 zombies in 50 levels just isn't enough...
Alright, just a tidbit more...
-The UI is pretty barebone, but that's understandable
-A feature to replay older levels would be nice, something like a world map sounds good.
-When selecting levels, players should be able to see what zombies will they face either PvZ3 style where you see a list of them before entering, or Pre-PvZ3 styles where you enter the level, see the zombies you're going to fight against, and then choose your plants (if you don't get to choose your plants, at least seeing what plants you will be using and selecting what pre-level power-ups)
-There isn't a lot of things to do aside from the adventure mode, but again, understandable.
-Almanac, old PvZ3 doesn't have it either so I really hope and it's in consideration.
-I'd love to see longer levels, it's probably just me, but shorter levels mean you go through them too quickly and you don't get the chance to obliterate the zombies with your strong defence, I would pretty much prefer longer, fewer levels than shorter, more levels.
-Coins are hard to get, either that or the power-ups are too expensive, oh and, they aren't renewable, for the time being.
-And uh, considering changing the zombies' eating animation? It's been like that since the old PvZ3, and uh, it looks like they are...
"humping" the plants.
It's not just me, right? RIGHT?
After all these so-called "complaints", please still keep in mind that I LOVE the directions you guys are going forward! I really hope that I can see this game getting improved more and more! These lists are compiled and agreed by members in PvZ communities I'm in, with about 100 active members (that are actively talking about mainline PvZ games, if you count those who plays shooters and heroes then it's probably 300+)
So yeah, you don't have to agree on every point or fix every complaint, but I'd like to see my points getting across, at least one of them would make me happy!
I hope this game will launch successfully and people around the world will enjoy this game!
Cheers!
ItsPforPea
