It's about time... no really
The new Plants vs Zombies game will hit iOS this summer. That's kind of a big deal. The original is a casual game accepted by more hardcore gamers because of its sly humour, tactical depth and delightful art style--so the sequel is hotly anticipated by a diverse range of gamers.
You call PvZ 2 Its about time. What did actually take you so long to create a sequel?
At PopCap we dont like to rush out sequels or quick ports that would give the player a less than perfect experience. So in the first couple of years after the release of the original Plants vs. Zombies we spent the time--a lot of time--conceiving and building adaptations of the game for different platforms, each of which was designed specifically to take advantage of the unique aspects of each platform.
Tell us about some of the new plant types and power ups.
Some of the new plants include the rough and ready Bonk Choy for close range melee attacks, and Lightning Reed, which excels in repelling the zombie chickens you might find in the new Wild West world. Amongst the new power ups you will find is Plant Food, which gives each plant a unique, momentary boost that can turn a frantic battle with the undead in your favour. There are also just-in-time touchscreen Power-Ups: Pinch, Flick and Zap, which lets players directly interact with their zombie foes and turn the tide in their favour.
Crazy Dave features heavily in your teaser trailers. Will we see more of him in this game?
Crazy Dave plays a starring role in PvZ 2. You start the game with an encounter featuring Crazy Dave who has just eaten the most amazing taco hes ever had. So good that he wants to eat it again! What better way to do this but to indulge in a bit of time travel? But things dont go to plan and you end up in Ancient Egypt, from there on in you begin your wacky time traveling adventure.
Do you have any plans to bring PvZ 2 to home or handheld consoles? The Wii U desperately needs some games right now
For PvZ 2, PopCap is focusing on mobile first. Theres so much fantastic potential there and we want to explore it as extensively as possible with PvZ 2. That said, were also looking at some cool new ways to bring the Plants vs. Zombies franchise to different audiences on different platforms with great new titles such as Plants vs. Zombies Adventures, which is out now on Facebook and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare which is coming out next year on console.
How tough is it to strike the balance between new plants, new zombies, and making sure the game is still simple to pick up and play?
So much of what made the original game so popular was just how approachable it was. Anyone of any age could pick it up and play it regardless of prior video game knowledge and skill. It had a broad appeal and was simple. We wanted to make sure we kept that simplicity in PvZ 2, so it was vital we didnt change too much of the core mechanics. But we still felt we could create a fresh, new experience with new plants and new zombies. We think we have struck the right balance in PvZ 2.
The idea for PvZ Garden Warfare is a radical departure for the series do you think fans really want a PvZ co-op shooter?
Answered by: Brian Lindley, Lead Producer, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare
Who are you calling buttercup? Oh...
So, there you have it--all the info on the new Plants vs Zombies game straight from the horse's mouth. Not that our interviewee was a horse like Mr Ed. Or B Buttercup (he was last seen in a truck, heading for a burger van in Toulouse). That would be weird. Anyway, Plants vs Zombies 2 is out for iOS later this summer. We confidently predict awesomeness.
