Pinball FX2: "Plants Vs. Zombies"

Who needs a George A. Romero zombie survival strategy when you have a garden full of combative plant life that would make the man-eating venus flytrap from Little Shop of Horrors green with envy. Now that I've got your attention with that college level wordplay let me shed some light on the subject of this review. Most of you, by now have either played or heard of PopCap Game's unique horror-survival strategy game, "Plants Vs. Zombies". The game's title pretty much explains it all for those who haven't though. You grow a garden of living/organic plant weapons that act as an at-home defense against the incoming brain hungry zombie invaders. The Pinball FX2 table of the same name follows this simplistic yet oddly complicated plot with it's own take on the core game title. Staying true to the "Pinball FX2", and "Plants Vs. Zombies" experience Zen Studios, and PopCap Games collaborate to bring you a pinball experience like no other.

On the whimsical, and quirky Pinball FX2 table that is Plants Vs. Zombies you'll find a wide array of zombie, and plant oriented scoring options. Immediately when you start up the table you'll notice that it features several different 3D, and 2D art details like the ones you'd see in in the actual "Plants Vs. Zombies" game. To each side of the table are curved, and routed ramps that provide means for regular scoring, and mission scoring opportunities. The twisted ramp to the left side leads into a animated 3D mailbox that also doubles as a multi-ball event. towards the top of that same ramp you'll notice a hole, and a flipper that are used to access the Watermelon Catapult mission. Flipping your seed (pinball) three times will activate this mini-game that in turn uses a 3D watermelon catapult (lower right corner) to hit cardboard cutout zombies that appear in the middle of the table.

Other 3D details you'll recognize include the ever-changing seed packet that displays 2D cartoon renditions of the various plant weapons in the game. These seed selections effect the game in various ways, and sometimes add certain seed oriented imagery to the onscreen action. Another thing you'll likely notice is Dr. Zomboss on top of his hulking Zombot. This feature is located at the top right-hand corner of the table, and actually seems to be protruding out of the tables backboard in a similar fashion as the "Ms. Splosion Man" table's Mighty Eternal. During various zombie related missions including the "Go Nuts!" mission you'll see a variety of animated 3D zombies (cone head zombies, bucket head zombies, zombies ...) that walk evermore closely to the flipper trap at the bottom of the screen. If hit these undead denizens will leave coins in their stead which can be collected via seed/pinball impact. The coins in turn can be spent at Crazy Dave's mobile car shop if you hit his animated vehicle in the back three times when it appears.

Aside from those 3D models the table also includes two additional plants from the vast collection of greenery that PopCap Games has provided. To each side of the bottom flippers are two Chomper saves/kickbacks. If you're familiar with the plants of the game then you'll know that this particular species is the venus flytrap of the game. When you earn your kick back saves the table icons just above the Chompers will be lit up letting you know that they are active. If for some reason your seed/pinball lands in one of these two Chompers it will spit them back out onto the table considering you have activated them via specific in-game missions. In the middle of the table, just above a center chute is a Sunflower that doubles as an additional point making mission. If you land the seed/pinball in the associated chute three times you will score a "Frenzy", and the Sunflower will return the favor by shedding even more sunflower seeds for additional points. After initially activating, or waking up the Sunflower it will perk up, and continue shedding the sunflower seeds throughout your playthrough. The additional scoring options for this mission only take place after you have awoken the Sunflower.

Aside from the table's visual aesthetics are the audio bits that make this pinball table a delight to play. Staying true to PopCap Game's vision, Zen Studios has incorporated a fun style of music, and voice acting suiting of the original game. The voice acting includes audio dialogue from a cute sounding female voice actor who has a country twang to her vocals. Her perky voice brings the onscreen action to life as the seed/pinball bounces around the table hitting the various objects, and brain seeking zombies in it's path. If for some reason you lose a seed/pinball you will be rewarded with a blood curdling man's scream befitting of a horror movie. It's vocal additions like these that make the Plants Vs. Zombies table anything but boring.

As you play the Plants Vs. Zombies table you'll find that your best scoring opportunites will be from the multi-ball events, and the missions involving zombie defense. There are a few different multi-ball events available on the table, and as such you will more than likely activate them multiple times during each turn. The zombie missions are a little harder to trigger, but will be easily activated as you become more familiar with the table's layout. When it comes to ramp access the main ramps are easy to hit if you allow the seed/pinball to roll to the end of each flipper before flipping. If you don't do it this way you'll be hitting the sides of the center Sunflower chute a lot resulting in the chance of a lost seed/pinball. Those are definitely some tips to keep in mind when playing this particular table.

Once again Zen Studios has created a fan worthy table. It not only caters to us tried & true Pinball FX2 lovers, but also to those who have enjoyed PopCap Game's zombie garden defense game, "Plant Vs. Zombies". The table is flawless in presentation, and highly playable. It's one of those Pinball FX2 to tables that's easy to score on yet challenging enough to allow players to compete amongst themselves. The visuals keep true to the tables origins, and the audio is quite impressive for a Zen Studios creation. I will no doubt have hours of time invested in this fun-dead (quote from Zen Studios themselves!) arcade style pinball table as time passes by. If you give it a try I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I have, if not more!