Plants vs Zombies GW2

playstationPremium

Health Score

MIXED

About This Game

Super Review

Plants vs. Zombies GW2 is a vibrant, humorous shooter offering cooperative fun and character customization. However, parents should note its heavy reliance on a 'Sticker Pack' loot box-like system for progression, significant pressure to play daily to avoid missing rewards, and online multiplayer with unmoderated voice chat that can expose younger players to strangers. Its overall "Mixed" health score of 38 reflects these notable risks.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a premium third-person shooter that offers engaging team-based combat and a charming, cartoonish style. It can be a good fit for families seeking lighthearted action, especially when played cooperatively with friends. However, its low score of 38 stems from substantial concerns regarding its loot box-like 'Sticker Pack' system, which can encourage excessive spending and create a feeling of needing to play regularly to keep up with unlocks. The open online communication also poses a social risk, making strict parental oversight essential for younger players.

What players actually do

Players engage in fast-paced third-person shooter combat, choosing between plant and zombie characters, each with unique abilities, which exercises tactical decision-making and aiming skills.
Players team up with others in 4-player cooperative missions or large-scale 24-player online battles, requiring coordination and communication to achieve objectives and strategize.
Players unlock and customize their characters using in-game currency earned through play, personalizing their appearance and abilities with different variants and accessories, fostering personal expression within game limits.
Players complete daily quests and participate in limited-time events within the central 'Backyard Battleground' hub, encouraging exploration and consistent engagement to earn rewards.

Where it shines

The game strongly encourages cooperation and strategic thinking, particularly in its 4-player cooperative modes, which can be a positive for players learning teamwork.
Plants vs. Zombies GW2 offers extensive character customization, allowing players to personalize their plants and zombies with a wide array of humorous accessories and distinct character variants.
Its cartoonish, fantasy violence and crude humor are appropriate for its E10+ rating, focusing on lighthearted combat without gore, which keeps the content intensity low.

Parent watch-outs

The 'Sticker Pack' system functions like loot boxes, using in-game currency to randomly acquire new characters, items, and consumables, which can be predatory and encourage continued spending or grinding.
Online multiplayer includes interaction with strangers and potential voice chat, exposing younger players to unmoderated conversations and social risks.
Daily quests and limited-time 'Mystery Portal' events create significant pressure to play regularly, fostering a "Fear Of Missing Out" (FOMO) and encouraging excessive play sessions to unlock all content.

Family rules worth setting

Set clear limits on playtime to prevent excessive engagement with daily quests and limited-time events, especially if players feel pressure to unlock everything.
Disable voice chat entirely for younger players and monitor online interactions, as the game facilitates communication with strangers.
Discuss the 'Sticker Pack' system and its random nature to help players understand the mechanics and avoid frustration or the desire for real-money purchases for in-game currency (though the game is premium, this can still be a psychological concern).

Talk about this

Discuss the concept of 'Fear Of Missing Out' (FOMO) in games and how daily challenges are designed to keep players engaged, helping them understand when to prioritize real-life activities.
Talk about the importance of respectful online communication and personal safety when interacting with strangers in multiplayer games, emphasizing that not everyone online is trustworthy.
Explain how 'loot box' style mechanics, like the Sticker Packs, use randomness to encourage continued play or spending, and why it's important to value items based on their utility rather than the thrill of acquisition.

Play style

This is a fast-paced, third-person shooter with clear objectives and various game modes. Sessions can be quick, focused on a single match or daily quest, or extend for longer periods during multiplayer sessions. Difficulty is generally accessible, though competitive online play can be challenging for new players. The game supports both solo play through its story mode and hub, and strong cooperative and competitive online multiplayer, but online interaction with strangers is prominent.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

1/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

3/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

3/5

Social Risk

4/5

Content Intensity

1/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

1/5

Plants vs. Zombies GW2 is designed purely for entertainment and action-shooter gameplay, not for explicit learning. Its score of 1 reflects a minimal focus on educational content, despite requiring some strategic thinking in combat.

Addictive Monetization

3/5

While a premium game, Plants vs. Zombies GW2 uses a 'Sticker Pack' system akin to loot boxes for character and item unlocks. This random acquisition method, alongside the strong emphasis on earning in-game currency for these packs, earns it a score of 3 due to its potential to be habit-forming and encourage excessive play.

Time Pressure / FOMO

3/5

The game incorporates daily quests and limited-time 'Mystery Portal' events that actively encourage consistent play to earn rewards and unlock content. This design creates a significant 'Fear Of Missing Out' (FOMO) for players who want to maximize their progress, justifying its score of 3 for time pressure.

Social Risk

4/5

Plants vs. Zombies GW2's online multiplayer supports up to 24 players and includes potential voice chat, which facilitates interaction with strangers. The lack of moderation in these open communication channels presents a notable social risk, leading to its high score of 4.

Negatives

•Uses a "Sticker Pack" system that functions like loot boxes, using in-game currency to acquire random characters and items.
•Online multiplayer involves interaction with strangers, including potential voice chat, which can expose younger players to unmoderated conversations.
•Features daily quests and limited-time events that create significant pressure to play regularly to avoid missing out on rewards.
•Offers minimal educational value, focusing almost entirely on action-based entertainment.

Positives

•Team-based gameplay strongly encourages cooperation and strategy, especially in its 4-player cooperative mode.
•Offers a wide range of fun character customization, allowing players to personalize their plants and zombies with unique accessories.
•The cartoonish, humorous take on combat is appropriate for its E10+ rating, focusing on fantasy violence without gore.
•The game can be played as a one-time purchase, with unlocks available through gameplay.