Info about Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville™:

Official game description:
Welcome to Neighborville, where all is well. Except that a crazy, new, coniferous conflict between brain-less and botanicals is brewing! What are you gonna do, call the crops? Soil your plants? Prepare to kick some grass in a plant-on-zombie conflict that will take you to the outer edges of Neighborville and back again.  
**  
KEY FEATURES**  
*   Go All Out in Online Multiplayer - Jump into the fray with up to 24 players in online multiplayer across a gigantic suburban skirmish. Bring the unique abilities of each character class to 6 PvP modes–including the new Battle Arena–and experience the unbeleafable thrills of combat.  
*   Venture to the Outer Edges of Neighborville - The tension across the terra has expanded with free-roam regions that extend beyond the town of Neighborville. Squad up with up to 3 friends in the Giddy Park social region and take back Weirding Woods, Mount Steep and Neighborville Town Centre. It’s grow time!  
*   Customize Every Character for Battle - Join the newest bloom in the age-old battle between plants and zombies with 20 fully customizable classes at launch, including a Team Play class for each faction. Deck every character out with ludicrous looks and wacky weapons that show off your unique personality.
NOTE: SPLIT SCREEN COUCH CO-OP NOT AVAILABLE ON PC VERSION.  
The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and outrageous exclusive content. Rock out with the Judge Z costume for 80s Action Hero, peck your battles with Peashooter’s Chickpea costume, express yourself with 5 explosive emojis, and learn about Battle for Neighborville in a special digital comic.  
**Deluxe Edition exclusive content includes:**  
*   Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Standard Edition  
*   Legendary Chickpea costume for Peashooter  
*   Legendary Judge Z costume for 80s Action Hero  
*   Digital comic  
*   5 emojis

Release date: 4 Jun, 2020

Categories: Third-Person Shooter, Hero Shooter, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Character Customization, Character Progression, Open-World Exploration, Single-player Story


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging & Fun Gameplay (weight 0.99): Players consistently praise the game for its fun and engaging gameplay across various modes, including single-player, co-op, and multiplayer. Its replayability, interesting mechanics, and ability to provide a relaxing yet entertaining experience are frequently highlighted.
- Vibrant Graphics & Art Style (weight 0.96): The game's visual presentation receives high acclaim for its beautiful, colorful, and cartoony art style. Players appreciate the detailed environments, expressive animations, and vibrant visual effects that contribute to a cheerful and immersive atmosphere.
- Improved over Garden Warfare (weight 0.87): Many players consider the game an improvement over its Garden Warfare predecessors, citing better character balance, richer PvE content, faster health regeneration, and a more accessible experience for new players. The distinct art style is also preferred by some.
- Diverse Characters & Customization (weight 0.25): Players enjoy the wide roster of unique and customizable characters, noting the variety in playstyles and abilities. The character-specific upgrade system and new character designs are particularly well-received, adding depth and personalization.
- Rich Plants vs. Zombies IP (weight 0.22): The game successfully captures the essence and charm of the Plants vs. Zombies universe. Fans appreciate its continuation of the series, the inclusion of beloved characters, and the fresh take on the 3D shooter genre while retaining the IP's unique humor.
- Varied Modes & Content (weight 0.19): The game offers a good variety of content, including competitive multiplayer, cooperative missions, extensive PvE open worlds, boss battles, and numerous challenges. This diversity contributes to sustained player engagement and replayability.
- Balanced Multiplayer & Fair Monetization (weight 0.07): The game's multiplayer is noted for being balanced and active, with improved systems and fair monetization practices. The removal of pay-to-win elements and a better upgrade system contribute to a positive competitive experience.

Common complaints:
- Critical Launch & Performance Issues (weight 0.63): A significant portion of players report the game consistently failing to launch, crashing frequently, or encountering persistent errors, often tied to anti-cheat systems or general instability. These issues render the game unplayable for many, despite troubleshooting efforts.
- Low & Dwindling Player Count (weight 0.5): The game suffers from a critically low and declining player base, especially on PC and specific regional servers. This leads to empty lobbies, difficulty finding matches, and multiplayer experiences often filled with bots, severely impacting the intended online experience.
- Abandoned by Developers / EA (weight 0.15): Players widely criticize EA and the developers for prematurely abandoning the game, halting updates, and failing to address critical bugs and balance issues. This lack of ongoing support is seen as a major factor in the game's decline and unfulfilled potential.
- Unengaging Single-Player & Content (weight 0.12): The single-player campaign is widely criticized for being short, repetitive, and uninspired, with an open-world design that feels cluttered. Overall content, including game modes and character variety, is perceived as limited, leading to quick boredom.
- Overpriced & Poor Value (weight 0.05): A considerable number of players feel the game is overpriced, especially at full price, given its perceived quality, lack of content, and technical issues. Many regret their purchase or only recommend it at deep discounts, citing a poor return on investment.
- Character-Specific Frustration (Rose) (weight 0.05): The character 'Rose' is a common point of contention, with players finding her ineffective, underpowered, and generally un-fun to play. Her abilities are seen as lacking damage and utility, making certain missions frustrating.

Gameplay feedback:
- Familiar Plants vs. Zombies Gameplay (weight 0.12): The game maintains the core Plants vs. Zombies universe where players choose to play as either plant or zombie factions, engaging in dynamic team battles. It is a third-person shooter that expands upon the established Garden Warfare formula.
- Distinct from Garden Warfare (weight 0.11): Players note that the game feels different and more fast-paced than the Garden Warfare series, despite sharing some content similarities with Garden Warfare 2. It is perceived as a spin-off rather than a direct sequel, leading to varied opinions on its quality compared to previous titles.
- Hero Shooter Mechanics (weight 0.08): The game is a 3rd person hero shooter, often compared to Overwatch, focusing on character classes with distinct roles (attacker, defender, supporter) and unique skills. It has evolved from a tower defense game into this shooter genre.
- New Sprint Mechanic (weight 0.03): A significant gameplay change is the introduction of a sprint button, a mechanic previously limited to specific character abilities in prior PvZ titles. This requires players to adjust to new running mechanics.
- Character Talent System (weight 0.03): The game implements a talent system for character customization, allowing players to tailor abilities and playstyles. This system replaces the character variants found in previous Garden Warfare titles.
- Cross-Platform Support (weight 0.02): The game supports crossplay functionality across consoles and other platforms, enhancing the multiplayer experience and potentially player base.
- Basic Storyline (weight 0.02): The game includes a story mode, but player feedback suggests it is of average quality. It serves as an optional component for those interested in lore rather than a primary draw.
- Reviewer's Past Experience (weight 0.02): Reviewers often reflect on their past extensive playtime or achievement completion, indicating a long-term engagement with the game or its predecessors. This point is based on limited, personal feedback.
- Peashooter Basic Abilities (weight 0.02): The Peashooter character, a staple, demonstrates a range of basic abilities including pea shooting, grenade throwing, turret transformation, and movement buffs, showcasing the diverse skill sets of individual characters.

Performance notes:
- Mixed reports on game optimization (weight 0.11): Feedback on optimization is divided. Some players with good PCs report smooth performance, even with RTX, while others experience low frame rates (10-40 FPS) and lag, especially at launch or on less powerful hardware.
- Other notable technical issues (weight 0.04): Additional problems include full screen mode not working, white screen flashes, and the game being inaccessible via the EA platform. Some users also report needing specific steps like changing Windows usernames (for users in mainland China) or using an accelerator to launch.
- Minor or non-actionable feedback (weight 0.02): Some feedback, such as the game downloading successfully, making computer fans spin, or old GW2 server fixes, is not directly actionable or indicates a general state rather than a problem.

Recommendations:
- Buy only on deep sale (weight 0.35): Many players recommend purchasing the game only when it is significantly discounted, often suggesting a price point of $5-10 or an 85% off sale. This indicates that the game's full price is generally not considered worth its value.
- General negative sentiment (weight 0.24): A segment of players strongly advise against buying or even playing the game, citing it as not recommended or a waste of money due to persistent issues and failures.
- Generally positive reception (weight 0.24): Despite various criticisms, a considerable number of players express enjoyment and give the game high ratings (7/10 to 10/10). They find it entertaining, fun, and a good option for a relaxed experience, especially for casual shooter fans and kids.
- Prefer Garden Warfare 2 (weight 0.23): A significant portion of the feedback suggests that players should opt for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 instead. This is often due to GW2 having more content, a larger player base, and a generally better overall experience.
- Refunds requested (weight 0.04): Several players have requested or are considering refunds for the game. This indicates significant dissatisfaction, possibly stemming from unresolved issues or a poor gaming experience.
- Issues with PC version (weight 0.03): The PC version of the game receives specific negative feedback, with recommendations against buying it for computer novices or older PCs. Concerns about low player count and potential technical issues on PC are highlighted.
- Play with friends for better experience (weight 0.02): Playing the game with friends or exploring the PvE content with companions is recommended for a more enjoyable experience. This suggests the social aspect enhances gameplay.
- Mixed recommendation for hardcore fans (weight 0.01): While some core fans are advised to buy the game, others recommend against it if expecting a tactical sequel or if they previously enjoyed GW1/GW2 more. The game caters to a more casual audience.

Other player notes:
- Desire for Updates and Sequels (weight 0.23): Players express a strong desire for more content, updates, or a sequel to Battle for Neighborville or the Garden Warfare series. There's disappointment over the game's cancelled support and the missed opportunity to fully realize its potential.
- Overhated and Underestimated Game (weight 0.22): Many players feel the game is unfairly criticized and often underestimated, especially when compared to its predecessors. Despite its flaws, it has a good foundation and significant unfulfilled potential, leading to a polarizing reception.
- Mixed Value Perception (weight 0.19): The perceived value of the game varies greatly, with some feeling it was a waste of money even at low prices, while others found it worth the cost, especially during sales. Original full price purchases often led to buyer's remorse.
- Nostalgia and Franchise Loyalty (weight 0.17): A significant portion of the player base comprises long-time fans of the Plants vs. Zombies franchise, many of whom grew up with the series. This nostalgia often drives purchases and a desire for more content or a new, high-quality PvZ game.
- EA Platform Integration Criticized (weight 0.04): The game's integration with EA's systems, including the EA app and perceived 'usual EA practices,' is a point of contention. Some players question the necessity of certain integrations and have faced issues with purchases and support.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.22): Players are primarily disappointed by the game's perceived inferiority to its predecessors, particularly Garden Warfare 2, citing a lack of content, creative missions, and character variations. A major source of disappointment stems from the inability to play the purchased game due to persistent technical issues like crashes, anti-cheat errors, and empty online servers, leading to wasted money and an unplayable experience. The low player count across all platforms also significantly hinders the multiplayer experience, making it feel dead or forcing players into bot matches, further exacerbating feelings of abandonment by developers.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.21): Satisfaction often comes from the game's fun gameplay, vibrant art style, engaging characters, and overall quality, especially when viewed as a worthy continuation of the franchise or a decent shooter. Players enjoy the co-op and single-player content, finding value in the campaign, upgrade systems, and diverse gameplay experiences. Many also express satisfaction with the game's performance, graphics, and the ability to provide casual entertainment, particularly when playing with friends or enjoying the PVE modes.
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Frustration is overwhelmingly caused by the game's persistent technical issues, most notably the inability to launch or consistently play the game due to crashes, anti-cheat errors, and installation problems. Players are also frustrated by dead online lobbies, low player counts that force them to play with bots, and unbalanced matchmaking. The lack of effective developer support and the necessity for complex manual fixes to play the game further amplify this emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement is generated by the game's overall quality, fun gameplay, and vibrant world, with many considering it a top-tier or addictive experience. Players are excited by the fast-paced action, chaotic battles, and diverse features, often recommending it to other Plants vs. Zombies fans. The prospect of abundant content, replayability, and engaging story modes also contributes significantly to this positive emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment is derived from the game's fun and engaging gameplay, diverse modes, and entertaining qualities, often described as a 'chill hero shooter' with a charming style. Players appreciate the dynamic action, humorous aspects, and the overall positive game experience, whether playing solo, with friends, or against bots. The visual appeal, character designs, and progression system also contribute to a generally enjoyable experience.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger stems from the game's severe unplayability, perceived poor quality, and consistent technical failures like crashes and server issues, leading to wasted money and an inability to play. Players are also angry at perceived developer indifference, unfair in-game practices, and changes that are seen as disrespecting or ruining the franchise. Issues with customer support, false anti-cheat accusations, and the necessity of complex workarounds further fuel this anger.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is primarily associated with the game's fun gameplay, especially when shared with friends or family, and the overall engaging gaming experience. Players express joy from revisiting the game, successful character progression, and the family-friendly humor and accessibility. The ability to still have fun, spontaneous fights, and the sheer entertainment value derived from playing contribute to a sense of happiness.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia arises from the game's connection to past experiences with the Plants vs. Zombies franchise, particularly childhood memories of playing older titles. Players feel nostalgic when the game retains elements from previous installments or when fulfilling a childhood dream of playing it. This emotion is often triggered by remembering past fun or a desire for the 'Garden Warfare' style, sometimes leading to unfavorable comparisons with the current game.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is shown for the game's core idea, visual style, character variety, and its ability to blend different game modes effectively. Players appreciate the well-designed characters, unique qualities, and quality of life improvements, especially in comparison to previous titles. The game's monetization model and its adherence to the Plants vs. Zombies universe are also sources of appreciation, particularly for fans of the series.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is primarily expressed for the game's future, specifically for an increase in its player base and continued updates to address technical issues. Players hope for future game development, including sequels or the return of specific cosmetic items, and for community feedback to lead to meaningful fixes and optimization. There is also hope that solutions shared by players will help others overcome game-related problems.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion often arises from unexpected issues like automatic refunds or persistent error messages, making it difficult for players to understand or resolve problems. Players are also confused by the game's negative reception when they personally enjoy it, or by changes in genre and unclear guidance on progression. Technical prompts and issues with online requirements or account access can also lead to significant confusion.
- Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Helpfulness is demonstrated by players providing tips, detailed solutions, and advice for common technical issues, particularly those related to game entry, anti-cheat, or installation. This emotion is driven by a desire to assist fellow players in overcoming frustrating problems and improving their game experience, often involving extensive troubleshooting information.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom is caused by tedious tasks, repetitive gameplay, and excessive grinding for achievements or progression, leading the game to become unengaging quickly. The lack of online content and active players, combined with limited character variety, contributes to a monotonous experience. Slow progress due to a lack of understanding or uninteresting gameplay further exacerbates this feeling.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is often expressed when players are impressed by the game's quality despite negative public reception or underestimation. This includes unexpected enjoyment of an FPS game, well-hidden elements, challenging aspects, and chaotic in-game moments. Positive surprises also include good performance on unexpected hardware and quick online matchmaking, indicating the game is still active.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is primarily associated with purchasing the game, particularly at full price, due to its unplayable state, limited vitality, or perceived lack of updates. Players regret wasting money on a non-functional game or seeing a previously enjoyable game decline in quality. This emotion also encompasses regret over the wasted potential of the game's underlying foundation.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Desire focuses on wanting improvements and new content for the game, such as better balancing, new cosmetics, and more interesting single-player content. Players also express a strong desire for more active players, future updates, and a new, high-quality Plants vs. Zombies game. Specific wishes include the return of removed features or changes to in-game transactions.
- Pragmatism (weight 0.01): Pragmatism involves assessing the game's worth in relation to its price, with many reviewers advising others to wait for a discount or only purchase during a sale. This approach evaluates the game's value based on monetary cost and suggests alternatives or provides advice on factors like player count and accelerators to optimize the purchase decision.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance stems from minor but persistent technical issues such as crashes on clean installs, the need for manual anti-cheat installation, and poor server performance. Players are also annoyed by persistent matchmaking problems, minor glitches like refresh rate locks, and specific character sounds or models. False playtime records and the necessity of using accelerators also contribute to this feeling.
- Caution (weight 0.01): Caution involves warning potential buyers about various issues, including the game's full price, low player count, and potential for mismatched expectations. Reviewers advise against purchasing if players don't have a strong preference for the IP or if they have concerns about high hardware requirements, EA software installation, or driver issues. Recommendations against Steam purchases are also made due to platform-specific problems.
- Love (weight 0): Love is expressed for the Plants vs. Zombies franchise as a whole, as well as for the game itself, often highlighting its style, gameplay, charm, and fun aspects. Players describe the game as one of the most amazing shooters and show overall affection for the series. This emotion reflects a deep positive connection and enjoyment of the overall game experience.}