Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time has proven to be a smash hit on the Apple Store, as players of the popular tower defense series finally got their hands on the new game, which was released last week. The game is free to download and play, but there is a wealth of premium items that can be purchased with real money, as well as the ability to unlock further stages by paying rather than using skill.
While developer Popcap has delivered on its promise to allow players to complete the game without having to spend a single cent, the premium items represent a strong temptation for gamers struggling to keep the zombie hordes away. But are they worth purchasing?
Currently, there are six premium plants available for purchase in the in-app store. While most of the premium plants are returning plants from the original Plants vs. Zombies, the new plant, the Power Lilly, is quite powerful. It gives players more Plant Food to power up other plants, so it could be a strong support plant to purchase. However, the two most useful premium plants are the Squash and Jalapeno. The Squash destroys one zombie, and the Jalapeno destroys a whole row of zombies. All three of these plants, along with the Imitator (which mimics another plant) are available for $2.99.
Two other plants are available for $3.99. The Snow Pea shoots frozen peas at zombies that slow them down, and the Torchwood can ignite peas to deal double damage. However, the two plants are not worth the higher price, especially compared to the other premium plants and the free plants in the game.
Several upgrades can be purchased for $1.99. Upgrades either add more slots to the game's inventory or add bonus sun to the game. Of all the upgrades available, the Bonus Seed Slot upgrade may be the most worthy of purchase, as it allows players a permanent extra slot for their plants and adds more strategies for players to use. Users can also buy packs of coins for use in the game, ranging from 5,000 coins for $2.99 or 200,000 coins for $51.99. Popcap has several bundles of coins, plants, and upgrades available for discounted rates. And of course, players can buy the additional levels for the game if they are unwilling or unable to unlock them.
Look out for more Plants vs. Zombies 2 news, including when new levels will launch and when the game could be released on other platforms.