Welcome to our CHEATfactor Game Review of Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. We review the game and then factor in how the available cheats affect the overall game experience. For better or worse, our reviews will help you decide whether or not to use cheats when playing the game.

While the original game got by mostly on it's charm and it's surprisingly solid mechanics, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 lives by one motto: "bigger is better." The original game got away with being a budget based shooter but this time around the world is bigger, the cast is bigger and game is an altogether bigger experience. I was surprised how much I liked the original Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare but my expectations were high for the sequel and luckily those expectations, save for a few missteps and lackluster moments, were wildly met. Garden Warfare 2 has grown up, and it's a better game as a result.

Okay, so maybe growing up isn't the right phrase as Garden Warfare 2 retains the series trademark sense of humor. You'll still control weird characters in a weird world and get missions from a guy named Crazy Dave. The biggest change now is in between the actual gameplay modes, much of the game takes place in the middle of a hub world that acts as a home base of sorts for everything you want to do in the game. This time around you can chose to control either side of the conflict, either a plant or a zombie and there are different hub worlds based on your choice. The game flashes a lot of content in your face quickly as you begin, almost in a way that it shouts that it's proud of what it has accomplished here.

Much like the previous game the online mode is the star attraction of Garden Warfare 2 and it's similarly filled with modes and options.  There are of course your typical team death match modes that you'd expect, along with a rush mode that sees two teams both attacking and defending specific points on the map but by far my favorite mode is the new Backyard Battleground mode, which acts as a horde mode type deal with the game throwing waves of random enemies your way. One of the major differences from this game to the previous is the fact that zombies are now playable in most modes as both defenders and attackers, rather than just having them attack at all times. In fact, the game's campaign is centered around the zombies winning the battle for suburbia and having to defend it, a first for the entire franchise really.

Each of the playable characters from the previous game returns but they are completely out-shined by the newer additions. Kernel Corn is a personal favorite with his heavy fire power and attitude but there's a good amount of diversity on both sides of the war. Each side has a pretty well balanced set of new characters that have a surprising amount of depth to them even for the second time around.  Take Imp for instance, the small zombie attacker who has very little health but has the ability to to summon a giant mech every few minutes. I've never felt more excited to try out new characters than I was here.  Nearly every addition to the roster added some sort of fun and depth that had me coming back. The original cast are still as fun as ever but it's easy to even forget that they're around when the new characters are just so damn fun.

The true allure of this is how you can customize each character to your own personal liking. Is it something that happens in most competitive shooters? Sure, but the wackiness of Plants vs Zombies makes this special. From consumables that help grant you additional power to new abilities and cool stickers and customizable gear there is a ton to unlock in Garden Warfare 2. The only problem is that it always feels like a chore to unlock and when you do level up, you're only leveling up your current character, and have to do each one separate. Does it mean you'll have more to play and more reason to go back? Of course, but it feels like such a chore to go through and unlock everything for multiple characters.

There's much more single player content here in the sequel than the original but I wouldn't go as far as to call it a single player campaign. All of the game modes can be played with bots for teammates and enemies and there is a story mode but save for the final battle each mission is just a different take on the multiplayer modes in the game already. I couldn't help but feel like this was a major missed opportunity, given the game's wonderful weird level and map design. I would have spent a lot more time with the game if it gave me more of a reason to care about the world it created.

With Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2, EA has another unquestionable success on it's hands, even if it's just more of the same from the original. But really, what's wrong with that? This is a fun and somewhat addicting shooter that's accessible for everyone and bigger on literally every scale. This is an industry that tells us that genre games like shooters should be serious, but Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 is even more evidence that we can still have fun.