'Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2' will have console beta test on Jan.14

Fans excited about “Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2” will be glad to find out that there will be a beta test for the console version of the game next week. The beta will run from Jan. 14 to 18 and will let players try out the new character classes and game modes of the sequel.

According to an article from Gematsu, the beta will let testers try out six new character classes, along with a number of fan favourite characters making their return from the last game. Like in the last game, each character class plays differently from one another, adding plenty of variety to the multiplayer spinoff.

The three new character classes for the plants are Rose, Citron and the punnily named Kernel Corn. Meanwhile, the undead zombies have Imp, Super Brainz and Captain Deadbeard, whose name sounds more like a pirate than a zombie though trailers have confirmed that he’s actually both.

Gameplay is expected to be just as chaotic, if not more, as the first game. “Garden Warfare 2” will once again feature 24-Player modes, with two new ones that will be playable during the beta. The new modes are Herbal Assault and the appropriately titled Gardens and Graveyards, according to GameSpot.

What makes Herbal Assault interesting is that it switches up the well-known “Plants vs. Zombies” gameplay. Zombies will be the ones defending, while the Plants will be the ones assaulting them. It’s a decent way to add some variety to the popular gaming franchise.

Other game modes that will be playable include Backyard Battleground and Flag of Power, a mode that is supposedly inspired by various King of the Hill-style multiplayer modes. These modes will not support 24 players like the previous mode, but should still be fun nonetheless.

All of these modes will be playable in the four new maps that will be playable in the beta: Moon Base Z, Frosty Creek, Z-Tech Factory and Seeds of Time.

More surprises for the game are planned, but EA and PopCap Games will be saving them for the actual launch of the game. Multiplayer fans will be able to pick up “Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2” on Feb. 23 for North America and Feb. 25 for Europe. The game will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC.