A small time Finnish studio catapulted their way to super gaming stardom with their massive 2009 hit, which spawned Angry Bird merchandise, movie tie-ups and multiple spin offs. They bring back the angry avian group in what can safely be called the game’s first true sequel. At its core, it’s still the same game with the slingshot mechanics that we all know so well. But here’s what makes it better, or not.
First, The Good
Right off the bat, you just can’t take your eyes off the game. It looks downright gorgeous and the environment feels alive and buzzing with flowers spitting out debris, rockets flying around and the magnified expressions of the birds and pigs. The stages have been masterfully rendered and is definitely a step up from the flat color palette of the initial Angry Bird versions. All this looks so good on the high resolution screens that all the latest mobile phones boast of. The vivid imagery is aptly supported by a high octane sound design that gives such great satisfaction, each time you crash an angry bird into a piggie hideout.
Gameplay also sees a lot of positive changes with the card system where you can choose the order in which you throw them birdies or choose magic spells instead, to get that extra help for a tough stage. The levels are also procedurally generated, which means that the pigs’ structures will be different every time you restart a stage. All this put together gives a far more strategic edge to the game. Just try not to throw your mobile out of frustration, just because the makers want you to try harder at crossing a level.
The mandatory social angle also sees a boost with an in-game arena, which you can enter to compete with your virtual friends and upload scores via Facebook.
Now, the Bad
A limited life system. Gone are the days when you could restart a stage over and over, hoping to get lucky this time with aiming your bird into that building’s weak spot. Now you only have 5 lives, which tend to get replenished over a few hours or with the in-game ‘gems’ currency. No more unlimited game play, sadly.
I also had just one gripe with the overall game design. The stage is so huge that you have to zoom out quite a bit, which makes it tough to spot the pigs that look like dots once you pull back all the way.
And Then There’s the Angry
The f****** limited life system ruins my experience of a great game. If I like a game I want to binge play it for a few hours. With this system I may have to stop playing within just a few minutes, till my lives get replenished. Or if I spend some gems to get an extra life. You can also spend some of your real hard earned money to buy some unreal in-game gems. This is a huge speed bump for gamers who want to play a stage over and over, to achieve perfect scores. Not cool.
Same is with the social arena where you get one free entry pass a day. Else you need to watch an ad or pay money to get extra hours of limited access.
Rovio was one of the good guys who offered great games for free. It’s sad to see them enter the big bad world of freemium business models, where you have to pay extra for those added advantages. I understand the need to make money of a great product. They too have a business to run, but how it’s incorporated into the game feels a bit like shaking you down for your cash.
The whole practice seems unnecessary and might alienate fans and those who might want to enjoy the new game. Hey Rovio! Maybe you could ease it up a little, eh?
I give the game 3 out of 5 points.
It’s a great game that makes you want to play it a lot, but only if you pay up. And I take away one full point for that stupid life system.
(This review is based on the Android experience of the game)
Platform: Android, iOS
Developer, Publisher: Rovio Entertainment
Released: July 30th, Price: Free with in-app purchases
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