'Angry Birds' – A Physics-Based 2D Puzzler For Fans Of 'Boom Blox'
posted by Ryan Rigney on December 11th, 2009 5:50 PM EST in $0.99, 4 stars, Action, Puzzle, Reviews, iPhone games, iPod touch games
When you see a game with a name as nondescript as Angry Birds [App Store], it's pretty hard to get excited. Even after playing through the first few levels, I was enjoying this game, but failing to see the real appeal. Sticking with Angry Birds for more than 30 minutes, however, reveals a game that can easily be compared (both by the design and quality) to the Wii's family-friendly hit, Boom Blox, and turns out to be a lot of fun.
Angry Birds is a game that doesn't even pretend to have a story, and I really appreciate that. The full intro to the game is a single picture which illustrates some green pigs stealing eggs from a variety of birds. Naturally, the only way for the birds to vindicate this atrocity is to launch themselves from a slingshot in a suicidal attempt to take the lives of as many pigs as possible. I like to think that because the pigs are green this is some sort of swine-flu revenge fantasy, but it's likely that there's zero credence to that idea.
With all of that out of the way, players are haphazardly tossed into a level in which several angry-looking red birds are gathered around a primitive slingshot, with a small wooden tower harboring a little green pig to the right. Touching and dragging backwards on the bird that is currently mounted in the slingshot will prime your disturbed little critter for launch. From here, your goal is to aim your shot effectively and take out a weak point on the pig's tower, causing him to fall to his little piggy doom.
As the game progresses, you'll be given access to different types of birds that each have a unique power which can be activated by tapping the screen while the bird is mid-flight. Blue birds will split into three separate birds, yellow birds will get a large speed boost, black birds explode, and white birds drop explosive eggs.
Angry Birds will hand you preset numbers and types of birds in each level, so strategy becomes key as you find yourself trying to figure out how each of your birds can work cooperatively to cause some Rube Goldberg-worthy destruction. Over the course of the 63 levels in the game the challenges will become more difficult, yet simultaneously more rewarding upon completion.
There isn't much in the way of extras in Angry Birds. While developers Rovio have promised Leaderboard support in a future update, for now the only thing to do in the game is play those 63 levels. There is no tutorial, no multiplayer, no challenge mode, and no other features that are common in other titles.
There is, however, some good motivation to go back and improve scores on previous levels due to the rating system for each level in the game, and Rovio has announced in our forums that they will be holding a fun little contest to see who can get a the highest possible rating on all 63 levels (with the prize being a free Angry Birds poster hand-signed by all the developers).
Angry Birds might not have a lot of extra features besides its single player mode, but to be honest, that mode alone makes the game a fantastic value. Angry Birds successfully captures the spirit of Boom Blox using a 2D viewpoint, a compliment that should make this game an automatic purchase for many.
App Store Link: Angry Birds, $0.99
TouchArcade Rating:
Nice article Ryan.
I am an avid fan of this style of game (Crush the Castle etc..) and Angry Birds is the most fun of them that I've bought. Rovio's description page says that the $.99 is a 50% intro sale. Well worth the $2 normal price, you should pick it up at a buck while available.
hmm Crush the Castle $2 for 50 levels or this for $1 for 63 levels. However, Crush the Castle has level editor. Only reason I haven't bought Crush the Castle is cuz I'm waiting for it to drop to $1.
here is link to Crush the Castle
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crush-the-castle/id318639200?mt=8
I have Crush the Castle and it is a fine game. I get way more satisfaction and a greater sense of accompolishment from Angry Birds. Also, in the forums, Rovio has said that global leaderboards will be included soon.
Oooh, I liked Boom Blox, so I'll definitely own this game
Fantastic game.
5 star review on the AppStore.
This really is an instant classic. I've over 400 games and this is one of very few that I actually find hard to put down. Even repeating the levels is fun. Yes, you do want to get it. . .
Just bought this game and LOVE it. Hilarious, addicting, and well done. Thanks for featuring this; otherwise I probably never would have come across it.
Nice review! I'll get it for sure… on the N900! Why didn't you mention the superior version of the game!?
I love this game. Hard to argue with the value of a game that costs $.99 and I've already spent several hours on. The graphics and sound are just perfect. Very engaging.
My first thought was WOW, looks a little like Implode type of game which is an AMAZING game. OK, I'm off to guy this one right now!!
Reviewsbysteve
Such a wonderful game! Once you start you can not stop.
A game in which the birds play the role of heros getting back their eggs stolen by pigs
A perfrct gift for bird lovers with one of those phones
What a great game!
My whole family is hooked on this game. I like the structure where each level is separate, and you can go for multiple levels of achievement (one-two-three stars) on each. And the fact that I can take my sweet time setting up shots and then sit back and watch the action.
I've gone through the whole thing, and am now going back and trying to get three stars on every level (I've probably got 75-80% – but the ones that are left are *real* tough…)
iBlast Moki has a similar sort of structure – I would recommend it for folks who like Angry Birds.
Both Crush the Castle and Implode look fun – I'll be popping for both.
Suggestions for similar structure games, or just games that you'd think an avid Angry Bird'er might like, would be much appreciated…
I'm pleased to have come across this review because I now know that my son and I aren't the only ones to get hooked on those addictive Angry Birds (free on my N900!)
No offense, Ryan, but this review wasn't right. This is totally a 5-star game.
i love this game its super coolx
59p for this sick game!
How can you say no!
This is simply one of the best games I have played, I am familiar with crush-the-castle and other games of this irk but this is the best! At $1 it has entertained about 13 fully grown 30+ people for well over 5 hours each, whilst we slowly try to beat each others scores.
I would recommend this with every star I can award!
THESE BIRDS RULE
Bluebird multi-bird,black bird bombbird,yellow bird speed bird,whitebird egg bomber,redbird leaderbird
The only problem with angry birds is it leaves you wanting more. 5 stars
Very good
ok 5-16 strategy anyone. 91,820 and still one star..