the latest angry birds game angry birds space has been released guys what are you waiting for download it here
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Angry Birds must be one of the strangest success stories in all gaming. It's a global phenomenon with the game featured on every T-shirt and lunchbox from here to Hong Kong. And yet none of the characters have names, let alone personalities or back stories. The various versions of the game have been downloaded a staggering 700 million times, but only a tiny percentage of those are paid-for versions.
And then there's the fact that the game really isn't that great. It's okay, and at 69p (or nothing at all) you're never going to feel ripped off, but there are hundreds of other physics-based puzzlers that are just as entertaining. And just as reliant on dumb luck to complete them.
We're not trying to be elitist snobs when we say that, but if we were reviewing the original Angry Birds without the knowledge that it was the most popular franchise in the world, we'd slap it with an average score and instantly forget about it.
Why it's become so successful not even developer Rovio really seems to know, but it appears to be a mixture of the price and the instant accessibility. And perhaps that random element of luck is really a plus to casual gamers, as it means they're playing on an equal footing to everyone else.
Since the original game's release in late 2009 there have been no direct sequels, just minor expansion such as Angry Birds Seasons and Rio. You'll notice this also doesn't have a number at the end of its name but it feels much more like a proper follow-up than any of the others.
Setting the game in outer space involves more than just a change of backdrops, with most of the stages featuring small planetoids, on which the egg-stealing green pigs are situated on or around. It all looks faintly like a 2D version of Super Mario Galaxy, complete with a gravity pull emanating from each planet that will alter the course of any bird that flies past it.
Often there's more than one planetoid and these are use in increasingly cunning ways to slingshot you around to precision bomb pigs and the Jenga-like blocks they hide inside. Other than this though little has really changed, and although the catapult from which you launch your angry avians can now rotate through a full 360 degrees you're still just lining it up and hoping for the best.
The ice bird is new though, but is introduced only once you've got used to the basics - as being able to freeze anything he comes into contact with can be as much of a help as a hindrance.
There are also the space eagles which create a mini black hole to suck in nearby pigs. These are given away only as rewards or bought, using real money, from the in-game shop. They're obviously meant as a free pass for levels you're stuck on but they feel even cheaper than they sound.
A more welcome addition is a series of bonus stages based on famous retro games raging from Super Mario Bros. to Space Invaders. The king pig's boss battles are also a lot of fun, indeed the quality of level design throughout is high and, given the limitations of the game, very imagination.
There's usually multiple ways to beat a level and often it's not a case of having to hit a pig, or even its cover, head-on. As long as you can get them to crash into a planet it's enough to thwart them, and creating the Final Destination style chain of events to get them there is very satisfying.
Or at least it is when your plan works. The problem remains that what appears to be the same shot often results in a completely different end result, and often you win or lose a stage purely based on luck and the randomness of the game's physics engine.
If that's not been a problem before though, and 700 million downloads suggests it's not, then it's certainly not going to put anyone off here. We do feel the controls are still too twitchy though, and playing on an iPhone screen the visuals can appear almost microscopic at times.
Still, with 60 levels and the promise of more free ones to come (plus a paid-for collection of super hard levels at launch) that's barely more than a penny a stage. Clearly that's a bargain, and we say that despite still not particularly enjoying the game.
We don't resent its success at all though, we just don't understand it. But anything that gets people interested in gaming is good by us and this is definitely the best Angry Birds so far.
In Short: It's not as significant a departure from the original games as it first appears but the gravity gimmicks help ensure a series best for the world's most successful video game.
Pros: The gravity-based puzzles are a great idea. Imaginative level design and some fun bonus stages. Incredibly cheap given the amount of levels and presentational polish.
Cons: The physics engine is fine in itself but the results of your catapulting often feel random and too dependent on luck. Twitchy controls. Works better on a tablet screen.
Score: 7/10
Formats: iOS (iPod touch reviewed), Android and PC
Price: 69p
Publisher: Rovio Mobile
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Release Date: 22nd March 2012
Age Rating: 4+
TRailer of the game here
