Angry Birds is already a classic of smartphones, a game with history and that broke records. Now he has many above, but he does not stop reinventing himself. And the last thing has been to take an example of Pokémon GO to give us the same birds and pigs as always, but actually augmented. Another way to play, with interesting news and keeping the essence that always hooked us.
Augmented reality takes advantage of the camera of our mobile device to mix the reality in which we live with virtual elements, created by the device. Thus, wherever we aim with the device, only through its screen we can see this interesting and attractive mix. It is, in fact, what Pokémon GO is based on and one of the many reasons that have led such a game to its success. But now, as we went, Rovio has taken the idea and taken it to his Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs.
Angry Birds actually augmented, so is 'Isle of Pigs'
As soon as the game starts, the camera will open. We will be seeing what we have right in front, and Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs will ask us to point to a suitable surface. That is, a wide surface, which does not reflect or flash and that has no textures. When we are pointing towards a surface with these characteristics, we will begin to mark in a virtual way so that we know where the game board can be placed. And then it will suggest that we change the inclination so that the visualization and experience are correct.
Once we have defined where we are going to place our game board, it will be enough to make the confirmation and we will see how, automatically, the elements begin to appear. And without any narrative, the game begins by showing us the classic structures of Angry Birds with some explosives, the green pigs scattered around them and, of course, the slingshot on which to mount our birds to throw them against these structures.
The same as always, but actually augmented and without narrative
There is no surprise, in Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs, beyond the fact that the video game changes its usual 'flat' style, with a side view in the purest style of platform video games, because of the augmented reality format. The mechanics remain the same and, in reality, the way to make our slingshot throw the birds against the structures, is really similar. And this raises some problems, because the structures are three-dimensional and we cannot see them completely easily. But we have buttons to rotate them to one side or the other.
Where the video game does accept criticism is the lack of narrative. The introduction to the game is poor, simple and boring from the start. The mechanics, as we said, is identical. And the graphic section is careful, yes, but not with the detail and care that would be expected from Rovio. In a way it seems like a videogame made 'in a hurry' or disinterest, in which the player does not have a common thread to keep active destroying structures, and it is not explained from the beginning what to do or how to take advantage of each roll.
The augmented reality formula is not valid for everyone
The huge success of Pokémon GO is not only due to augmented reality, and video games such as Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs make it evident. Because from the first moment, the gaming experience is not the same, and certainly does not keep us trapped in the same way. And much less is a crucial factor when, as has happened with Rovio and this video game, the advantages of this new form of play are not truly expressed.
Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs conveys the feeling that the basics of Angry Birds have been taken and taken to the augmented reality format, period. But the graphic elements that have made Angry Birds so attractive since their first version are missing. And missing a narrative that hooks. Because, as stated, the game is striking in a first contact, but boring and monotonous when we have just a few minutes of play.
On the other hand, the classic Angry Birds titles can be played anywhere and in any way. In this case, we need to be ’established' somewhere and have a fairly wide space. Even augmented reality technology has not been used as it should so that, for example, the elements can be scaled and we can play comfortably on small surfaces such as a table. However, it is worth trying and give you the opportunity to evolve in future updates of the game. Especially since it's free, although with ads.
