It seems that this week some of you followed my terrible, not-even-really-a-pun pun and got a little angry about Angry Birds. Yes, I know it’s not a pun if I take one word out of the title and looking back on it “sick as a pig” would have been a way better pun. What can I say I can only pick out the good puns in hindsight. I should stop talking about puns and really talk about Rovio’s pocket juggernaut shouldn’t I? Right.
So yes, there were a few of you who got a little angry at the game. In fact first time reviewer Darth Newdar was particularly critical, although pleased to be able to take part as this was the first time I picked a game they’d played.
In my opinion, the most important thing in a video game is… wait for it… consistency. In any game with levels designed to be replayed, if the player repeats the same actions they must receive the same result.
And that is where Angry Birds fails. Sure, it might be cute. Sure, it might be fun. Sure, it might be addictive. But when the same slingshot line, with the same bird, with the same power can sometimes cause the whole house to fall down, or sometimes make absolutely no impression at all, I can only come to one conclusion.
The game is rubbish.
I wouldn’t quite agree with calling Angry Birds rubbish, but I can certainly understand the frustration about the physics. No matter how hard you try to line your shot up it does seem impossible to recreate your previous shot. Sometimes this mild randomness can make the game fun, but when you’re going for precision I can understand the frustration.
Sticking with the negativity for a moment, lets turn to the game’s presentation. Crocadillian, who is another first timer I believe, makes a fairly valid point about the graphical styling of the fowl flinger.
Although I used to pointlessly hate on it, the main problem I have with is with the games presentation. Although presentable, it looks like many other iOS and mobile phones with the bubbly font, the yellow shiny interface and typical level graphics, which comes across as a little lazy. If Rovio gave the games graphics some more thought they could have made their game stand out further than it already does, and less prone to such ignorant criticism because of what it appears to represent.
I can sort of see where they’re coming from about the cartoon style presentation, which does seem to be fairly pervasive in the app store. However, it’s worth remembering that going for a more unique style may well be more graphically intensive and slow the game down, particularly on older devices.
Enough of the negativity now, let’s take a look at someone who was far more positive about the title. Pritchie101 makes a persuasive point about the pervasiveness of the game, and how spot on Rovio have gotten the “just one more” mechanic, enhancing the model from old arcade machines.
Hate all you want, everyone has Angry Birds. It’s extremely annoying but you need, you need one more go at killing those little green devils. Painfully addictive game, yet very, very fun. I’m gonna make it simple, it’s so simple, but it’s been used to greatness. That’s how you make a best selling Mobile game, kids!
Finally MadBoJangles brings us this very short but accurate summary of the game. I don’t think it could be put any more succinctly.
It’s like gaming crack. Seriously. It 110% embodies the “just one more go” ethos to such an extreme it’s untrue.
After missing two buses in a row due to playing Angry Birds it’s hard to argue with that. Anyway, onto the verdict. This week surprised me slightly to be honest, I wasn’t expecting such a split. In fact we have a vote in each of the categories this week, so I’ll break it down in reverse order. In last place was Avoid It, receiving only one vote. Next was Bargain Bin with two of you behind it. However, once again we have a tie for first place with both Buy It and Rent It getting five of you backing that verdict. So there we go, no clear decision again. Perhaps I need to come up with some sort of tie-breaker.
job
i play the psn mini version on my psp quite a lot and find it as enjoyable as peggle bearing in mind that both games are not skill based and purely luck and as such i treat them differently to normal games.
Mike
How do I ‘but’ the game? ;)
KeRaSh
How can you vote “Bargain Bin” for a downloadable game that always costs the same or might even be free on some platforms? :P
tantalus_blank
I think that also goes for renting. I think it’s more of a take it with a pinch of salt kinda thing
FalconRedux
Definitely this, it’s more the spirit of the labels than the literal interpretation. ‘Rent It’ or ‘Bargain Bin’ are ways of saying it’s not an essential purchase, but worth trying should the opportunity arise.
ron_mcphatty
Really interesting result, I’m amazed it wasnt a landslide ‘buy it’ verdict considering the super-cheep (haha) nature of the game. The chat has inspired me to get it on my phone again. Goodbye job!
KeRaSh
Yeah, considering the price I’d say it’s worth the money, even if you only ever play it for half an hour and then forget about it.
Kamokazi-UK
Only reason i have this is because it was free on Android
mynameisblair
It’s a great, fun little game. I love it on my Touchpad. Nothing mindblowing though, really; the sales are, however.
three_leg_jake
And then when you get really stuck you ask someone else to help out. Er, hang on a minute…
coruscant
I’ve got Android but my phone can’t run it, so I got it on PSN. It’s pretty addictive and actually when my friends came over it was great to play together, everyone having a go trying to do one level, and we got there after a while.
Sympozium
Haha….
bacon_nuts
I’d have to agree with Darth Newdar to be honest.. The game gets on my nerves quite a bit.
Darth Newdar
Well I’m glad somebody does!