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SIMILAR GAMES
Tapper World Tour
Genre: Action
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Square One
Release: 18 March 2011
Genre: Action
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Square One
Release: 18 March 2011
Angry Birds Rio iPhone Review
by Levi Buchanan - IGN.com | 22 March 2011 12:00You will know why the caged bird flings.
It should came as no surprise that in its third iteration, Rovio has mastered the Angry Birds formula. The newest chapter in the blockbuster mobile franchise, Angry Birds Rio, is built solidly on the foundation that has garnered – according to Rovio – over 100 million downloads since late 2009. Yet enough is different here to keep Angry Birds Rio from feeling like nothing more than a dressed up extension of the same game.
Surely, you know the basics of Angry Birds. You slingshot a gaggle of otherwise flightless birds into structures, breaking them apart with their sometimes-special powers, like the blue bird that breaks apart into three little chicks or the black bomb bird. Angry Birds Rio initiates a temporary cease fire with the pigs of past chapters and instead draws inspiration from the upcoming animated movie, Rio. Instead of smashing into piggies, the heroes must break open caged tropical birds, eventually freeing the Blu and Jewel, the stars of Rio. In the back half of Angry Birds Rio, the ire of the birds turns on a band of monkeys.
Free bird!
Now, you won't be scoring three-star ratings for each stage on the first try – nor finding all of the hidden golden pineapples – but you're never stuck for long. This alone makes Angry Birds Rio more enjoyable than the previous outing, Angry Birds Seasons, which seemed to gleefully punish.
There's a level of visual polish on Angry Birds Rio that manages to boost what's already a successful game. The simple art of Angry Birds is one of its most under-appreciated success factors – the birds are undeniably good characters. But now the stages have depth thanks to parallax scrolling, the caged birds add extra flashes of color, and the overall arts is just a touch sharper.
Monkey business
Closing Comments
Building on the still-electric success of the original, Angry Birds Rio is a smart, snappy new chapter for the series. The new goals – freeing birds and shattering monkeys – offer a nice reprieve from the bird-pig narrative, and the forgiving learning curve makes this a much better play than the punishing Angry Birds Seasons. While the magic of the first Angry Birds – and its hundreds of stages – may not be eclipsed here, Angry Birds Rio is well worth playing for any devout fan or younger gamer.
Supplied by IGN.com
