Angry Birds In Space Impressions

Angry Birds in Space released for iOS devices today, and despite a name that sounds like it could very easily be the same game with different backgrounds, Angry Birds in Space (ABIS) feels different in a novel way.

Firing up ABIS is reminiscent of the first time I played Super Mario Galaxy. That game was immediately familiar and comfortable, until I sent Mario flying off the edge of a platform and the plumber was scooped up by the orbital gravity and gently dropped back on solid ground. ABIS feels a lot like that. If you’ve played Angry Birds at all, then you immediately know what you’re doing, but the first time you launch a bird, you’ll recognize and quickly understand the new gravity mechanic.

(Space) birds are launched towards (space) pigs in exactly the same way they have always been, but now their trajectory is subject to the gravitational pull of planets or the lack thereof. You can launch birds through the alternating gravitational pulls of neighboring planets, sending them careening up and down before they reach their destination. It makes the game feel different, without separating itself from the core gameplay of Angry Birds.

I have only made it to the second set of levels so far, but I can already see the reliance on random luck becoming more of a factor. It’s a blessing and a curse. Early in the game, I sent one of the small birds that breaks into three from a larger bird orbiting around a planet multiple times totally by accident. I had given up hope, ready to tap the restart button (as I so frequently do), but the bird was getting pulled closer and closer to the planet until it finally landed on the final pig. It was awesome, but also worrisome, as the tactic was entirely accidental.

ABIS offers the ability to create black holes with “cheat birds” (as Reiner has coined them) that allow you to bypass difficult areas by sucking up everything near the area where you activate it. It’s a cool effect, and one that will hopefully help to alleviate gripes with random luck levels.

ABIS also has boss battles, which seems to play into the throw-away story about why birds would be throwing themselves at pigs in space. It’s an interesting change of pace that gives you more birds to throw at a moving target. I’ve only encountered one, but I like it.

We’ll have a full review up soon, but so far Angry Birds in Space seems like a good investment, especially if you want more of those furious wingless birds. It feels like a good sequel in the sense that it is different in interesting ways, but not different enough to scare away fans of the original.