Details :
Platform : Meta Quest – SteamVR – Viveport
Was it ever on Quest + : Yes – Dec 2023
Type : Casual
Regular Price : 19.99$US (Meta / Steam)
Get 25% off Angry Birds VR for Quest!
Reviewed on Quest 3
Quick Review (for those who don’t like to read)
Who do not know about Angry Birds? If you don’t, go get it free on your mobile app store. It’ll give you a good feel of what this game is about.
Angry Bird VR : Isle of pigs is exactly what to expect from the first mobile game if it were in VR, with a little extra Build mode that allows to create and play custom levels.
Just shoot down structures and get as many pigs as possible in the least shots possible.
Gameplay
It’s as simple as it is : 4 types of Birds, 3 with a special power. 3 types of materials, Wood, Rock and Ice. A few props and TNT boxes. Put Pigs on those crazy structures and ask the player to kill them with as few shots as possible and you got a game. NOTE : No pigs were harmed in the making of this game.
No tutorial is really required, but you’ll get some hints in the first few levels. You will be dropped in game with your virtual slingshot in one hand, and the strength to pull the string in the other.
Faced with a 3d structure, you can move around it physically or by teleporting to one of the hot spots around it.
This game can be played Standing, Seated, or Slouched back in the couch (you might need a little contorsion to achieve certain shots).
Level difficulty to get 3 stars range from “Stupidly Easy” to “What the hell am I supposed to do”, but you can beat them with just 1 star pretty easily, avoiding the frustration of remaining stuck.
The 3 special birds powers are :
- Speed : Allows the bird to go straight and destroy more structures.
- Explosion : Press the trigger for the bird to explode, doing massive damage to the structure.
- Split : Press the trigger for the bird to split, hitting multiple spots at the same time in one shot.
Graphics
You probably wouldn’t want realistic graphics on a game where shooting birds at structure to kill pigs is it’s main goal. Luckily the game does not try that.
Instead, its cartoony style is directly translated from the Angry Bird movie and 2d Games. You recognise the birds and the resolution and fluidity is good enough to let us get transported into their world.
It does not try to over do it with gimmicks and special effects. It just works as simple as it is.
Custom levels and level creator
The replay value comes mostly from the level creator and the custom levels. No need to have codes or to join online communities to gain access to the levels. You can browse and apply filters to see the best rated, most played or newest published levels.
Audio
Nothing special about it. Every level has a joyful background music.
Audio effects are, again, what you would expect. Slingshot sound, explosions of TNT, birds “Yahoo”…
Conclusion
A simple game like Angry Birds VR : Isle of Pigs is quick “Go To” game if you are looking for a casual experience or something for the whole family. You can play just a few minutes or get sucked in for an hour.
It’s child safe and fit for all ages. It can be played with almost no space required. It’s easy to navigate and rewarding to complete.
Replay value is moderate with completionnist that wants all stars and custom levels that gets added by users, although finding good ones can take time.
I just wish there were an Mixed Reality mode so I could shoot at structures around my home or watch TV at the same time I shoot down those structures.