Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs was released last month, bringing fans a whole new way to fling birds around and smash stuff. With a VR headset on, players wield the series’ trademark slingshot in first-person perspective and have to physically move around to find a shooting angle.
Now, the Angry Birds franchise is getting a new AR title also titled Isle of Pigs, which sets out to deliver the same experience but on a more convenient device. Currently, this upcoming free-to-play game is only announced for iOS, and it will be released sometime in the next couple of months.
Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs Trailer
Even if you have not played the VR game, Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs is still extremely easy to get into as long as you have any experience in the series at all. The phone screen will show a slingshot from first-person view, but other than that, the rules are practically the same.
Each level is a structure made of building blocks that you have to destroy by launching birds at them. There are several types of birds that you can use as projectiles, with each type having a distinct behavior. Your ultimate goal, however, is not to wreck the structure, but to destroy the green pigs hiding in it. Naturally, the levels get more complex as you progress.
Despite the fact that the basic idea remains the same, the first-person perspective drastically changes the experience. Similar to the VR version, you can physically move around the playing field, meaning you can adjust the shooting angle and distance as you please.
One thing to note about this AR mechanic is that you are recommended to play in a relatively flat surface with as few obstacles as possible, preferably one that allows you to rotate around the target in a full circle. Sometimes, that will open up a creative way to overcome a level.
The implementation of AR tech brings a nice refreshment to the Angry Birds franchise. It’s not as cumbersome as VR, yet still promotes a feeling of realism as you walk around your target, kneeling down or tip-toeing up to look for the best angle to strike.
The developer promises that Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs will be coming this spring, but no specific date is announced yet.