Gamezine16, 15-04-2022: Angry Birds & Furry Controllers, gm918237

Angry Birds: The Classic Returns! 

Video Credit: Rovio

2009 was a dark time for Finnish game developer Rovio: they were so close to bankruptcy, they were searching ideas for a new game within the staff. One idea from senior game designer Jaakko Iisalo involved a simulated screenshot of limbless angry-looking birds. The staff liked the birds and elected to make a game around game, with inspiration from Crush the Castle (the gameplay) and the “swine flu” pandemic (the enemy pigs). It wasn’t until 2010 that the game began to be noticed: it reached No. 1 spot in the iOS App Store in the UK and US. Since then, Rovio continued to publish updates for the game alongside different iterations (like different settings or crossovers with other IPs). Unfortunately, the game was delisted in 2019 without warning, with Rovio eventually explaining that it was due to software rot. Fans have been pestering Rovio about bringing the game back ever since.
The wait is finally over! In April 2022, Rovio finally remastered the game as Rovio Classics: Angry Birds (which is completely separate from the Apple Arcade exclusive, movie-inspired Angry Birds Reloaded). With the power of the Unity engine, the game is only available for newer and future smartphones/tablets and you have to purchase it. On one hand, the game is completely free from microtransactions and ads. On the other hand, not all levels are included (it only has 8 levels, plus Golden Eggs). Rovio, if you want us to buy this, please include the missing levels in future updates. Otherwise, it’s a major return to form and since it’s Rovio Classics, it’s hopefully guaranteed to see the return of the other games (except the crossover ones, in case Disney doesn’t play nice).
As one of the people who got to play the original game, I loved it and was sad to see it no longer available. But since it’s finally available, I’d play it again if I had a phone with Android 6. I can only pray Rovio can somehow port the remaster to other consoles or just PC (it’s definitely a game the Steam Deck can benefit from having).

Recent Games for Netflix

Video Credit: IGN Now

Remember when Netflix announced it’s branching out into games? Well, they did and most of the games are pretty good from what I saw so far, except to play them, you need a smartphone/tablet that runs Android 8.0 or iOS 15. An active subscription is also required, which should be obvious. While the games are free of microtransactions and ads for the members, it is a tough pill to swallow to be getting an expensive new phone just to play these.
The games that have joined Netflix Games are:
This Is a True Story - A puzzle game developed by Frosty Pop in collaboration with the non-profit organization Charity: Water; an African woman struggles to get water for her family
Shatter Remastered - A remake of 2009’s Shatter developed by PikPok; a Breakout clone crossed with Arkanoid
Into the Dead: Unleashed - A runner/shooter hybrid, again developed by PikPok; players shoot zombies in a variety of chapters and challenges.
In case you can’t find the Games column in Netflix, check the Play Store/App Store for the games. Again, you need Android 8.0 or iOS/iPad OS 15 to play them.

GTA+

Video Credit: GTA Series Videos

Free isn’t always nice, especially if it’s a video game. When companies discovered the mobile market’s potential, they also found another way to monetize: release the game as free, but include microtransactions or ads (even both) to get as much money from players as possible. Not all microtransactions can be bad, if used correctly it can bring more player engagement while supporting their favourite game. It’s pretty much a viable strategy now, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t a few bad apples: some titles will have microtransactions even though you have to purchase the game first! Some companies will even add microtransactions to paid titles after gaining positive reviews! But there’s always the option for battle passes: get some benefits, without draining your wallet.
Rockstar Games just added a subscription service for GTA Online players. For $6 a month, players can get a recurring GTA$500.000 direct deposit to their Maze Bank account alongside different benefits and even access to some missed gameplay updates each month. You can check their official website/social media for new benefits in future months. Whether or not it’s worth your money is up to you to decide.
Since 2013, Grand Theft Auto Online has entertained players for almost ten years (yeah, next year will be its ten anniversary). But it also caused Rockstar to rest on its laurels since they can add new stuff to an old game! Even though Grand Theft Auto VI is finally in development, there’s no guarantee it can be better than GTA V. I keep playing GTA V because it’s that good. But as a gamer who avoids new games like the plague, I only care about what Rockstar can do to make the next Grand Theft Auto title spectacular.

One Game Pass, Two Sports

Video Credit: Sony and MLB

Sports are great, but not every person is capable of doing sports. Which is why gaming eventually became a sport worthy of global tournaments. Sports games also became popular, from EA’s Madden to Fifa… until they became a gameplay bore since recent titles are anything but different from one another. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good sports games, but they tend to be locked up behind certain platforms. One brand of sports games eventually managed to hit Xbox and PC, with the previous year’s title getting released for Game Pass first. I actually played that game for a bit, though it was difficult (I am no baseball fan). Will history repeat itself?
Indeed it has! MLB The Show 22, alongside Cricket 22, has hit the Game Pass this month! Players noticed some bugs and glitches on MLB The Show 22 (such as disappearing microtransaction purchases), so hopefully developer San Diego Studio gets to it. But it’s still a huge get for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, since they can play the game without buying at full price. Plus, it's a game developed and published by Sony, making its status as a day one release more notable. Cricket 22, developed by Big Ant Studios and published by Nacon, is the latest game in this series. Since it’s now part of the Game Pass, will it improve the game’s reputation amidst bad critic reviews? Hopefully.
As someone who tried MLB The Show 21 when it was on the Game Pass, I have no interest in trying the latest title. Since I simply am not a sports fan. Neither will I try Cricket 22. I have even less interest in sports games based on real-life athletes.

Furry Controllers!

Video Credit: IGN Now

Movie merchandise is always a great way to cash in on interest. When game companies get involved, it can get crazier. Consoles and controllers painted to evoke the movie, menu backgrounds… The sky’s the limit. But if they’re exclusives, that’s a tough pill to swallow. They’re great collectibles and novelties, which I may never own.
Remember when Microsoft and Paramount teamed up to celebrate the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (the movie, not the game)? They celebrated by giving away a custom Xbox Series S with controllers (based on Sonic and Knuckles)! It was well-received, though the controllers drew some eyebrows. The controllers, appropriately named Sonic Blue and Knuckles Red, have textured coatings based on the “bristly” textures of hedgehogs. Fuzzy. Even Idris Elba (the voice of Knuckles in the movie and the upcoming spin-off series) had quite the reaction. In a short interview with IGN that showcased the controller, Elba asked if the controller’s “fur” was made out of slippers. He was surprised to learn it was a legitimate promotional item (and not just a joke from IGN). Elba stared at and “petted” the controller, but once it lit up, he said it “looks evil”, stating it could be used as a moustache. When the interviewers noted that Ivo Robotnik had a similar moustache, Elba accused them of spreading spoilers. Does this mean Robotnik will get a similarly “furry” moustache in the future? Maybe.
I’m certainly as surprised as those controllers. I mean, furry controllers? Was this done before? Not that I’m aware of, really. But they’re too weird to ignore, for sure. Unfortunately, since I live in a country unsupported by Xbox Live (my console is set to Germany, to save up on euros), I’ll congratulate anyone who wins this custom oddity. The giveaway will end on April 30th, so hurry!

Favorite Game: Angry Birds

It’s a peaceful day for the birds, but once they turn a blind eye… the eggs have disappeared! They look and see their eggs… in the possession of green pigs! The Angry Birds use a slingshot to defeat every pig they encounter, until they reach the king. They beat him up and reclaim the eggs. Unfortunately, the pigs are too dumb to give up, so the birds have to remain vigilant to prevent the pigs from stealing their eggs.
This game was the best. I got to play it and it’s great. I’d play it all the time if I could. Unfortunately, it was taken down in 2019 without reason, until a letter specified the original was removed because of software rot. But the original was resurrected as Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, but not all levels are available. That can change. For now, it’s possible to play the original through an emulator with the right APK. That’s how I can play it until I can get a powerful phone. Rovio Classics: Angry Birds is available on Android Play Store (requires Android 6.0 and up) and Apple App Store (requires iOS/iPad OS 13 and up). There’s also Angry Birds Reloaded, a game inspired by the original but with movie elements, which is exclusive to Apple Arcade.