S&S Mobile Review: Angry Birds Star Wars

Title: Angry Birds Star Wars
Format: iOS
Release Date: November 8, 2012
Publisher: Rovio
Developer: Rovio
Price: .99(iPhone), 3.99(iPad)
ESRB Rating: E

One of the most addicting mobile games to date has combined with one of the most popular franchises around, and what do you get, Angry Birds Star Wars.  It seems that Rovio just keeps improving its award winning game, blending in more great gameplay with an iconic universe.  

Story, Presentation, and Gameplay:

The game takes place  during the original Star Wars movie, and the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.  Given, I'm no super fan of the Star Wars lore, but I do know enough so the game's setting doesn't feel entirely new to me.  There has already been talks about supporting the game post-launch with more retelling of the classic stories.  I love the makeover the birds and piggies have gotten, they all resemble iconic figures and grunts that helped make the movies so popular.  The giant furry Chewbacca is one of the more notable figures, with the red Luke Skywalker making for one of the more amusing new recreations.  The Piggies don't hold back either, dressing up as Stormtroopers, the Sand People, and a very menacing Darth Vader.  The different settings or arenas where you'll be flinging Obi-Wan Kenobi all resemble locales from the movies.  The art style is the definite stand out in the game, and any fan of the movies will come to appreciate the amount of work that went into recreating the storied franchise.   There has been a lot of gameplay changes and additions as well, flinging Luke Skywalker gives you the ability to swing your lightsaber once to slice through your first opposing obstacles.  The lightsaber also comes in handy when you have different projectiles coming your way, you can easily deflect shots back at your enemies.  Han Solo's bird can shoot three lasers at at different obstacles, and can even bounce off metal and continue their path.  The C-3PO bird will use its body to explode and cause a massive amount of destruction.  You're using all these new abilities to still obtain your overall goal, destroy all the evil piggies.  Its still the same addictive gameplay we've all come to love, just with the Star Wars 'verse surrounding it.  The 80 levels are start off pretty simple, but the challenge definitely ramps up pretty quickly.  There a number of new opportunities, thanks to the universe you're playing in, for you to destroy each piggy on the map.  The creative player will seek refuge in this new title, aiming for TNT boxes while dodging baddies that are shooting lasers at you will take a bit of thought to overcome.  The Deathstar is represented beautifully by a well crafted multi-scrolling stage that gets harder as you progress, and its easily one of the best stages in an Angry birds game to date.  When you come across the infamous Darth Vader piggy, it'll take a lot more puzzle-solving to get to him.  Thanks to the addition of some brilliantly crafted zero-G stages, the game can get pretty complex at times.  Sending your Han around a planet as he unleashes his lasers on the first obstacles, then allowing him to crash into additional piggies by the lack of gravitational pull is always satisfying.  

Final Thoughts:
Angry Birds Star Wars gives you everything you craved in another Angry Birds game, spellbinding gameplay that gives you even more ways to get revenge on the evil piggies.  The fact that Rovio has found a way to incorporate Star Wars without it getting in the way of your experience is a great feat, this easily makes this the best Angry Birds game to date.  

S&S Rating: 9/10

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