Finnish game developer, Rovio, has announced the newest addition to its hit mobile game series Angry Birds.
The new Angry Bird Action! ties up perfectly into the upcoming The Angry Birds Movie, showing in theaters in May. The new free-to-play mobile game boasts a lot of cool new features, including 3D graphics, large amount of augmented reality content, and special prizes for users who will watch the movie in cinemas.
Angry Birds Action! is said to be inspired by the classic pinball game as it provides users with an overhead view instead of the traditional side-on view used in the original series. Levels may contain one to multiple boards at a time, each coming with a separate goal to complete. Goals may vary and players can use a limited number of birds to finish each challenge.
Of course, the game won't be complete without the four main avian characters from the movie – Red, Chuck, Bomb and Terence, as it follows them as they progress through each levels. Players begin with Red and the rest of the characters get unlocked over time.
In the new Angry Birds Action!, players will attempt to gather eggs while enemy pigs attack them. Instead of the traditional back slingshot, users can now projectile launch the birds using their fingers and send the characters in the direction where they can inflict the greatest damage.
Faithful to the original premise of Angry Birds, users are expected to beat the level in as few tries as possible. Players earn up to three stars on each stage depending on how high their scores are, and are awarded some treasure chests that contain energy boosts, coins and other prizes.
In addition, the app allows users to scan hidden "Birdcodes," which unlock a variety of exclusive game content and other freebies. The app is incorporating an augmented reality (AR) feature by adding 3D overlays on various Angry Birds-related products, which can be viewed by users through their smartphone camera. Rovio has partnered with a lot of big companies such as McDonalds, Toys "R" Us, Lego, Pez, and H&M to distribute 1 billion Angry Birds AR codes. Eager fans can also find more birdcodes hidden in secret spots like the movie posters, Lego playsets, or on McDonalds's packaging, so keep your eyes peeled for those AR codes.
For those who will be lining up in theaters to watch the movie, you can unlock an exclusive movie clip as well as extra game levels by simply launching the Angry Birds Action! app when the Angry Birds logo appears on the movie screen. The app is now available for iOS and Android.
