Free - to - dramatic play games often bet appealing , but it ’s hard to know at a glance whether the business example is insidious and fun ruining , or reasonable and worth pump a few sawbuck into . With Freemium Field Test , we ’ll take a recent free - to - play iOS game , put it through its paces , and rent you know if it ’s really worth your time ( and money ) .
Angry Birds Spaceshowed that Rovio could do more than simply raiment up its tried - and - true series formula with fresh visual radical , alter the pull - and - fling intention in an inspired , entertaining style . lamentably , the originative well run juiceless shortly after that , and many of the plot release since have seemed like half - hearted and desperate attempts to mount the coattail of surging genre .
Kart racerAngry wench Gotook such a gruelling turn into freemium chicanery that it ruin any potential fun , Angry Birds Epiccharted a head - scratching roundabout way into fantasy role - playing , andAngry Birds Stella Popwas an obvious bubble - belt down knockoff that tried nothing newfangled . And now you could addAngry Birds Fight — a match - three puzzler lacking smarts and lasting entreaty — to the progressively sorry slew .
The pitch
pit more than three birds and you ’ll trip a limited power — like this dud burst .
As the claim implies , Angry Birds Fight sees the familiar hiss and Sus scrofa battling it out — only these fights are manage by agree together nearby bird faces on a grid . Pairing three of a kind sack the tiles from your board and summate a pocket-sized bit of power and defence to your abilities , while meet four or even five faces triggers a extra move that can generate a gridiron - emptying string of combos .
deplorably , there is n’t much time to plot out maneuver : Each round lasts just 45 seconds or less , which imply you ’re expected to get matches at a rapid pace . Taking your time to set up intentional combo is n’t really compatible with the game conception in Fight . Not that the game really allow you make up your own mind without distraction : It ’s constantly suggesting next mates on the instrument panel without giving you a round to consider the options . Speed matter much more than strategy here .
After the puzzle section is done , you ’ll check to see if you ’ve win . The frustrative part is , there ’s really no room of eff until it ’s over .
That is n’t a problem on its own , so much — there ’s nothing wrong with taking a different angle on a essay - and - true genre design . The real issue I have with Angry Birds Fight is that it all feels like a total crap game . Once you finish the gravel section , the opposing animate being start pummeling each other mechanically — you’ll do nothing but watch in these moments — until one of them is defeat . And it ’s not very clear what ’s hap : This a stats - establish showdown in which the stats are n’t all made known , and you ca n’t do anything but look the conclusion .
And Angry Birds Fight sure care to match you up against high - level player who will crush you with ease , with your quick puzzle - swipe performance trifle what feel like a very small character in the outcome . No doubt , that makes the in - app purchases a fate more sympathetic , as they ’re the surest way to have a fighting chance in combat .
The catch
moot the cost of each slot gambol , the gem prices are unbelievably ambitious . It’sfour bucksto take a probability on getting a utilitarian digital item .
Gems are the primary and premium currency here , and they areunbelievablyexpensive . I ca n’t recall the last time I was so taken aback by the lacking value of an in - app purchase once I knew what it got you .
Angry Birds Fight awards a stone here or there as you work up through the various missions and knob struggle , and hoard five of them lets you have a twist of the slot political machine . The distinctive gear you pull in from defeat antagonist is rarely all that beneficial , but the stuff you get from the one-armed bandit car is often astonishingly powerful or protective , yield you a big leg up in battle . But the devoid gems come very slowly , and musician unforced to unfold their wallets all-inclusive can pay for a freehanded advantage .
And I do meanwide : A plurality of five treasure — just five — costs $ 4 . You ’ll yield four American dollar to bet a digital slot game once and earn a random accessory for your cartoon boo warrior . Pricier precious stone bundles extend some small grade of savings , but not much : 10 jewel cost $ 7 , a 30 pack is $ 18 , and it goes all the elbow room up to 140 treasure for $ 75 . Angry Birds Fight says you ’re save 46 - pct over the individual gem price of $ 1 in the largest big money , but those gems do not go far no matter how you stack it .
The slot pull routinely birth gear that ’s markedly well than the stuff you ’ll get through usual bid .
I snagged the 10 - clique to advance a couple of extra time slot simple machine pluck , and sure enough , the gear I won easily outclassed whatever I ’d been using before . There ’s an obvious welfare to spending money in Angry Birds Fight , but small in the way of resulting satisfaction . The puzzle gameplay is shortchanged by the emphasis on swiftness and unfitness to recollect out moves , while the fight feel meaningless and at random settle . Yes , you will win more if you give to utilise the slot machine , but why inconvenience ?
Rovio likes to pile freemium elements , so it ’s little surprise that Fight has not one , but two different zip system . The birds ’ vigour stripe loses one of six mountain pass after each fight , while your ship — used for episodic monster engagement , which have the same kind of conjugation of puzzling and ascertain — has its own three - part metre .
trifle for a decent stretch of time and Angry Birds Fight will start ask for gemstone to refill your meters — otherwise , you wait . Fight also lets you watch out video ads to garner a mysterious stat hike in struggle , in causa the game was n’t freemium enough for you .
The verdict
giant fight are pretty exchangeable in design to the standard battles , except all your team ’s chick are launch during the ensue invigoration .
Angry Birds Fight has Rovio ’s trademark production value , with a great - looking tweak on the common shuttle invention along with funny character interaction . But it ’s window dressing on a biz that does n’t merit the care , as it misread the appeal of the equal - three genre and lose the plot with its empty battles .
fighting is fun in the other instant : It ’s cunning and fast - paced , which makes it ideal for curt academic session in your commute or other slow moments . But everything else feels poorly conceived , not to mention designed primarily to push you toward in - app purchase . Rovio used to be a mobile leader , but now it just chases trends — and often badly , at that . Angry Birds Fight is only the late proof of that .
