Birds Use the Force in New “Angry Birds: Star Wars”

By NANCY BELLE

If you have ever wanted to take down a pig version of Darth Vader, now is your chance. With the release of “Angry Birds: Star Wars,” mobile app developer Rovio proves itself once again with the release of the fifth, and by all accounts best, game in the “Angry Birds” series.
While the pairing of the massively popular “Angry Birds” franchise and “Star Wars” may sound like an odd combination, they work well together. The game has a loose plot, with the first two sets of levels based on “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”
Both the scenery and the pigs in the levels go along with the theme, with the first level taking place on Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine and featuring pigs disguised as Tusken Raiders and Storm Troopers. The only thing truly missing from these levels is Princess Leia, who, according to promotional artwork for the game, should make an appearance in later episodes.
For even the seasoned player of earlier “Angry Birds” games, “Angry Birds: Star Wars” takes some time to get used to. The physics in the game are a cross between those in the original “Angry Birds” game and the somewhat trickier fourth game in the series, “Angry Birds: Space.”
Also, all of the birds, with the exception of the Blue Bird, have different powers from the rest of the series. Some are more helpful and easier to learn than others, while others are not.
The Black Bird, a bomb in all other games, may be the hardest of these. Appearing in the game as Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is able to use the “force” to push objects without touching them. This takes some time to get used to, but ends up making the game stand out from all others in the series.
Costing only $0.99 on iOS devices and free on Android devices, the game is a bargain. However, the cost can rise quickly if you choose to purchase “Millennium Falcons,” the game’s version of the original “Mighty Eagle” feature, or the “Path of the Jedi,” a pack of 40 levels for $1.99.
With more free updates to come, including a set of levels set on Hoth, the game is worth much more than its $0.99 price tag.