The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure PS4 Review

I remember the days when Nintendo were banging the asymmetrical gameplay message with their sadly failed Wii U system and it’s inventive display touch screen controller. A few games had neat ideas where one player would be doing something completely different compared to others – ZombiU, Nintendo Land and Affordable Space Adventures to name a few – but the concept never truly became into fruition.

With virtual reality having more success across PC and PS4, it makes sense that the next evolution of the idea is within those devices due to their built in displays, and we’ve seen it with the likes of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes that fantastic things can come from it. The developers at XR Games, a team that was formed recently back in 2017, have obviously seen the potential in this, and combined with a certain well-known IP, Angry Birds, has launched a title that makes for family fun asymmetric gameplay. This might surprise people who are expecting some cheap cash-in for the film or simply more of the existing Angry Birds formula – quick answer, this is not that.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure is the official game for The Angry Birds Movie 2, but unlike a few licensed adaptations that usually try bring the story of the film to a video game, the story here is set in-between scenes in the current film, where Red and his buddies travel to Eagle Island by submarine. While on their journey, Leonard has his crown stolen by a shark, and so he fancies being a pirate and going on a treasure hunt to reclaim the crown, and a whole lot of other treasure on the way. As for anyone looking for a heavy story, there isn’t much here to satisfy. It’s a way to setup the game with a setting and goal, then leave the rest to the player.

Let’s be clear here, this is not another sequel to The Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs, a game that took the Angry Birds formula and turned it into a 3D VR game. Instead, Under Pressure (just going to call it this now since I’m sure you know I am on about the game and not the Queen song), tries to keep the ties to the original gameplay style to the utmost restricted. The concept in Under Pressure is about managing the various elements of a submarine to haul in treasure and aim for the high scores and three star ratings. The game is PSVR only, but I think it is worth noting that this ideally is a multiplayer game which happens to be also playable in single player, and so elaborating on those two modes should be noted, as they offer slightly different experiences. The multiplayer is more chaotic fun and less multitasking, unlike the single player, which has to involve multitasking due to being only one player, but does make it more challenging and involving for that person.

When in single player, you are required to wear the PSVR and use the PS4 controller – this is the role of the captain, Leonard the green pig, who is in control of interacting with the outside environment through aiming with a magnet to launch plungers to pull in treasure boxes, shoot torpedoes to blow stuff up or activate functions in the submarine, such as the incinerator or combustion to combine two treasure cubes into higher value cubes. There is no control over the actual submarine, as this travels across a predetermined path as treasures and dangers appear in view. The magnet also allows to move boxes around and place them in their required sections, such as grabbing loot that arrives on the submarine floor and shooting them onto their reserved spaces or grabbing a box of plunger heads and launching them to the character situated on the floor of the submarine, Red the bird. This is where the whole multitasking aspect comes into the single player portion, since Red is doing the role that would be given to an additional player if more than one person is playing the game.

Using the PSVR headset offers a slightly different perspective, which is placed behind the magnet on a ledge overlooking the submarine floor, but also gives a good view on what is coming up outside the submarine through the huge window. This view is kept when switching to Red, done by pressing the triangle button. Red’s role is to scurry the floors of the submarine and take the boxes of gear and carry them over to the machines that give ammo to the captain. Without these boxes, the captain cannot use plungers or torpedoes – not good if trying to aim for those high scores. Red also can move the treasure to their designated places or get rid of anything dangerous that might enter the submarine, such as explosive TNT boxes. Playing solo is a much harder challenge, maybe because I was not the best at keeping on eye on everything that is happening on screen, but being in single requires so much input and actions from the player that I was beginning to find it impossible to gain three stars while playing on my own, especially when the game likes to keep throwing in a new feature for nearly ever level.

Which takes us to the multiplayer, and once experienced, it is understandable why this is the preferred way to play the game. The setup is the same as single player, except now the person with the PSVR headset is only in control of the magnet (but can use it pull in the birds and launch them quickly to another part of the submarine – always a laugh when done by accident), while up to three other players are in control of the birds on the ground tasked with the same role as Red is in single player. Task done by the TV players is made easier if there are more of them, as each one can focus on a specific role. Decrease the player count and things become more challenging and hectic, since now each one has to share the workload of the various tasks. The difficulty of the game seems to increase when less players are involved, and it makes sense, since as mentioned about the single-player, when someone has to focus on more than one thing then the chance of mistakes happening or losing focus is higher.

Under Pressure is fun, if a little frustrating, when played solo, but it becomes a harder recommendation if people are specifically looking for a solo experience. Using Under Pressure for when a group of friends are round and it becomes a much more easier recommendation and it is where the asymmetrical gameplay comes to life. This game makes for a great party game, falling into the same category as things like The Jackbox Party Pack games or even something that has a similar cooperative experience, like Overcooked. When everyone is on the same page, there is just a lot of joy to be had, and sure, you will be shouting at each other if one of your friends is not pulling their weight, but there will also be laughs when finishing the harder levels that unlock after the short story missions, a total of around 30 missions, plus a new Halloween pack was just added for free that delivers another six levels. It might not seem like much, but the game isn’t releasing at full price, plus, it will take more than one attempt if aiming for 3 star ratings.

Using PSVR comes without much issues, since the camera is in a fixed position and no movement is involved in the game apart from moving the head to see some corners of the level. With the lack of walking, it makes this easier to play for people who suffer nausea from movement in VR Games. Also, this makes it safer for the younger people to play, which with the Angry Birds theme is sure to gain attention from the little rascals. Visuals are pleasant and clean, doing their job well in deciphering the important elements that need to be kept an eye on, so objects do not become blended with the environment.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure ignores the traditional Angry Birds gameplay and goes for something that works more suited for playing with friends. The developers have seen what asymmetrical gameplay can deliver through VR and by merging gameplay ideas from other titles on the market gives it a solid foundation. The way the game includes a variety of mechanics that evolve with each level helps bring an impressive amount of challenge to the game, but still remains a fun and hectic cooperative experience with delightful VR thrown in for good measure to bring its own identity of madness and joy.