Angry Birds Epic Soft Launch Out Now: Check Out Our Hands on First Look at Actual Gameplay

The soft-launch of Rovio’s first RPG, Angry Birds Epic, is now available for iOS in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. At this time we don’t know when it will roll out to any other countries, but you can be sure Nesters will be some of the first to know. The worldwide release will add support for Android and Windows 8 Phones.

iOS compatibility requires iOS 6.0 or higher, but that seems to be the only real requirement — though Rovio notes that 4th generation iPod Touch is not currently supported. Otherwise, the app is optimized for iPhone 5x and all that good stuff!

So, with that out of the way, we here at the Nest have downloaded Angry Birds Epic and the above video gives you a first hand look at the actual gameplay. You literally can watch as we launch and play the game for the first time.

At first glance, the basic gameplay is easy enough to understand, but it will be difficult to master — especially for those not used to playing RPGs (you can include me in this list). Once again, the piggies have stolen the eggs from our favorite feathery friends. Starting with only the Red Bird, you must defeat the pigs in turn-based battles to retrieve stolen goods.

Each bird seems to have three abilities on any given turn: an attack, a defense, and a special “Rage Chili” attack. Hold down on any character (bird or pig) to see details about these abilities.

The objective is clear:

Knock out all piggies, but you must keep at least one bird standing! As an additional challenge, try to earn three stars on each level (Yes! Rovio is absolutely keeping a three-star format!). The more stars earned, the more prizes you win on the “Roll for Loot”. These items will be used to upgrade your birds.

So, what do you think? Eager to play? Let us know below.

Helpful Links

Helpful gameplay Tips Straight from Epic!

  • Most resources and ingredients can be crafted from lessor ones
  • Scrap your old unwanted equipment for bonus resources
  • Each weapons and off-hand item has a passive bonus ability
  • Use the Rage Chili wisely
  • Collect both items of an equipment set to gain a unique and incredible powerful set bonus!
  • Sign in with Rovio Account to share your game progress across multiple devices
  • Gain all three stars to gain more loot
  • At least one bird must survive to win a battle
  • Try different bird combos. There is a trick to any fight!
  • Fill up the Rainbow Bar of your Golden Pig Machine for a guaranteed set item!
  • Visit Professor Pig’s lab regularly to get more powerful recipes
  • Off-hand items increase a bird’s health
  • Weapons increase a bird’s attack power, and thus the damage dealt by all of their skills
  • Tap and hold on any character during battle to read their abilities
  • Friendship Essence is uses to re-roll stuff
  • Get more powerful equipment from the Golden Pig machine
  • Ask your friends once a day for free Friendship Essence
  • Change a bird’s class (headgear) to change its battle abilities
  • Pig Gates can be opened with Pig Key of a similar color
  • Wave battles contain multiple battles
  • Drag the full Rage Chili
  • Upgrade your Magic Anvil or Cauldron to roll more stars!
  • Tap and hold anything for explanations
  • Some pigs have peculiar passive abilities
  • Tap a bird to use its supporting skill on itself
  • Complete Friendship Gates to unlock bonus areas and items
  • There is a unique dungeon for each day of the week
  • Visit your friends camps for free rolls on their Golden Pigs machine
  • Tap and hold a blueprint or recipe to see the required materials to build it
  • Combat in this game is turn based. You can only give orders during your turn
  • Completing a daily dungeon will reward you with a huge amount of Snoutlings
  • Visit Mighty Eagle’s training dojo to upgrade your birds’ classes
  • Open Friendship Gates to unlock bonus areas and items.
  • … Are we missing any? Leave a comment below.
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Category: Angry Birds Epic News & Updates, News

Comments (308)

Rank: Boss Hog with 14280 points
By Josm (@josm)

Just wondering @AMslimfordy Why are the walktrhough video’s always without in-game sound? any special reason for that?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@Josm The screen recorder used by staff does not record device audio. It can record mic audio, but I figured people wouldn’t want to hear me screaming “Die piggies die!” (usually with a southern accent, but I’m not sure why that is exactly).

Rank: Boss Hog with 14280 points
By Josm (@josm)

ah ok thanks, didnt know that. saw some videos on youtube with in- game sound but that must be an other record program

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

I know it’s a lot to ask, but it will be great if some of the genius persons on this site can post a picture of the Island with a guide of the different sections.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I plan on trying something like this in a few days. But panoramic images are not my forté.

Rank: DaBomb with 345 points
By kceady (@kceady)

@AMslimfordy: imo, you can suggest Rovio to add that function into the next patch!

Rank: Boss Hog with 14280 points
By Josm (@josm)

http://epic.angrybirds.com/ if you click on the bottom on the button explore you will see the island, but only the first piece for now

Rank: DaBomb with 345 points
By kceady (@kceady)

@AMslimfordy Have u obtained the Airship yet? It seems a bug to me that it wont appear in my egg nest (the one shows your characters, drafting, etc). I checked on the neighbor “PIGGY MC’COOL” and he has it. So I missed my achievement of “Fly like a Bird”

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Seems to be a bug indeed @kceady. I’ll add to the list.

Rank: Master Slinger with 5390 points
By PiGurporal Porker (@mpg973)

This game looks like Sonic RPG! I very like to play it. Hope this game come to Android, too.

Rank: Well Traveled with 1970 points
By Jaroftime (@jaroftime)

I am loving this game at least as much as I used to angry birds (before power ups)

Lucky coins are too sparse. Otherwise I am obsessed with it. Finally a RTS game that is fun!!!

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

I’m at an advanced part of the game but I still don’t quite understand the Weapons, offhand items and resources section and the consumables and ingredients part. Can someone please tell me how this works? thx in advance

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Off-hand items increase a bird’s health.
Weapons increase a bird’s attack power.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Do you have any advice/strategy how to deal with the annoying reviving pigs?

Rank: Deputized with 200 points
By Pigcrazy (@pigcrazy)

Best way to deal with the revival pigs is to have weapons and headgear that do chain or attacks on more than one pig at a time.

Rank: Fling King with 4415 points
By RizDub (@rizdub)

I think this is the first Angry Birds game I haven’t felt any interest in playing at all. I’ve never really been a fan of RPG games in the past.

Then again, I wasn’t really a fan of go-karting games in the past either, but still. This game looks a little too complex for me to figure out.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

Someone found another dungeon this week?

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

there are many dungeons, i’m not through of the game and I must’ve found at least five so far.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

did you find more than 5 eggs?
are we talking more than 100 levels so far?

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

@joeyba: at the beginning, there is a cutscene where you can see that 5 eggs were stolen. So I doubt that there will be a sixth egg.

But if you look at the achievements, you can see that after the 5 eggs, there will be the Mighty Eagle’s Training Dojo and also the Chronicle Cave (which you xan already see in the middle of the map).

About the dungeons: since there is a dungeon for each day of the week, there must be exactly seven dungeons.

Rank: Master Slinger with 5530 points
By teogeo (@teogeo)

@joeyba:

Some spoilers:

I counted 171 levels:
– 6 tower levels
– 7 dungeon levels
– 1 vortex level (poseidon pig)
– 157 normal levels (out of which 7 are behind Friendship gates)

More spoilers:
And then you also have the levels in the caves which are unlocked only after you beat the game and obtain all 5 eggs. Currently I can see 5 caves/rooms. You can only unlock a new cave/room once you beat the previous. I’m still in the first one which *probably* has 10 levels. All of these levels require an additional character from your friends like in the dungeons. However, the game provides additional default options like prince porky and adventurer pig. And all levels so far have 10 waves. Bottom line, most likely there are about 50 more levels in the caves. Unless more caves show up as you progress through them.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

@teogeo: what about Mighty Eagle’s Training Dojo?

Rank: Champion with 3355 points
By Miezko (@miezko)

@chriss, ME Training dojo is a place where you can upgrade your “Hat-class”, so your attack and live will be increased.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@teogeo you were really very advanced in the game like 1 month ago. Any news? what did you find so far?
We know there are the 6 towers and 5 Eggs,the 3 keys, the 7 dungeon and Mighty’s Dojo then we enter in the caves. What happens next? 5 caves each with 10 levels? then what?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

did anyone beat any of the dungeons yet?

Rank: Champion with 3355 points
By Miezko (@miezko)

@trishohara, only one star, but wednesday dungeon with Red, Chuck and Piggy Mccool. First time beating was without Banana Juice, and not so difficult. But after trying again, it really felt nearly impossible for me. :)

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Yes, Floating Hoghouse. Was not so difficult.

Rank: Champion with 3355 points
By Miezko (@miezko)

Tried again, THREE STARS and @chriss three stars were difficult :), but had to use some power drinks( Banana Juice etc.) + rescued 5 eggs

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Can you also only play a dungeon every 12 hours? I tried one with Piggy McCool, and when I now want to try again, it shows me that Piggy isn’t available anymore for the next 12 hours.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

You can only borrow from a friend once per 12 hours. The more friends, the more you can try.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

@all: if you tell what character you used in a battle, please don’t only say “Red” or “Chuck” etc. Red can be a Samurai or a Knight or a Paladin, Bomb can be a Capt’n or a Cannoneer or a Pirate etc. And all of these character have different abilities. So please always specify.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

There is “Eastern Bamboo Forest 2” and “Eastern Bamboo Forest 3”, but I can’t find any “Eastern Bamboo Forest 1”. A mistake?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18470 points
By cosmo2503 (@cosmo2503)

@chriss Eastern bamboo forest 1 is first spot behind red gate.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Oh thank you. i don’t have the red key yet. That’s why I did not see this level.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Maybe stupid question, but how and where can I actually log into my Rovio account? I now installed the game on my iPhone as well and have to start from scratch…

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Click the top of the totem pole in the Nest.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Strategy for Dungeon Floating Hoghouse – I got 2 stars, birds are level 14
Chuck – Wizard hat, Stick Wand, Foul Book
Matilda – Cleric hat, Twig Harp, Demise
and Piggy

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Caution! You can only keep 3 blueprints of weapons and 2 blueprints of off-hand items maximum per bird. When you collect an additional blueprint, one of your previous blueprints will disappear. So you’d better forge your weapons and off-hand items immediately, otherwise they will be lost forever.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Rovio raised the costs for gold coins..

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Poseidon Pig does nothing. When you defeat it (or used a Mighty Eagle Potion), you can turn the wheel for a box with some indigrients. Nothing special. Afterwards the music stops for a few seconds, but no new level or path appears.
If you play the level again, the box vanished and it’s now 3 water.

Rank: Out of this World with 2795 points
By Woods (@chiiyuen0109)

Just asking but anyone knows when this game will launch out worldwide?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@chiiyuen0109 Second sentence of the post: At this time we don’t know when it will roll out to any other countries, but you can be sure Nesters will be some of the first to know.

Rank: Out of this World with 2795 points
By Woods (@chiiyuen0109)

Thanks.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Today is Saturday, right? I just tried to play Saturday’s dungeon, Bottomless Cave, but it does not let me play this level. It sais “Dungeon re-opens its gates next Saturday”. Is this a bug? I have not yet played this level today. Did this happen to anybody else as well?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

@chriss yes, that happened to me yesterday with the Friday dungeon. And today with the Saturday dungeon as well.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Okay, good. @amslimfordy, you might wanna put it on the bugs list?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@chriss @trishohara Can you check again? I just opened Bottomless cave with no problem.

I suspect that the game is using a specific server to check the “Day”. Might suggest to Rovio to add a countdown timer.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

I still get this message.
From which country is your app?
Mine is Australia, but it should’ve been still Saturday evening, when I first tried it today.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Regarding my time difference thoughts: I can’t open the Sunday dungeon too…

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@trishohara What about the Friday cave? I’m not sure off the top of my head which one that was.

In any event there’s something a little off so I’ll add it to the Bug List as an item that needs attention.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

@amslimfordy: I just checked again. Now I can open Bottomless Cave.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

I even got a notification. You know, this kind of notifications like “don’t forget your harvesting points” or “a golden pig appeared” etc. Now it sais “Daily Dungeon: Explore ‘Bottomless Cave’ and win heaps of Snoutlings”.
So I don’t have to worry any more tomorrow. I just wait for this notification and then I will play the daily dungeon.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Thanks for the check-in @chriss. There’s something a little wonky anyways so I’ll add a note to the bug list.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

I got the notification now too. 17:29 European summer time

Rank: Boss Hog with 14280 points
By Josm (@josm)

Angrybirds facebook comment ‘angry birds epic will be out very soon worldwide’ @AMslimfordy

Rank: Champion with 3355 points
By Miezko (@miezko)

@amslimfordy, in font of Bamboo Forest 7, there is a friendship gate and behind the gate, there is a hat shop (where you can buy new hats). i’m not on facebook, so can i complete my collection without registering?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

When you pay 25 gold coins, the gates open without Facebook @miezko

Rank: Out of this World with 2795 points
By Woods (@chiiyuen0109)

@amslimfordy Will you post an update to the home page when the worldwide release is out?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Most likely.

Rank: Out of this World with 2795 points
By Woods (@chiiyuen0109)

Ok.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@amslimfordy, i counted these levels in Epic. Can you confirm this is true so far:
– South Beach 5
– Cobalt Plateaus 15
– Golden Fields 4
– Eastern Cobalt 6
– Limestone Lagoon 8
– Southern Sea 3
– Desert Island 5
– Pirate Cost 4
– Slingshot Woods 7
– Northern Slingshot 1
– Great Cliffs 4
– Star Reef 10
– Banjo Bayou 3
– Bamboo Forest 10
– Canyon Land (don’t know yet)
– Winter Wonderland (don’t know yet)

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

We have a lot of walkthroughs live on-site and even more live on YouTube.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

I did check the walkthroughs but i can’t find a place where it describes the different sections. I’m used to the normal AB where everything is clear and organized. This seems like mess :) when you have some time, do you think you can do a section with every “chapter” and number of levels in it, please? it would be easier to follow..

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

No, we can’t do that. There would be over 20 “chapters”.

The episodes we created follow the chronological storyline perfectly. For more specific levels, the search bar on-site should work nicely.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

New bug: Today I played the dungeon Volcano Island. I got three stars and 50 + 75 + 200 snoutlings, but these snoutlings were not added to my amount of snoutlings, so I played today’s dumgeon for nothing.

Can anybody else also try and confirm?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@chriss I’ve experienced the same thing, but the snoutlings actually do get added. If you open another level and knock out a pig, you should see the snoutling count adjust correctly.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Ah yes, you are right @amslimfordy. Thank you.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Do you think it will be possible to transfer the progress of the game into the version of another country (iTunes account) after it got released worldwide?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I’ve managed to backup but not transfer yet. We will have to wait and see.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@amslimfordy this game doesn’t end, right?
any idea what’s after finding 5th Egg?
I just got the 4th today..
do u think it’ll get updates or it was a one time launch that continues to infinite?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

There currently is a “definitive end” of this game. As to whether there will be future updates and levels added later on, I don’t know.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

@amslimfordy, have you already reached the end (of all caves)?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Not yet @chriss. I’m in Cave 2 out of 5.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

@chriss Yes I have. Cave 5 is the last (for now).

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Is there something special after cave 5?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

nothing special.
There is a path which looks like it continues, like in the other caves, but there is nothing behind.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

In cave 5 are ninjas back, which dodge everything greater than 155. So do not get rid of your weaker weapons yet. And don’t upgrade all headgear classes to Gold.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@trishohara when you entered in the caves, you completed 5 caves with 10 levels each. That’s it? the game “ends” for now? nothing else happening after?

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

yes @joeyba. No new levels. No end screen, like after completing the last castle.
I still have not managed to get three stars in any of the cave levels.
I still can play dungeon etc.
But nothing new.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

What is actually the difference between the 20 coins roll and the 3 coins roll in the golden pig?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

@trishohara I would think it’s just probability.

3coin = small probability of obtaining a “Set Item”.
20coin = higher probability of obtaining a “Set Item”, probably about 10x more likely.
Filled Rainbow Meter = 100% probability of obtaining a “Set Item”.

In my opinion, it’s not worth it to use Lucky Coins on your Golden Pig Machine. Lucky Coins are too rare and too valuable. I think it’s better to take the free rolls from your friends, and save your Lucky Coins for other things.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

20 coins has also higher chance to get a strong equipment (not only a set item). And in addition to that, a cheap roll fills the Rainbow Bar slightly, an expensive roll fills the Rainbow Bar greatly.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18070 points
By trishohara (@trishohara)

Poseidon Pig changed. It deals 3x 108 damage, and heals only 100% of the given damage. (so maximum 324) But after beating there is still no new path or anything special

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

I changed my Rovio passeword yesterday. Today I can’t access the game. It’s saying “failed to log in”!!! What shall I do ??

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

Try to use your old password or reset your password.

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@chriss
It’s not showing me the place to log in.
It shows directly the game loading and the message failed to log in

Rank: Sling God with 35410 points
By Joey (@joeyba)

@chriss this is a link for the image I get as soon as I access the game
http://angrybir.de/RrgG32

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9830 points
By Chris (@chriss)

When I play AG Go and I have different progress on my device and on my Rovio account, I am asked which progross I wanna keep in my Rovio account and I can select the one I want.

AG Epic should do the same. Why is this not possible?

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