Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest For Balance Nintendo Switch Review 5/10 💨 @BamtangGames #IndieGames #GameDev

The Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise is now almost two decades old, and Avatar: The Last Airbender - Quest for Balance is the newest video game release and follows the epic adventures of Aang and his friends on their adventure to master all elements -water, fire, air and earth. 

Before we dive into things, I wanted to point out that this content is geared towards younger audiences. The game is designed to be easy to progress through, and the fighting mechanics are very accessible and straightforward, so you might find this slightly less enjoyable if you want to revisit the beloved story in real depth or were perhaps expecting advanced combat mechanics.

Although the game follows the 61-episodic arc of the series, it feels rushed, comprising of only 18 chapters. Whilst it loosely follows the series and cartoon, the missing elements from the story make it feel incomplete. The gameplay mainly involves fighting bandits and solving challenges such as sliding boxes into the correct placement. The developers could have put more effort and creativity into making the game more engaging and enjoyable, as these aspects feel quite flat.

The game features nine iconic characters, each with their own moves and abilities. Each character is equipped with basic long and short-ranged attacks, enabling them to engage in combat effectively. They also each have a unique special move that they can use to deliver a powerful attack, or even strengthen/heal others. Their individual skill trees sets each character apart, which allows them to unlock and improve their abilities as the game progresses. For example, Katara's skill tree enhances her healing abilities.

In terms of graphics, the game has an animated style, but it can appear blocky when running or fighting, which isn't typical for an animated style. Additionally, the exploration aspects of the game could be improved. Although it's advertised as a ‘3D platform game’, the side-scrolling element can feel too 2D at times, especially when you're stuck facing one direction with limited camera movement. This can lead to issues where walls or objects block the view of your controlled character in narrow spaces.

When it comes to gameplay mechanics, I have a few observations to make, firstly, even though the game features full-circle movement, there were times when I felt like I was moving sideways or vertically, which made it a bit frustrating to jump onto different platforms at angles - even on the simplest of occasions. 

Secondly, aiming can be quite hit-or-miss, especially during fights. In my first boss battle, I could not attack the boss for several minutes because he kept moving around, and the lock-on feature wouldn't work until he eventually stood still. That said, one thing I appreciate about this game is that it includes co-op mode. Most games rule this out, even when there are always two characters in your squad.

SUMMARY
This new Avatar: The Last Airbender game doesn’t meet expectations. It could still be fun to play with a younger sibling or child, however, at a price point of £30+, I don't think it's worth it.

It's like it was designed for mobile devices at most, and the 18-chapter story doesn't do justice to the show's three seasons. 

You'll find yourself doing the same thing repeatedly, like cleaning up enemies, or completing box puzzles / versions of Temple Run, and these don't add too much to the overall experience. 

If you're playing for nostalgia, it may not be as satisfying as you hoped. It's probably best to wait for the next one, particularly with new shows/movies on the horizon.