Avatar: The Last Airbender – GBA – Review

Most games don’t get the
proper GBA treatment. Players usually get the best experience from the console
version, and in some cases a comparable experience from the PSP and Nintendo
DS. Burt when it comes time to launch a Game Boy iteration, few titles have
what it takes to end up anywhere but the EBgames bargain bin.

That would make Avatar: The
Last Airbender a diamond in the rough. First and foremost, it is not the same
as the Nintendo DS version. Whereas most big-name GBA titles are re-worked
versions of a DS game, Avatar is its own adventure. 

I Like to Play With the
Top Down

Designed as a semi-action/RPG,
Avatar is a top-down adventure with lots of hacking, slashing, and plenty of
puzzle-solving. I call it a "semi-" action/RPG because of the
character movement, which isn’t very fast. I’m usually turned off by slower
games, but there was something catchy about this one – something that made me
want to continue.

Maybe it was the general
movement which, despite being slow, felt very smooth and natural. Stuttering, a
common issue with GBA titles, is not present. Or maybe it was the nostalgia of
an era gone by, one filled with games like Alundra that weren’t fast, but were
just as engrossing as the games that are.

Players control Aang,
Sokka, and Katara. Note that I said "and," not "or." All
three are controlled simultaneously, with one being the leader, and the other
two available for quick access by pressing and holding the L or R button.

Aang’s Air Strike is a
side-swiping attack. He’ll soon acquire the ability to strike downward,
unleashing a short-range projectile that stuns enemies temporarily. Katara’s
Water Whip will come in handy, as will Sokka’s boomerang attack. Sokka can use
it as more than a weapon; it also doubles as a switch-activator.

There are other moves to
learn, but these are the ones you’ll end up using the most. An attack gauge
prevents you from performing moves to quickly. This wasn’t necessary, and
doesn’t add anything to the game. I can only assume the developers used it to
keep Avatar from being too slash-heavy. But the game is what it is – you’ll
have to execute the same number of slashes no matter what. The only difference
now is that you’re forced to do it a little slower. 

Levels Upped

Avatar’s level design is
great. You’ll explore caves and dungeons, each with their own puzzles, layout,
and aesthetics. The flicker of candles leave glow in one dungeon, while rain
pours as you investigate the docks. Every locale is heightened by a puzzle
system that requires you to think before you can move on. I was pleasantly
surprised by the block-shifting puzzles. More often than not they are the key
to exiting a confusing area. Blocks come in three weights – water-less,
half-full, and completely full. The more water the block has, the heavier it
gets. You can push empty blocks on your own, but you’ll need help from a
partner to push anything heavier.

The reason they are so
important is because of their size and the objects that surround them. You
might not be able to walk around a block because of the giant, impenetrable
trees standing next to it. If there are no trees in sight, chances are the area
you have to cross – most likely to the north – is guarded by a gate.

In the first example, you
have to push the blocks around the scenery to clear a path. Blocks cannot be
pushed any old way. They must be guided along a designated path, thus creating
an element of puzzle. You’ll have to figure out how to get to the block
in order to push it. That could be as simple as jumping up to a platform (done
automatically by pressing the A button at specific areas in the game), crossing
over the block, and pushing it from the opposite side. Aang can shoot the
blocks with his Air Blast, sliding them into place at times when he cannot
physically touch the block.

The second example involves
a switching game. At the very least, one gate needs to be unlocked. Ground
switches are activated by weight. Light blocks will not weigh down the stronger
switches. You can use a heavier block, but only if you have a partner there to
help you push it. In many cases you’ll have to separate from your partner in
order to be at two places at the same time (to push more blocks, activate more
switches, etc.).

The linear structure means
you’ll have to unlock gate A before area B can be explored. But that’s not much
of a drawback here, in a game that’s shorter than most action/RPGs and was
created for a handheld.

Gameplay: 7.6
Avatar’s retro, action/RPG
gameplay is good handheld fun. The characters, attack styles, and level designs
do the series justice, while the puzzles bring a new dimension to Avatar’s
world. Fans will be more than happy with the GBA edition and its exclusive
gameplay offerings, and may want to pick it up even if they have more powerful
systems and can play the more technologically advanced versions.

Graphics: 7
You’re not going to
be impressed with this game’s visuals right after looking at a DS or PSP game.
So don’t do that! Instead, take into account that the GBA is several years old,
and is not that far beyond the SNES. Within that context, Avatar is a
good-looking game with interesting characters and detailed and familiar
characters.

Sound: 5
Avatar is another
black cloud covering the GBA’s stormy sound system. The game can’t be blamed
for poor sound quality, and the sound isn’t too bad all things considered. But
the beats and sound effects are repetitive, and the music is just barely okay.
In short, save a fraction of your GBA’s battery life and turn the sound off.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
A mostly easy game
with some surprising, challenging twists. Death to one character means death to
all characters. This differs from the DS version. Living characters can
continue fighting on the DS, and the dead or “stunned” characters will come
back to life upon completion of the battle.

Concept: 7.9
Top-down
hack-n-slashing that creates a near-action/RPG experience.

Overall: 7.4
Differing from all
other versions available, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an entertaining action
game that makes great use of the Nickelodeon license. RPG lovers take note:
Avatar is one of the few original (read: not a port) action/RPGs made for the
system.