Avatar: The Last Airbender

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.