Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the story of the game revolves around a Nickelodeon cartoon show and, while knowing the show isn't essential, it will be difficult to follow along with the story without basic knowledge of the cartoon's premise. This game includes a lot of reading and moving from place to place and may not be a good fit for those with short attention spans. But some slapstick antics and funny dialogue keep it fun for more than just the kids.
Families can talk about the antics of the characters and vote on which character they like the best. They can find out who in the family may have a hidden potential for bending the Earth or healing wounds with water. Which moment was the funniest and which baddie was the hardest to dispatch? Is this game fun if you have never seen the TV show? Would you prefer to play a game based on a TV show you know and love try something completely new?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Bobbi Dempsey
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER is a role-playing game for the Nintendo DS based on a favorite anime cartoon from the Nickelodeon network. You are a heroic figure, since you are the "chosen one" who will save the world. The stylus is used to scroll through menus, move items around, and inspect your heroes' abilities. Main movement and control is achieved through the traditional multi-directional gamepad and extra buttons.
The game takes place sometime during the middle of the cartoon series. The characters aren't given formal introductions so you will need to rely on your cartoon knowledge to get some background information. The game focuses on the world of "Bending." This basically means using the elements -- Earth, Fire, Water, and Air -- to benefit yourself in some way.
You play the part of Aang, the "young" air bender who has been chosen as the next Avatar, master of all the elements. He is in mid-training when his friend, Katara, is kidnapped by the evil Fire Nation, the group of Fire Benders who want the Avatar's power for themselves. It is up to Aang to rescue Katara and save the day.
Initially, you only have control over Aang, but you gain control of other familiar faces from the cartoon as the game goes on. The game consists of "travel mode," meaning talking, exploring, and traveling; as well as "battle mode," where you combat the bad guys. Battles consist of using your bending skills to defeat the evildoers, which translates to using magic to move stuff around and attack. The combat is easy to control and the baddies aren't too intelligent. The computer will control the characters you aren't controlling at that moment. You will gain new bending moves, but the combat controls remain the same throughout the adventure.
The dialogue consists of mostly reading, but special dialogue accompanied by voices of the various characters occurs after boss fights. The characters are zany and the game events are presented along with slapstick humor involving the bumbling Sokka, Aang's naive behavior, and the incompetence of the troops of the Fire Nation.
The game is fairly simple but suffers from quirky controls. You must use the stylus to organize items and access menus, a process that can become frustrating. Also the camera angle can be tedious to maneuver, since you must constantly push a button to move it. Battles can get repetitive and the various numbers and statistics may not mean anything to younger players. The game involves problem-solving and trial-and-error methods of defeating your foes. However, the battles can be frustrating because the enemy basically tries to use its strength in numbers to trap you in a corner.
Since this game doesn't spend much time introducing its characters or setting up its storyline, this is a game best played by fans of the cartoon. The game will be most appealing to fans of the show and younger kids. Older kids may become bored fairly quickly. If you want to see if you have the skills to become the next Avatar, then pick up a DS and try your hand at mastering the elements.
For other adventure games, check out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and LEGO Starwars II: The Original Trilogy.
Reviewed: 01/08/2007
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ViolenceMartial arts depicted in caroon form. |
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Social BehaviorYou are a hero, the chosen one who will save the world from warring nations. |
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CommercialismThis game is based on the Nickelodeon TV show. |
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Educational ValueRequires reading and problem-solving skills. |
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