In lieu of Platinum Games’ release of Bayonetta 2, the action-adventure developer recently teamed up with Activision to create The Legend of Korra. No, not the beautiful animated series showed on Nickelodeon, but the grudgy, disgusting and pitiful button-smasher released just a few days ago.
In short, if Platinum Games’ previous titles like Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance are golden dollars, The Legend of Korra is a small rusty penny that you would find stuck to a piece of gum on the bottom of your shoe.
It’s repetitive, ugly and an awful adaptation to one of Nickelodeon’s best shows.
Story
The Korra universe is a bit complex to start with.
In the television show, which is a sequel to the critically acclaimed series Avatar: The Last Airbender, viewers follow “benders” whom have the ability to control all four natural elements of the universe: air, water, fire and earth. Korra, being an “avatar”, has the ability to control all four elements, as she uses her powers to balance and bring order to the world.
Being an avid fan of the series, creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino often show off Korra’s powers with fluid taijutsu and breath-taking animation, as the stubborn teen fights colossal-sized spirits and madmen throughout the series.
The game adaptation, however, does none of this for gamers.
The Legend of Korra follows Korra between the series’ second and third season and tells a tale of her regaining her powers from Hundun — an older gentleman who can block benders’ “chi” or ability to bend.
The story is poorly paced and never comes close to the witty and excellent writing that is found in the show. Not only is there little to no actual plot, the cast found in the show are almost no where to be found.
The shows’ great supporting cast of Mako, Bolin, Asami, Tenzin are never seen or utilized, as the shows’ wit, humor and wisdom are no where to be found. Jinora is used as a guide for players, but Platinum Games didn’t even use her real voice actress.
Even with Korra at the helm, her cheesy one-liners and blurbs are just painful.
Gameplay
A lot like the story, the gameplay in The Legend of Korra never really incorporates the slick moves showed throughout the series.
Platinum Games gives players the basic “light” and “heavy” attacks, along with dodges and counter attacks on the shoulder buttons. As Korra progresses throughout the five-six hour story and regains her powers, she learns more advanced techniques and combat moves.
There is a bit of strategy to using some of the different bending-types: water is for long range attacks, earth can get be used for up close and personal encounters, air can be used for large crowds and fire… well, fire is useless.
In terms of enemies, expect to fight a lot of the same, replicated enemies. The Legend of Korra lacks variety of interesting characters to fight, as it’s not until two-thirds into the game does Platinum Games finally throws you something half-intriguing.
Sparingly, Platinum Games has players ride Naga, Korra’s spirit animal, and these portions are just disgusting.
They play out as an endless runner and are just not fun. You can’t control Naga, a dominating polar bear dog, as the sections make me want to vomit.
The game’s cel-shading is passable, but don’t kid yourself: this does not look like a next-gen title.
Final Verdict
The Legend of Korra is hilariously bad. Yes, it’s $15 and is targeted for younger players, but Platinum Games made a game that is not only hard to play, but stains the Avatar brand.
Rating: 1.5/5
@Lukeoroark
lr514812@ohio.edu
