Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance
- September 22, 2023
- Bamtang Games
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Avatar: The Last Airbender – Quest for Balance" is an action-adventure game that follows the original series' story. Players can explore the four nations as Aang and his friends, using bending and unique abilities to solve puzzles and relive iconic moments. The game features a two-player co-op mode, with 18 chapters and 9 playable characters. Upgrades are available to enhance abilities throughout the journey.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features decent character models and environments that are visually appealing.
- Fans of the Avatar series may find enjoyment in playing as their favorite characters and exploring the game.
- The game can provide some fun moments, especially in local co-op play.
- The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with many puzzles being overly simplistic or frustrating.
- The camera controls are poor, often leading to awkward gameplay experiences and difficulty in navigating levels.
- The voice acting is subpar, with many lines feeling forced and lacking the charm of the original series.
- story43 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Avatar: The Last Airbender - Quest for Balance" is criticized for being a disjointed retelling of the beloved series, lacking key moments and depth, with many players feeling that significant events are merely narrated rather than experienced through gameplay. While some appreciate the accurate timeline and character interactions, the overall execution is seen as a missed opportunity, with many key scenes omitted and gameplay elements that detract from the narrative experience. Overall, fans express disappointment, feeling that the game fails to capture the charm and richness of the original story.
“Progress through the story of Aang we all love with compelling combat, beautiful scenery, and many interesting side quests that will keep you craving more as you feel like you're glued to your seat and can't take your eyes off the screen.”
“Fun game with an intriguing authentic plot and animations from the cartoon.”
“The universe has so much potential for good games, and we get like what, two games in the last 10 years (Legend of Korra in 2014 and Quest for Balance now), excluding gachas.”
“The story timeline is accurate, but it does not include moments to set up key events, which is a huge issue.”
“Instead, we got Quest for Balance, an overpriced 18-chapter game with trash combat, boring side quests, and a narrator explaining important key events in Aang's story instead of showing cutscenes or letting you play through those key events.”
“As a lover of this franchise, this game doesn't stand up to it. I expected a fleshed-out story explaining Aang's exploration, yet I got some snippets about what happened to him, then suddenly was put into an 'activity' that felt disconnected from the narrative.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simplistic, cartoony style that aligns with the source material, while others criticize them as outdated and reminiscent of PS2-era visuals. Many agree that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience, though some feel they lack the charm and quality expected in modern titles. Overall, the visuals are seen as a polarizing aspect, with opinions ranging from nostalgic appreciation to disappointment.
“People have seen the trailer, which (unlike a lot of other announcements) basically just used the actual game's graphics as is.”
“As for the rest: the game is simple (as it was meant to be in the first place), graphics (models, animations, etc.) are simplistic and therefore atmospheric, as if you are actually playing the game of your childhood.”
“The art style of hand-drawn cutscenes is really good; voice acting will probably be hit or miss for most people.”
“I would define the game as a bad Lego game (complete story and replay levels), with ugly graphics that do not capture the charm of Avatar at all.”
“If you think that the worst thing about this game is its graphics, you are wrong; its graphics are the best it has. It looks like a PS2 game, and even if this game came out 20 years ago, it would still be a bad one.”
“This feels like a mobile game port with mildly pretty graphics; they made little attempt at anything other than a cash grab.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being boring, repetitive, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting the linearity of levels and the abundance of unskippable mini-games that detract from the overall experience. Issues such as poor camera controls, lack of a revive mechanic, and frustrating puzzle reminders further contribute to a negative perception. Overall, players feel that the gameplay fails to engage and offers little variety or challenge.
“I thought I'd upload a little bit of gameplay to add to my Steam review, helping people decide whether or not to buy the game.”
“Interesting plot in avatar-style gameplay.”
“Now, on to the actual gameplay.”
“The gameplay is boring and repetitive; it has a ton of puzzles and the fights are all the same. It even has little Temple Run-type mini-games that are unskippable and unnecessary.”
“Bad camera, bad voices, bad gameplay; I couldn't get a controller to connect and keyboard combat is terrible.”
“The levels are very small and linear, and they don't have much to them at all. Both chapter 1 and 2 start with Subway Surfers mini-games that play so poorly, you could watch a Family Guy clip on TikTok and get more joy out of the Subway Surfers gameplay below it than anything these mini-games could offer.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that fails to deliver on the expectations set by the beloved franchise. Reviewers express disappointment over its lack of polish and depth, suggesting that it feels more like a poorly executed mobile game than a worthy addition to the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Overall, players recommend seeking refunds rather than investing in this title.
“If things were more thought out and polished, especially in 2023, and lived up to the TV show, I think this could have been an amazing game, but it feels like a cash grab.”
“This terrible cash grab with wrong-sounding Aang and a lack of useful bending was probably the reason why there was no advertisement for it anywhere.”
“This feels like a mobile game port with mildly pretty graphics; they made little attempt at anything other than a cash grab.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by players' experiences with simple puzzles and their own amusing mistakes, leading to moments of laughter. While the lack of voice work is noted as jarring, the presence of humorous bugs adds a comedic element, contributing to an overall lighthearted tone despite some technical issues.
“I couldn't stop laughing at how dumb I was while solving the puzzles. Even though they were simple, it was a hilarious experience.”
“It's a 6/10 from me, but that's a little generous because of the hilarious bugs.”
“Some of the bugs are harmless, but they definitely add a funny twist to the game.”
- character development3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of character development in the game, with players noting that it does not align with the source material. However, the character designs are praised for their accuracy to the original show.
“Character development: As far as I have played, there is no character development, and it doesn't follow the show at all.”
“Character development: As far as I have played, there is no character development, and it doesn't follow the show at all.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with players reporting frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as unresponsive action keys and missing cut-scenes. These bugs can lead to frustrating experiences, including being stuck in combat scenarios and requiring restarts to progress.
“The game becomes very frustrating when the character glitches and the action keys do not work properly.”
“The game is objectively buggy; I missed at least two cutscenes where the audio played over a white screen. I got stuck in several hordes of enemy attacks and had to restart the entire fight with Ozai because I was glitched into the ground during phase 3, unable to move at all.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers noted that the absence of music during the ending scenes resulted in an anti-climactic experience, leaving players questioning the lack of a score to enhance the emotional impact.
“The ending scenes are entirely anti-climactic, notably missing a score of any kind - like, where was the music?”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The music feels out of place and doesn't match the tone of the game, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its simplistic graphics and animations, which evoke a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences. This intentional simplicity contributes to a charming and immersive environment that resonates with players.
“The game is simple, as it was meant to be, and the graphics—models, animations, etc.—are simplistic, creating an atmospheric experience that feels like playing a game from my childhood.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”
“Every element of the game contributes to a unique atmosphere that captivates and engages players from the very start.”
