long awaited next time Avatar: Airbender Video games are just around the corner, but it’s not what people expect. Considering the playable history of the Avatar series, that could be a good thing.
Avatar: Airbender: Quest for Balance Retelling the adventures of Anne and his friends from the original Nickelodeon cartoon, featuring key moments from the show such as the Fire Nation’s invasion of the Northern Water Tribe and Team Avatar’s time with Ba Singh Se. changing to a level. However, the developers at Bamtang Games specifically designed the game to appeal to younger players who may not be as familiar with the show as some veteran fans.remember the original Avatar The series has reached its 18th anniversary!
However, in actual gameplay, quest for balance less straight Avatar: Airbender A playful riff similar to the Lego Star Wars game, including video game adaptations. The mechanics focus on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than combat, which the developers thought was appropriate for the target audience and reflected the core part of the show.
“Anne’s determination not to use violence in the series unless absolutely necessary is part of his identity as an air nomad,” lead designer Carlos Salazar tells Polygon. “And that’s reflected in the game as well.”
there is teeth Combat is still taking place in-game, and Salazar admits that the martial arts inspiration from the flexing ability is a big draw for the series. But the team took a different approach to the game, making it more accessible to younger players and more in tune with Anne’s pacifist ways.
“In our combat situation, the player must identify the opponent’s weakness and choose which bending ability or move to use to defeat it,” he says. “Also, certain combat encounters incorporate puzzle elements that rely on the user to change their approach and consider changes in the surrounding environment, making the combat experience extremely rewarding. ”
meanwhile quest for balance It can be played solo, but there are also co-op opportunities, especially when solving more complex puzzles. It’s not required, but it makes some of these challenges more substantial.
“In many cases, the type of bend and the order of interactions are important in solving a puzzle, so we know players will have a lot of fun coming up with different strategies as they try to figure out the best way to solve the puzzle. We look forward to it,” Salazar said. “These puzzles have been carefully designed to be moderately challenging for younger players, while also giving parents and older siblings a chance to help introduce them to this fun avatar.”
Image: Bamtang Games/Gamemill
Still, for those familiar with Anne’s adventures, there’s a new perspective. In this version, these adventures are told through the eyes of the Cult of the White Lotus, a group of older pie show players including, among others, Uncle Iroh, King Bumi, and Puckmaster. “They are such strong, comic characters that we decided to retell Anne’s story from their perspective,” says Salazar.
It’s a good choice from your point of view. Having a younger target audience, newcomers to the franchise, take on the role of his team avatar, allowing veteran fans to step back and watch the events unfold with different eyes. More common to Iroh than Zuko.
Avatar: Airbender: Quest for Balance is available for pre-order starting today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC on Steam, Xbox One and Xbox Series X for $49.99.