Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno (Wii) Review
Ive never watched the Avatar series, but I did have a vague idea on what the show’s basic premise was. I knew it involved characters that had the ability to bend air as well as other elements such as water and earth. So, while I didnt know a whole lot about the show, the basic concept seemed interesting and it came across as a concept that could make for an interesting game. Sadly, Into the Inferno is not particularly interesting, nor is it particularly great. It is not a terrible game, but its overly simplistic and suffers the same fate as most licensed games as a result of lazy, seemingly rushed development.
When you first start Into the Inferno, you are treated to a cut-scene that showcases what happened previously on Avatar. After this, working out what the hell is going on in terms of plot is difficult, and those who are not fans of the show will struggle to make sense of the story. Needless to say, you dont really have to know what is going on to enjoy the game, as the gameplay itself is pretty straightforward. Essentially, Into the Inferno involves progressing through a series of levels solving basic puzzles and fighting enemy after enemy. You get to use a few different characters in the game, though they play in much the same manner aside from a few character unique moves or powers. Apart from this, there really isnt much to the game. When I say it is simplistic, I mean it in the true sense of the word. The developers here have failed to go beyond the bare minimum in terms of game development. This is a shame really, as the ability to bend (or control) the elements is a nifty idea that has not been fully realised in this bland title. Sure, you can use the elements to fight enemies and solve puzzles, but it could have been a much better experience with a little thought and effort.
The game itself is over in about 5 or 6 hours, depending on the players skill level. Once it is finished, there is little reason to replay the game. You can replay the levels to find the hidden scrolls and collect artwork, but the enjoyment you get during the first play through is minimal, let alone a second play through. Unfortunately, the game is a little too much rinse and repeat in its formula. There are some varied locations across the 11 different missions, but the majority of enemies are the same, the bosses arent particularly exciting or difficult, and the puzzles fail to challenge.
Visually, the game is quite bland with low-def characters, dull colours, and pretty average animations. Frame rate is smooth, though there is expected considering the game is hardly pushing the Wiis hardware. Throw in sloppy textures and you dont have a great overall visual package. Again, this is a real shame considering the source material and its potential. The sound is equally bad in Into the Inferno. The sound quality is average and the soundtrack fails to set the senses alight. Also annoying is the constant repetition of lines you hear from both enemy characters and the main characters in the game. Youll hear the same thing over and over again which becomes nothing more than a nuisance after a while.
Control wise, the game works well. Using the Wii-mote to bend the elements is intuitive and for the most part works a treat. Movement, jumping, fighting, crouching, and so forth are all mapped to the buttons and analogue control which works well. Its not a game that makes much use of the Wiis functionality, but Ill give the game credit for not trying to implement waggle for the sake of it.
In the end, Avatar sits somewhere in the middle on the scale from extremely poor to extremely good games. Its not the worst game I have played, but it fails to entertain at the same level as some of the top games we are blessed with from time to time. Younger games who are fans of the show might get a kick out of the game, but for everybody else, there just isnt anything of note here to justify a purchase.
