#22 - The Legend of Korra Video Game (Rage Issues 1 year Anniversary)

It’s the one year anniversary of Rage issues!

So it’s time once again to look at the bad products from a great series, the avatar series. From what I can tell most of the Avatar: The Last Airbender video games were only sort of semi-cannon tie in stories related to the series that was airing, but they went a bit more all-out with this one. This story is in-continuity, taking place between books 2 and 3 of Korra. Not only that but they’ve hired Platinum Games to do the development, who are well known for fast paced action games, and most famous these days for Bayonetta.

Then then you take a look at the game in the promotional material. They use cell shading over more traditional CGI to give the game a look more in tune with the style of the show. With such a reputable games company behind it, and a great look to it, this was bound to be a fantastic game, right?

Well, no, it isn’t. And the bad signs started early. For starters, Platinum Games, the guys who made Bayonetta, were busy working on its sequel at the same time as creating this game. This ended up being a £15.99 game, and tell me how many budget titles have you seen that are any good? (For the record I own 4 others, Young Justice: Legacy and the 3 Ratchet and Clank short games (Quest For Booty, Q-force/Full Frontal Assault and (Into the) Nexus) I’d say Ratchet and Clank: (Into the) Nexus is the best of the 4, the other 3 range from mediocre to… mediocre) and you can see hope draining away, so let’s take a look at the story of the game, and see if that alleviates things.

ROUND 1, FIGHT!

We open on a charity pro-bending match to raise money for repairing the damage Republic City took in the Unalaatu battle. OK, there’s a sin already against this game’s story. It’s not particularly friendly to anyone who is not a fan of the show. I realise that the target demographic would’ve watched the show but there’s also an opportunity to attract new fans to the show, an opportunity wasted here.

Mako and Bolin (why is Mako pro-bending anyway, shouldn’t he be detectiving or, you know, being awkward around Korra like he was at the beginning of Book 3?) engage in banter and get quickly dispatched, leaving Korra to fight on her own, thankfully her opponents are a bunch of pussies and she wins the fight. Say goodbye to Mako and Bolin by the way, that’s the last you’ll see of them till the end credits.

So, whilst Korra is walking home she spots a couple of triad members hassling an old man and chases them away, she tries to speak to the man who laughs and disappears. Korra is soon hit by some sharp pointy things and knocked out. Korra wakes up hearing something about extraction and seeing a bunch of equalists working for the guy. They are tasked to stop her but Korra finds she can’t bend.

I can create purple barriers to bar your way but only until you fight off my forces

You remember how she was really really downtrodden the last time she lost her bending? Yeah, she’s a bit panicked but otherwise ready to kick some ass. Korra runs off to Air Temple Island, running through a remarkably empty Republic City. Naturally Korra talks to herself throughout the level and it’s annoying as sh*t, especially since her rambles contribute almost nothing. After almost getting lost, she calls Naaga for help (where had she been where the entire time? Within hearing range apparently) and they head to the Island via Naaga’s runner level (I’ll get to that later)

Ah Republic City and its murky grey sky

Tenzin and co. aren’t on the Island right now (how convenient) but somehow Jinora knew Korra was in trouble and projected her spirit to help, you know that thing no-one knew she could still do in the first episodes of Book 3. Yeah, for a supposed in-continuity story it isn’t doing a good job of keeping in continuity, is it? Anyway, she advises using spirit water to restore her water bending. There are 2 problems with this. The first: how do they have so much spirit water on Air Temple Island? Secondly, spirit water that’s not in lakes requires actual water-bending to have an effect.

Ah, the air temple, such beauty to behold

Regardless of that hole in logic, she smashes open some crates and her waterbending is restored. She fights her way through equalists and triads, scaring them off the Island then heads back to Republic City. She makes her way through parts of the city that had been damaged and comes across a mecha-tank (which they got how again? Hiroshi isn’t supplying them) Jinora tells her if she stands her ground against it she might get her Earthbending back. As opposed to all the other times she’s stood her ground and blocked an attack. Standing her ground and performing counters was the easiest way to defeat the equalists when she didn't have her bending.

Ahhh, Mechatank!

Despite how little that makes sense she gets her bending back and crushes the mecha-tank, likely killing whoever is inside, our heroin ladies and gentlemen. She confronts more triads and equalists before Jinora says that she suspects the threat is coming from the spirit world (because the plot says she'd know) Korra calls Naaga from somewhere to take her to the docks.

Before they can board, Korra is confronted by another mecha-tank, she defeats it and the equalist inside is blasted out, Korra interrogates him and discovers that they’re working for the old man. and something about extraction was mentioned (because we didn’t know that already, apparently)

Look at all the Southern Water Tribe, seriously, this is it, you won't see it again

Korra heads to the South Pole but there are equalists and triads waiting for her. She goes in and Jinora advises that if she build up a big enough combo she might get her firebending back (erm… yeah… no) of course it works. Korra works through the blizzarded areas (kinda devoid of life, much like the rest of the game) heading towards the spirit portal, she takes a ride on Naaga and has to defeat 3 mecha-tanks whilst riding her despite only having defeated one in any one occasion whilst on her own and with more bending options.

As she approaches the spirit portal, Jinora comes into contact again and says if she avoids enough of the equalist attacks she might regain her airbending (I repeat my earlier sentiments about how this makes no sense) of course it works and she heads into the spirit world

Walking in a winter wonderland

To restore her spiritbending (isn’t that a sub-form of waterbending?) she has to stun some dark spirits (again, it's not like she's hasn't done this before) which she then uses to transform all of them at once (nope, not buying it for a second) she proceeds through the spirit world, fighting off dark spirits from all sides (how did the villain gain control of all these spirits anyway?)

NOPE! BULLSH*T! NO! NO!

She confronts Hundun (who reveals his name in this cutscene) and he reveals he was once a king with a lot of treasure which he’s used to buy an army, which proceed to come through the portal. He sends Korra into visions for some reason, the first being air temple island, again for some reason. Whilst Korra fights Hundun reveals he got the equalists to work for him by sprinkling in a few words about equality. Yeah… Equalists are not that stupid. And he got the triads (all 3 of them looking at the designs) by giving them money. Still no explanation as to how he controls Dark spirits

I'm at the air temple, except everything's backwards and there are dark spirits in the sky

He sends Korra into another vision, this time into a pro-bending arena for some reason… She’s up against ‘Dragonfly bunny spirits’ who I assume are visions of triad members which appear as spirits under the illusion, otherwise this would be really stupid.  After the first round it’s all or nothing and you can use all your elements.

ROUND 2. FIGHT!

Korra wakes up again and sent into another vision. Korra is now in her giant spirit form from Harmonic convergence fighting in Republic City. Korra defeats the enemies there and wakes up again, she’s confronted by Dark spirits and we get a repeat of the prologue chapter that really isn’t worth talking about.

A white knight coming to save them all

The background goes black for some reason, and Jinora gives more advice to Korra

“Remember, there is no Light and Dark, no good and evil no human or spirit, all are one.”

“Let go, Korra, the division between you and your enemies is an illusion, all are one”

“Korra, there is no light or dark, to fight another is to fight yourself, let go”

OK, I can’t even BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH THIS ANNOYS ME! It proves to me at least that the writers of this game had no understanding of the avatar franchise at all.

No light or dark. KORRA IS HOST TO RAAVA, THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT. HARMONIC CONVERGENCE WAS A BATTLE BETWEEN THE SPIRITS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS! No good or evil, for better or for worse, Korra’s villains have always been evil in one form or another, they’re actions are evil, in spite of what might’ve been good intentions. They’ve never shied away from showing us that they’re evil, and that’s ironically especially true with Hundun, who basically wants revenge on the avatar who defeated him in a previous life, that’s his entire motivation. SO BULLSH*T TO THAT TO! And do you know who else told Korra to let go? The sum total of all the other enemies she’s faced!!!!

AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES KORRA GO INTO THE AVATAR STATE, THE CONNECTION WITH HER AVATAR SPIRIT.

NO NOOO NOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

You know avatar has sent messages in its work, peace, balance, compromise, even respect for nature but it’s always been subtle. This is a load of pretentious bullsh*t-twoddle, straight from the as* of a Lion-Cow (don’t know if that animal exists on avatar, but…) so, shall we continue

With Korra in the avatar state Hundun summons equalists, mecha-tanks, triads and dark spirits to fight her but the avatar state is so powerful now she can defeat all of them at once. Yeah… Remember when she fell in the avatar state? Seems kind of laughable now doesn’t it? Of course Hundun just moans throughout the fight with clichéd lines like “this is not possible” despite the fact that avatar kicked his ass before.

Anyway, with them defeated, (and a claim that her powers have been growing since time began which is A) not true and B) an odd thing to say after she's lost her connection to her past lives) Hundun reveals he has a brother, who is attached to his back. WHAT THE F*CK? Do they explain what the f*ck is up with him? NOPE, not at all. So apparently it’s perfectly normal or something. Apparently the plan was to extract the avatar’s chi and somehow restore his physical body from it… Don’t ask me, I’ve stopped trying to make sense of this story

Yeah, what the actual f*ck!

Anyway, the Avatar defeats him and transforms his spirit and it’s time for another pro-bending match as the end credits roll. Mako and Bolin return, sparking weird quips about Bolin getting his hand stuck in a food jar (you know, wasn’t Mako sleeping at the police station at this point, how would he even know?) Anyway, with the match over, that’s the game’s story over.

Despite what this may look like, no Korra is not opening another spirit portal

Right, that story was so paper thin it could be written on the back of a f*cking postage stamp. Gameplay is equally basic, each element has 2 major attacks which can combined into several combo attacks. Each element has its basic strengths, water is best as a long ranged weapon (despite the fact it comes out of nowhere. Earth is short ranged and slow but good for hitting multiple targets, fire is quick and good for long combos, air is good for all round crowd control (and is in my opinion extremely over-powered) so button mashing is encouraged, but… it’s actually pretty fun.

Bending can be leveled up, increasing it's power, your health and chi effects

Chi can be charged for more powerful attacks, but there’s a problem. Bending in universe requires a physical motion, in this game Korra can create and control multiple tornadoes whilst also firing air blasts, which screams false in the avatar lore. It’s true of the other elements too, but it’s most noticeable with airbending.

Air funnels are fun

Wonder what Tenzin, Asami, Bumi, Kya, Varrick, Jhu Li, Ikki, Meelo or Lin are up to, I bet you do, they’re not in the game, at all. They nearly always have the back of the avatar, yet none of them show up in the entire game. Points lost there

Naaga’s missions, the elephant in the room, these are incredibly monotonous to play. It’s a finite endless runner where you have to pass by obstacles, some of which you have to wonder what they’re doing there in Republic City (how many low bridges and block barricades are there in this city?) then there’s the fight with the 3 mecha-tanks. You had no real practice using Naaga in combat until that point. In easy mode with a shield it’s simple enough, in medium mode it’s ok, but it their very hard mode, I think it took me 50 attempts to win that fight. It’s frustrating and not all that fun either.

I can say better things about the pro-bending, it feels well balanced, the rules are pretty much the same as the show (although when teams capture a zone in the show, team members that have been pushed back even further can’t move forward I don’t think) the bending is decent although more restricted than in combat. The one thing I can say against it is the counter system doesn’t make sense. Every player can block or redirect any elemental attack. In universe I’ve never seen anyone redirect a fireball, and players that aren’t earthbenders (or allowed to earthbend) shouldn’t really be blocking earth attacks, and the same goes for water. It would’ve been nice to have online matches with this, but for a £15.99 game that might’ve been pushing it.

The enemy variety is terrible, equalists appear in multiple colours, you fight the same triad members multiple times over, the dark spirits are limited in variety and mecha-tanks are also multiple colours. That’s not enemy variety, also there’s very little need to vary your attacks, occasionally you might need to use waterbending on some ranged enemies but I could survive replays of the game on airbending alone.

This isn't even on 2 different levels, this is the same level

During the game, you earn currency (spirit energy or something) by defeating enemies and destroying stuff (ironic considering Korra spends a considerable portion of the game noting how much damage was done during the Unalaatu fight) this you can spend in the spirit world shop manned by, who else, Iroh

Also you can open treasure chests with items inside, these items serve only 1 purpose, to get you earning trophies… They have really no bearing in story, at all

You can gain these items and more in treasure chests

The music is… I like the equalists theme but when it’s used again and again and again it’s really f*cking tiring. In fact this game plays a lot better without the sound. You don’t have to worry about the story, you don’t hear the painful in-game dialogue, you don’t hear the awful impression of Jinora someone had to do, and you don’t have to wonder why Steve Blum is voicing another avatar villain (who sounds rather similar to Amon really)

THIS GAME GIVES ME RAGE ISSUES

No, this game is not as bad an Avatar adaptation as the Last Airbender, the fact is for the most part it’s fun to play, if a tad basic on move sets. The problems are mostly outside of gameplay but they drag the game down so much.

Equip items purchased in Iroh's shop in Korra's room, you can access this at any point

When you have a source material known for mostly tight storytelling and a very deep lore, it’s really disappointing to find a game that embraces neither of those things. We don’t know anything about Hundun at all. All we know is that he was a King, I think, who abandoned his physical body after being defeated by a previous Avatar. In concept it’s fascinating but it’s not taken advantage of. We don’t know which Avatar he fought, or any real explanation of what he actually was doing (not to mention how the hell he managed to become what he is, or be able to control or manipulate spirits, I thought only Vaatu could turn spirits dark) in fact he is the blandest villain the franchise has ever produced (and to be honest, Ozai was pretty bland as a villain) with no exploration of his character.

Look at me, I'm bad because I'm ugly!

Not having any of Korra’s supporting cast involved was a mistake. Korra differs from Aang in the fact that she has a large circle of allies that only grows bigger as we get through books 3 and 4. I would not believe for a second that the only to provide any assistance would be Jinora. At the very least I would have expected Tonraq to come to her aide in the South Pole.

The design looks great but it’s also very lifeless. Aside from moving vehicles on occasion we really don’t see the workings of Republic City, sure they explained it away with the area being abandoned because of the spirit vines but we don’t see a single person who isn’t an enemy. We don’t even see the Southern Water Tribe while they’re at the South Pole and you’d bet they would not take kindly to having equalists and triads invade their home. Also the frame rate seems a tad slow on occasion.

This is about as lifelike as the city gets

It also fails to maintain continuity. Book 3 had fully aired by the time this game came out, we were half-way through book 4; there needed to have been a chance for the developers to see at least the first story for book 3, which states where the characters are in that story. As I’ve stated before, this does not gel with it. From Mako’s more friendly attitude to Bolin’s smack talk (“is that why you dumped him, because he’s the weakest member of the team?” REALLY BOLIN! YOU WERE THERE WHEN THEY BROKE UP, NOT COOL!)

Like Arkham Origins, it suffers from being a mediocre product when greatness was expected of it.

Rage Rating: 55%

Before you go, enjoy some more screen captures and videos from the game. I used the Playstation 4's share function to capture the images and game footage

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Images/Clips used in this review are from The Legend of Korra Game and belong to their respective owners. All images/clips in this review are subject to fair use.