Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning Earth (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Brad Borchardt on 12.06.2007
Earth! Wind! Fire! Water! I'm not sure if this is bending the elements of ripping of Captain Planet.
Hey everybody. I’m Brad Borchardt and I do the Smackdown Report in the wrestling section and help with The Office in the sports section. This is my first crack at reviewing video game for 411 Mania so hopefully this isn’t a total train wreck. This would have been up a little sooner but me and the 411 had a little miscommunication. I have a Wii and I was sent the Xbox 360 version of this game. I was going to buy a Xbox 360 for Christmas but I was able to pull the cash in and get one early. For my first review, I got Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning Earth for the Xbox 360.
First, a little background on Avatar The Last Airbender. Avatar is an animated series on Nickelodeon. It is the closest thing to an anime show without actually being an anime show. The show follows a young boy named Aang along with his friends who can bend fire, air, water, and earth and are trying to save the world from the Fire Nation. Each episode is a chapter and each season is considered a book. That is how the game is set up as well. This is the second video game in the series so the game is considered “Book 2” and each level in the game is a chapter.
Graphics
Originally, the television show is a little better than a 2D anime style of animation. The game gives it more of a 3D look. The characters look ok, but a little choppy. I also don’t like how on some of the cut scenes, the characters mouths are moving while they talk and some cut scenes, their mouths are not moving and you think you’re watching Garfield talk. Some of the objects in the game look a bit fake as well. They do however make it up with the setting. Some of the levels look really sharp and are fun to play.
Gameplay
The story mode is kind of like your typical “beat them up” plat former game. You go through each level trying to find things or get to the end while fighting off bad guys. There is a boss at the end of every chapter. You go through the game being able to play as Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Jet, Zuko, Irok, Momo, and Appa. There is always two characters on screen so you can have two people play or you can switch between characters. Each characters has their own part in the story and special moves or powers that are required to complete certain tasks.
There are a few other modes in this game as well. One other mode is Battle Mode. You can pick any of the eight playable characters in story mode and duke it out with a computer or a friend in a Mortal Kombat type match. Another mode is Boss Mode where you can play against any of the bosses from story mode that you unlock. The other mode is based on Appa and you can fly him in all the areas that you fly him in story mode as soon as you unlock them.
Sound
I think the character’s voices are spot on and they did a good job with the dialogue for the cut scenes it seems like you’re watching an episode of the show. That is about all I can praise about the sound though. Not too much in the way of music, the actions sound is ok at best, and the one thing I can’t stand about the game is the random dialogue during fight scenes that they constantly repeat, have nothing to do with what is going on, or some of the lines of the bad guys you destroy.
Lasting Appeal
I beat the game and I have no urge to pick it back up. There are only five achievements to complete and I earned all my 1,000 points within ten minutes of playing. I like how they put in the extra modes, but it is not enough to make me want to play. This game could be fun though if you are going through story mode with a friend.
Fun Factor
This really wasn’t too bad of a game. It’s a little easy, but for the audience this game was designed for, I think it does the trick. Like I said before, it is also a lot more fun if you have someone playing with you. The story mode is the only really fun part of the game although after a few champters it kind of gets dull.
The 411
Although this seemed like a rather negative review, the game was not that bad. Maybe if I was younger and knew the show, then I would enjoy it more. I’m sure the game is going to sell quite well for the young ones and there will no doubt be a third game in the franchise as long as the show doesn’t get cancelled.
Graphics
6.5
The characters are fine but choppy. The levels look better.
Gameplay
7.0
Fun little beat em' up game with a few little puzzles.
Sound
4.5
Other than conversations, the sound is not too good.
Lasting Appeal
5.0
They try with the extra modes, but it just isn't a game you pick up too many times after you beat it.
Fun Factor
7.0
Good game to play for the kids and even some adults will have fun smashing bad guys with powers.
