The Legend of Korra Reviews
It's certainly not the game fans of the developer or the series wanted it to be, though.
The Legend of Korra may be the smallest title Platinum Games has worked on, but the inclusion of newly animated cutscenes, the original voice actors and a mostly enjoyable combat system should please fans of the series. In other areas, the game falls on the lighter side with horrendous level design and a sheer lack of content.
The Legend of Korra dissipates potential as quickly as it disappoints a prospective audience. Korra's fiction and Platinum's development lineage impart a veritable dream team of narrative and design, but neither party seemed to bring the necessary hardware to live up to their respective and respected standards.
The Legend of Korra is a sound adaptation of the cartoon it’s based on. It has all the hallmarks of the original series, including a distinct visual style and incorporation of elemental bending into its gameplay, but it feels much too shallow to elevate itself beyond anything more than passable.
Visually, The Legend of Korra looks very much like the TV show on which it is based, but the paper-thin story and repetitive fights make for a lackluster game.
While The Legend of Korra can be an entertaining game, camera issues and often frustrating difficulty spikes mean that the release never reaches the potential of its brilliant source material. For fans of the series, the four to six hour completion time coupled with good replay value will make the cheaper price tag worth a shot. For everyone else, though, this is a sometimes enjoyable but largely forgettable action romp.
The Legend of Korra is a game that has a clear understanding of the source material, but without the budget to really dig in and do that material justice. Platinum offers up a diet version of the gameplay that made it famous, which is still difficult enough to stymie casual players. For $15 though, fans may find the best Avatar game available.
The best fan experience for the series by far, but cut corners and poor design choices bog down an otherwise fun beat-em up.
The Legend of Korra is a more-than-competent stylish action game and a fine example of Platinum's pedigree, but as far as an authentic Avatar experience in game form? Not so much. Putting a premium on combat, not characters and story, waters down what makes this Nickelodeon series so special.
There was so much potential for Korra when you consider the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a developer like Platinum to work on the combat, but it seems like the Japanese studio's B-team showed up for this project. The game is certainly better than any of the previous efforts to adapt the Avatar universe, but it falls short of expectations. On its own, it's just an average character action game with a bland story that offers little incentive to come back for seconds. You're better off sticking to watching the show.
The Legend of Korra is the perfect example of how a development team cuts corners at a great cost.
While it may not satisfy those who are experts in this genre, The Legend of Korra is an excellent game for younger players and will be undoubtedly be a gateway game for fast paced character action. Hopefully Activision will hire Platinum Games for future titles and will fix their reputation for delivering licensed, assembly line produced, soulless cash grabs. Korra fans are very lucky.
The Legend of Korra is rife with potential that sadly goes unexplored. While combat is satisfying and the animated series is visually well represented, it lacks the tactical depth to entice hardcore action gamers and the storytelling to truly satisfy fans of the show.
At the end of the day, I wish The Legend of Korra was a fully-featured retail release. While Platinum has done a great job in terms of delivering a solid action romp, the jarring cutscenes and open-and-shut story leave little in terms of replay value. Avatar and Korra fans will likely rejoice at the fact that they're finally getting a decent game.
Maybe one day we will get a game that lives up to the show. This isn't it.
Combat feels good at times, but overall the game is alternately bland and frustrating.
The Legend Of Korra game is the "much, much worse" scenario, and the kindest thing to say about it is that it serves a similar function to the anemic stage performance in "The Ember Island Players." Through sheer inferiority, it's a reminder of what makes both the series it's based on and the games it imitates so beloved.