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Mini Review: Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game (PS5) – Solid Foundation Bending to Greatness
Push Square has published a mini review of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game for PS5, calling it the first genuinely promising video game adaptation of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise. Designed by Mike Zaimont, known for Skullgirls, the hand-animated one-on-one fighter offers a surprisingly technical Street Fighter-style gameplay system built around character-specific "Flow" abilities, giving it real long-term potential. However, the reviewer found the experience held back by weak tutorials, a lack of difficulty settings and no ranked online mode, making it hard to recommend fully in its current state.
The game includes 12 characters, each with distinct movement-based Flow abilities, and uses a DDR-style minigame in character trials to teach button inputs, though this system doesn't cover the basics well. Visually, the reviewer praised the outstanding animation and detailed backgrounds, and noted the game's low price of $29.99/£24.99 helps offset its rough edges. Developer Paramount Games has promised ongoing support, with the reviewer calling for difficulty modes, a ranked mode and better tutorials before the game can appeal beyond its most dedicated fans.
In short
- Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game shows genuine promise but lacks polish.
- Complex "Flow" abilities offer depth, but tutorials and difficulty options are missing.
- Priced at $29.99/£24.99, with developer promising future improvements.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The game offers a technically deep fighter with distinctive character abilities, excellent animation and detailed backgrounds, giving the Avatar franchise a promising adaptation and dedicated players room to improve. Its low price and the developer’s promise of ongoing support make its current shortcomings easier to accept.
The case against
Weak tutorials leave newcomers without a clear grasp of the fundamentals, while the lack of difficulty settings and ranked online play limits both accessibility and reasons to keep playing. Until those gaps are addressed, its technical promise may appeal mainly to committed fighting-game fans rather than a broader audience.
Explained simply
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a one-on-one fighting game for PlayStation 5 based on the acclaimed animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Developed by Paramount Games and designed by Mike Zaimont, who created the fighting game Skullgirls, it features hand-drawn animation and a combat system centred around character-specific abilities.
The Avatar franchise has not had notably successful video game adaptations previously, making this release significant for fans seeking a quality version of the series. The game includes twelve playable characters and sells for £24.99, positioning itself as an accessible entry point for both Avatar fans and fighting game players.
Fighting games typically appeal to dedicated communities through precise, demanding gameplay and long-term competitive potential. This title attempts to bring that tradition to the Avatar universe whilst maintaining visual quality and character-driven design from the franchise.