Honestly, most licensed games are just bad. We know this. You know this. It’s usually a rushed cash-in designed to hit a release window before the hype dies down. But when word got out back in 2014 that Activision was handing the keys to the Avatar universe over to PlatinumGames, things felt different. This wasn’t just any studio. These were the people behind Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. People expected a masterpiece. What they got was... complicated.
The Legend of Korra game didn't change the world. It didn't win Game of the Year. In fact, if you go looking for it on Steam, the PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Games Store today, you won’t find it. It vanished. Delisted. Gone because of expiring licenses. Yet, there is a very specific reason why fans of the series still hunt down physical keys or hold onto their digital copies like they’re buried treasure.
It captures the "feel" of being the Avatar better than almost anything else ever made.
What Really Happened with The Legend of Korra Game?
Development was fast. Way too fast. Activision gave PlatinumGames a tiny budget and a window of less than a year to get the game out the door. You can see the scars of that rushed schedule everywhere. The environments are often empty. The story is a bit thin—basically a "filler episode" set between Books 2 and 3 of the show. An ancient evil named Hundun gets released, Korra loses her powers, and you have to get them back. Standard stuff.
But here is where the "Platinum Magic" kicked in. They didn't try to build a massive open-world Republic City because they knew they’d fail. Instead, they poured every ounce of their mechanical expertise into the bending combat.
The Bending System is Actually Incredible
Most games treat elemental powers like simple spells. You press a button, a fireball shoots out. In the Legend of Korra game, bending is rhythmic. It’s martial arts.
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Waterbending is your long-range tool. It’s fast, fluid, and lets you pick off enemies from across the arena. Earthbending is heavy. It’s slow, but it hits like a freight train and works wonders for crowd control. Firebending is aggressive, meant for up-close-and-personal combos. Then there’s Airbending. It’s essentially the "god mode" of the game, unlocked late, allowing for massive AOE (area of effect) damage and incredible mobility.
The genius is in the switching. You can swap elements mid-combo. You can launch a guy with an earth pillar, pepper him with water blasts while he’s airborne, and finish him with a fire kick before he touches the ground. It feels like the show. It looks like the show. Tim Rogers, a well-known game critic, once noted that Platinum’s strength is "game feel," and even on a budget, that shines through here.
The Pro-Bending Problem
If you talk to anyone who played the game at launch, they will likely mention Pro-Bending. It was a huge marketing point. It’s a 3v3 mode that mimics the sport from the first season of the show.
It’s hard. Like, frustratingly hard.
The AI is ruthless. One mistake and you’re pushed back into the next zone. It’s a dance of parrying and positioning. While some fans loved the challenge, others felt it was a repetitive distraction from the main action-adventure gameplay. It’s a polarizing inclusion, but it’s also the only high-fidelity recreation of the sport we’ve ever had in a video game.
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Why Can't You Buy It Anymore?
This is the tragedy of digital-only licensed games. In 2017, Activision’s license with Nickelodeon expired. Within days, The Legend of Korra and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan game were wiped from digital storefronts.
If you didn’t buy it then, you’re mostly out of luck.
There were no physical copies produced for PC. Only the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One received very limited physical runs in certain regions, making those discs legitimate collector's items now. Prices on the secondary market can be wild. It’s a textbook example of why digital preservation is such a headache for the gaming community.
Technical Performance and Visuals
Visually, the game holds up surprisingly well because of the cel-shaded art style. It mimics the aesthetic of Studio Mir (the animation house behind the show) quite effectively.
- Frame Rate: On PC and modern consoles, it targets 60fps, which is vital for a Platinum game.
- Animations: Korra’s movement changes based on which element she is using. Her stance shifts. Her weight feels different.
- Voice Acting: Janet Varney returned to voice Korra, which adds that layer of authenticity that keeps it from feeling like a cheap knock-off.
Is It Worth Hunting Down?
If you are a casual gamer who isn't a fan of the show, probably not. The level design is repetitive. You'll spend a lot of time in gray hallways or generic city streets fighting the same masked "Triple Threat Triad" members over and over again.
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But if you love the world of Avatar? Yes. Absolutely.
The game understands the "power fantasy" of being a bender. There is a specific mechanic where you can "charge" your bending levels. As you fight without taking damage, your bending evolves. Your fireballs get bigger. Your earth boulders turn into massive chunks of the environment. It rewards skill in a way that feels incredibly satisfying.
Actionable Steps for Fans
Since you can't just hop onto the PlayStation Store and grab this anymore, here is what you can actually do if you want to experience the best of Avatar gaming:
- Check Physical Markets: Look for PS4 or Xbox One discs on sites like eBay or Mercari. Be prepared to pay a premium.
- Verify Steam Keys: Some third-party key sellers still have old stock of Steam keys. Be extremely careful here; use reputable sites and understand that prices are inflated due to scarcity.
- Explore the Quest for Balance: A more recent game, Avatar: The Last Airbender - Quest for Balance, was released in 2023. Honestly? It’s not as good as the Korra game in terms of combat, but it is actually available to purchase.
- Try the TTRPG: If it's the story and world-building you crave, the Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game by Magpie Games is the gold standard for modern Avatar media outside of the shows.
The Legend of Korra game remains a flawed, beautiful relic of a specific era in gaming. It’s a reminder that even when a project is rushed and underfunded, a talented developer can still make something that resonates with fans. It’s a bit of a "lost" masterpiece—not because it was perfect, but because it had a soul.