Avatar: The Last Airbender has been around for nearly two decades, and while a new animated series is being produced for next year, in all of the time that this franchise has been alive and kicking, we've never really gotten a proper video game that captures what makes bending the elements such a great mechanic.
Sure, there have been a couple of mobile games, a collab with Fortnite, and if we're looking way back, even Avatar: The Legend of Korra video game. Still, that game is nothing but a huge disappointment that can't even stand up on its own as a decent third-person game.
That Avatar curse might finally change in the form of The God Slayer, an Eastern-inspired, steampunk RPG from Chinese studio Pathea Games that throws you into a rebellion against the gods.
More Than Avatar-Style Bending
You play as Cheng, an Elemancer who wields not only water, earth, fire, and air, but also metal and wood. It's got all the elements of your typical Feng Shui, which, if you don't know, is the art of rearranging the layout and decor of your house according to the flow of the elements so that your home can attract good luck and harmony.
The God Slayer doesn't need much luck, though, because from what we've seen so far in their action-packed, 7-minute gameplay trailer, the game already shows a lot of promise. And while it can be noted that Cheng has a lot of similarity with how Avatar's Aang and Korra perform their bending stances, I'd argue that those are more rooted in Chinese martial arts rather than being a direct copycat of the animated series.
In fact, Creative Director Zifei Wu revealed that the dev team studied Jackie Chan films, Jet Li films, and 80s Hong Kong cinema when designing the combat system. Martial arts will always play a significant role in Chinese culture, and it's always exciting to see that heritage get more spotlight in the world of gaming.
Rock‑Paper‑Scissors, But With Fireballs
What I'm more excited about is how the elements are tied together in the game and how you can combine those to create flashy and spectacular combos. They've only given us a glimpse of what this mechanic looks like in-game, but it's evident that the indie studio knows and understands what we'd all like to do with a game about juggling different elements.
In God Slayer, elemental powers interact in a barebones rock-paper-scissors mechanic: fire burns wood, water douses fire, steam comes from boiling water, and earth can block attacks.
Open World Built for God Slaying
The God Slayer takes place in the city of Zhou, a steampunk metropolis that represents a familiar take on Avatar: The Legend of Korra. The story kicks off with the God Fall, an event where divine beings known as Celestials slaughtered the king and hunted down other Elemancers. From there, you're on a quest of vengeance against gods who believe mortals do not have the right to wield elemental power. It's not the most original premise, but revenge stories don't need to reinvent the wheel. They just need to give you a good reason to keep fighting.
That's where the Star Fall Society comes in, and as part of the remnant group dedicated to overthrowing the Celestials and reclaiming the world of man, you'll be working for the rebellion to make allies, trade in favors, and even bribe officials inside the sprawling open-world metropolis. It's a good spin on a very Promethean-esque tale rooted in a world where you have to eradicate a divine being and a controlling power to survive.
Should You Be Excited About The God Slayer?
There are a lot of reasons to be excited about The God Slayer, but there's still only one aspect that creeps into the back of my mind. The God Slayer devs, Pathea Games, have never worked on an action RPG, ever. They're best known for My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock, and both games are cozy farming sims and a universe apart from the action RPG space.
That said, what we can confirm is that the game will have two different modes: a linear story mode for a more casual experience where you can breeze through the game and its bosses, and a challenge mode that leans more into the action side of the game for those who want that extra difficulty.
Oh, and if you noticed Cheng and the other Elemancers wearing Oni masks in the gameplay trailer, that's not just for style. That's because they need to hide their identities since they're pretty much on the run against the empire. It's got a very Jedi-ish vibe, and honestly, I think that only makes the game more thrilling.
Now, I have to admit, there's still a lot we haven't seen, and whether Pathea Games can stick the landing is something that time can only answer, but at the very least, we can take comfort in the fact that we're not going to be shooting colored fireballs labeled as something else.
The God Slayer is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. No official release date has been announced at the time of writing.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming features and opinions.