Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a wonderfully moralistic title that captures the essence of James Cameron’s epic cinematic masterpiece. However, though it is set in the same period, it is rarely acknowledged. Now, this may seem strange, but I loved the freedom this created. Instead of following an already tried and tested formula, this game lets you become one with the locals and the Eco structure.
This open-world adventure title was developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. Moreover, it has some wonderful FPS moments and stealth and all-out combat play a key role. Alongside this, you are free to explore, craft, forage, and survive as much or as long as you’d like. As such, it is easy to lose yourself in an immersive and vibrant alien world.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora: a roller-coaster of emotions.
Though the vast and often overwhelming world was tough to take in, I adored the exceptional storytelling and the incredible parodies of modern human history. Additionally, the interesting characters, varied tribes, and stunning environment take you on a memorable journey that is tough to put down. Whether you are familiar with the Avatar franchise or not, you’ll enjoy this regardless. Yet, to fully understand the lore, it is best to watch the films.
The game opens in dramatic fashion as the RDA unleashes their heartless and cruel plans. They capture members of the Sarentu to train as Na’vi warriors. These hybrid creatures will assist the humans in their unfortunate and often selfish plans. However, as time passes, the RDA’s grasp of power weakens. Accordingly, a rebellion begins and the surviving members of the Sarentu tribe escape to the Western Frontier of Pandora. Here, they must learn new skills, explore their surroundings, and stop the RDA once and for all.
An open world with a meaning.
An open-world adventure can be one of the best gaming experiences around. Yet, many modern franchises pad their games with pointless quests and empty and lifeless voids that quickly become tedious. Thankfully, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora isn’t guilty of this. Instead, you soar across Pandora whilst utilising your Na’vi sight to highlight resources and learn new information.
Alongside this, there are plenty of tribes to interact with, RDA bases to infiltrate, and special plants to discover to upgrade your skills. Moreover, there is a large crafting element that evolves to become a key gameplay element. As such, you’ll find yourself exploring the lush jungles to find special resources or to hunt creatures for their meat and bones.
Fighting.
I loved the developers’ approach to the fighting element. Unlike other FPS adventures, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora relies on a mixture of stealth and all-out combat. Additionally, whenever you are hunting animals, you must be accurate and humane to maximise your rewards. Accordingly, there is a sense of tactical nuance and maturity as you approach every combat encounter.
Alongside this, you’ll enjoy a simple but rewarding mini-game while hunting for food. If you yank at any resource too quickly or too hard, you’ll potentially spoil the goods and reduce your yield. As such, you must learn how to tackle each plant to get the best reward. Moreover, there is wild fauna that must be avoided and utilised to cripple your opponents. Therefore, you need to study your environment if you wish to evade creatures or kill them with poisonous and explosive plants.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora: eye-wateringly beautiful.
Whether you love the heartfelt story or not, you will not be disappointed by the awe-inspiring visuals. Every element of this game looks stunning. Whether it is the vivid colours, the exceptional environment, or the cruel and cold robots of the RDA, it will not leave you wanting. Alongside this, the world is absolutely humongous. As such, you can lose yourself as you climb up trees, leap chasms, or swim through rivers and lakes.
What was equally spectacular was the smooth framerate and the problem-free graphics. I rarely noted any issues, and the animation, combat, and cinematics were incredible. Subsequently, if you want to play a game that will push your next-gen console or top-end PC to its limits, then buy Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
The visuals are complemented by impeccable audio. The acting is fantastic and the soundtrack, sound effects, and ambient noises bring the world of Pandora to life. Additionally, each unique dialect and story were wonderfully told. As such, you enjoy a dramatic plot that is captivating and compelling to experience.
Exceptional controls.
Open-world titles are often challenging to master. The developers incorporate many layers to keep you focused and entertained throughout. However, this makes it tough to keep on top of and usually arduous to play. Thankfully, however, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is different. The easy-to-follow tutorial and intelligent button layout ensure that it is simple to play. What’s more, the responsive inputs help whenever you undertake some parkour moments.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a massive game that will keep you busy for hours. Furthermore, it can be enjoyed cooperatively as a cross-platform title. Consequently, it should be easy to find a gaming partner to explore the vast wilderness. However, if this isn’t your thing, you will invest hours into many side quests, foraging, and an unforgettable main storyline.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a fantastic game.
Though the almost overwhelming open world is tough to swallow, exploring quickly becomes enjoyable. Whether you are completing minor tasks or wasting time, there is always something new to discover and plenty of things to see and do. Moreover, playing this with a friend adds a layer of depth that changes the dynamic further. As such, I adore this game and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you keep your tribe alive? Explore the Western Frontier, learn new skills, and defeat the RDA.