2023 has been a wild and thrilling year when it comes to all the amazing games released and 2024 looks like it will keep the party going. Earlier this month, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment released Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora for PC (Ubisoft Store), PlayStation 5, and the Xbox Series X. Since the game’s release, we have been playing through the game and trying to decide how we feel about it; when the game was first shown off at Ubisoft Forward during Summer Game Fest 2023, we were excited at returning to Pandora. Now that we have explored Pandora, we can share with you our thoughts on Ubisoft’s latest game.
When we first jumped into Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora we were expecting a game similar to Ubisoft’s Far Cry franchise. Yes, the game does seem to feature similar gameplay aspects, but Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora focuses more on exploring the environment and discovering the lay of the land. Massive Entertainment takes a different approach to the RPG system with gear and skills controlling the player’s level.
Gameplay
Leveling
As you complete quests, you will earn skill points that can be applied to one of four talent trees; there is a 5th talent tree, but that is unlocked later in the game. The skill tree is just a small part of the game’s level mechanic. The player’s level is predominately controlled by the gear the player has. Because of this, it is more important for the player to scavenge the area for resources than it is to complete the story’s missions.
If you try to go from mission to mission, you will be up against a brick wall with the wall getting higher and higher. At one point in the game, we were down five levels to the enemy; in those instances, we had to play like we were Sam Fisher. Stealth and a tactical approach were the only way we could take down the enemies without dying in an instant. With proper scavenging, we were able to close the level gap and make the missions easier to complete. This however can take a good amount of time, time most players do not have or want to put in.
Campaign & Combat
When we look at Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora based solely on its campaign and its combat, the game falls short. The biggest downside to Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is that it lacks actual boss fights; the enemies within the game are easily replaceable and feel like they are more-so hazardous decorations. Each enemy and creature has a vital spot that will help you kill it more easily. Killing an enemy or creature efficiently will give the player more resources and conserve their ammunition.
Where Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora truly shines is as a survival RPG. Exploring the world around you and taking in the sites is so much more enriching. Later on in the game when you unlock the Ikran, it opens a whole new way to explore and see things that were originally out of reach. While in the air, the player can shoot at enemies, blow up objects, and even hunt.
The biggest problem with the campaign is that it doesn’t push the player towards gathering resources to get stronger. At the end of the day, this is something that the player must discover or suffer through. Yes, the game does have varying difficulties, but even on normal, it can be a challenge if you do not properly itemize. The secondary issue with the campaign is that it fails to establish the significance of the NPCs; throughout the story, there are times when a certain character could easily be replaced by another and we wouldn’t bat an eye.
Avatar Nit Picks
Although the game gives players the option to create their own Na’vi, the choices feel rather limited; between our two initial saves, our first attempt to create a character was thwarted by a bug in the game. This bug stopped us from modifying the visual aspects of our character. The game also lacks a variety of voices for the character. Although it wasn’t a massive issue, the lack of a mini-map made navigation a bit difficult at times; yes, you could use the Na’vi’s senses to point you in the right direction, however, when looking at the compass on the top of the screen, it was fairly easy to go the wrong way due to a marker.
Graphics & Audio/SFX
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora truly shines through its graphics and soundtrack. The moment you step out of the RDA base, where you have been sleeping for years, you are smacked in the face with Pandora’s beauty. The level of detail that Massive Entertainment has put into the game is astounding. Each object has a high level of detail put into it and no matter how you turn the landscape is breathtaking; this holds true not only to the colorful environments but also the ones cursed by pollution. The game features shocking environmental conditions between fog, rain, and even thunderstorms.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora does feature a few graphical issues even on PC. There we times when the system’s engine felt like it couldn’t keep up despite running on a high-end gaming PC. Occasionally, characters would walk through one another, and items and clothing would pass through them. Flying through the sky lets you see just how massive the game is and how much detail the developers have put into the game.
The game’s soundtrack is also overwhelmingly stunning. No matter which environment the player finds themselves in, the developers have managed to create a special sound and feeling for it. When we were in a thunderstorm, the sound effects and details they put into the game made us feel like we were amid a natural phenomenon.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora lives up to the cinematic visuals James Cameron has created for the silver screen and lets gamers experience it in a way unlike anything else.
Customizable Settings/Controls
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora controls do leave a bit to be desired. The button combinations to use certain abilities feel more like a chore to use rather than a fluid motion. The game does however feature a variety of customizable settings to enhance the player’s experience. Players can adjust the field of view, gather items, and solve puzzles automatically. Players can also the game’s controls to feed their needs. The game also has features to help the visually and auditoryally impaired.
Replay Value
When trying to judge Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora replay value, we have to look at it from two perspectives. The first perspective is whether or not players will have the desire to play through the game a second time and if things change. When looking at it based on the game’s campaign, the answer would be, probably not; now, this isn’t true for those who love survival RPGs but for general gamers, there’s not enough time to revisit a game that doesn’t change.
The second perspective is that of someone who loves the universe; just having the ability to live amongst the Na’vi and explore Pandora in such a beautifully designed game allows you to be truly immersed in their universe far beyond what the movies can do.
Verdict
At the end of the day, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora succeeds as a survival RPG but fails to provide enough gameplay elements to keep the average player’s attention. The campaign feels inferior compared to the game released in 2009 and even that feels like a low bar to reach. The game’s graphics and soundtrack are arguably two reasons to buy the game, but if you are purchasing a game for just those elements then it is better to wait until it goes on sale. The controls leave something to be desired due to the awkward button layouts but is redeemed due to the customizable options within the settings.
If you have always wanted to explore Pandora then Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a great game to pick up no matter what price. If you looking for a deep narrative then it is better to look elsewhere; the survival RPG elements can hook some players in but that is a niche audience. We recommend waiting til the game goes on sale to pick it up.
