Enter the World of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – A Thrilling Gameplay Preview

In the modern age, tie-in video games have evolved beyond their traditional role as straightforward film adaptations. They now serve as supplmentary media, enriching the experience of the franchises we love.

This idea is enforced in Ubisoft’s upcoming game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, developed in collaboration with Disney and James Cameron’s production company, Lightstorm Entertainment.

Similar to James Cameron’s pursuit of setting a new visual standard for filmmaking with the Avatar films, this first-person action-adventure game was exclusively developed to harness the full potential of new-gen consoles and PCs.

IGN Southeast Asia was granted an exclusive preview of the game by Ubisoft, allowing us to experience a substantial portion of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Give Me Strength

Taking place after the events of the first Avatar film, players will embark on a journey across the Western Frontier, an unexplored continent of Pandora. There, they unite with other Na’vi clans to shield Pandora from the formidable forces of the Resources Development Administration (RDA).

In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, players step into the shoes of an abducted Na’vi, was raised and trained by the human militaristic corporation known as the RDA. After the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains led by Jake Sully, the RDA evacuates Pandora.

The player awakens 15 years later from cryogenic sleep within an abandoned facility and step onto Pandora. The malevolent RDA has returned, more dangerous than ever, threatening the flourishing ecosystems of Pandora and its clans once again.

Upon starting the game, players are immediately immersed in the lush jungles of Pandora, where they can scavenge for ammo and health-restoring items. Exploring this environment is a delight, and yet, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has much more to offer.

Flight of Passage

While the jungles of Pandora conceal the occasional wolf threat, players can predominantly immserse themselves in that atmosphere and explore nearby Na’vi settlements. These settlements serve as hubs for sidequests and offer various shops to enhance the player’s experience.

It is no secret that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora shares much of its DNA with the Far Cry series, and this fusion is a match made in heaven. The series’ high-octane guerilla warfare, combined with light survival elements, complements the world of Avatar immensely.

The primary quest in this demo revolves around forming a bond with an ikran, a dragon-like flying creature that becomes the player’s mount. This task involves climbing Pandora’s highlands before being able to summon the ikran, reminiscent of Link’s Loftwing in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Getting on and off the ikran, even in the heat of battle, distinguishes this game from the typical Far Cry experience. Flying around on the winged beast also allows players to explore a whole new side of Pandora whenever they desire.

Way of Water

The final mission requires the player to storm an RDA base, facing off against their giant mechs and foot soldiers. While Far Cry fans might stick to their usual tactics and storm the base on foot, riding the ikran is definitely the way to go.

The sense of player expression is also what makes us excited about Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The game offers a wide range of gameplay styles, allowing players to choose between stealthy approaches with a bow, or intense, action-packed encounters going guns blazing.

Fans who enjoyed the original Avatar tie-in game from 2009 will discover much to appreciate in this new installment, although the option to play as a human or Na’vi is not available this time. There’s also the addition of cooperative play, which we are more than excited to try out in this game.

Overall, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a must-play for fans of the films, and those who are looking for a new twist on Far Cry will find a lot to love about it as well. It’s one thing to be a solid gameplay experience, but to be a perfect translation of James Cameron’s vision is a triumph on its own.