Highlights
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora needs to differentiate itself from the Far Cry franchise, as it currently shares similar gameplay mechanics. It should focus on unique features beyond just its flight mechanics.
- Flying is a significant part of the Avatar universe, and it seems to play a major role in Frontiers of Pandora 's gameplay. Players can tame a Banshee and engage in aerial combat.
- While flying is important, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora should also highlight other traversal options like Direhorses and parkour mechanics to capture the full Na'vi experience. The game should ensure that all forms of traversal are equally enjoyable for a balanced gameplay experience.
The next few months are going to be some of the busiest of 2023 for the gaming industry. In a year that's already been jam-packed with excellent AAA releases, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is really going to need to go above and beyond if it wants to stand out. A game that's been years in the making, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is releasing at a bit of an awkward time for the franchise, with the hype surrounding Avatar 2: The Way of Water now fully died down, and the next sequel still a ways off. But with enough care and attention, and plenty of its own unique mechanics, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora could be another 2023 smash-hit.
The biggest thing holding back Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora right now is its obvious similarities to the Far Cry franchise. Based on the gameplay that Ubisoft has released so far, it seems as though Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will borrow heavily from Far Cry's gameplay formula, with similar-looking combat and exploration mechanics. While Frontiers of Pandora needs to counteract this with its own set of unique features, it shouldn't rely too heavily on its flight mechanics alone.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Should Still Highlight Other Traversal Options
Flying is a huge part of the Avatar universe and mythos. Jake Sully's first flight is an integral scene in the original Avatar movie, encompassing the movie's themes of nature and the freedom that comes when embracing it. Flying also plays a pivotal role in the sequel, with The Way of Water's Omaticaya clan using a number of flying water beasts in the final battle. It's only natural, then, that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora would want to embrace this essential piece of the universe.
From what fans have seen so far, it seems as though flying will play a major role in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's gameplay. Seemingly just a few hours into Frontiers of Pandora, players will tame their first Banshee, and gain access to the game's flight mechanics. It's currently unclear how the player then summons the Banshee, or if there are restrictions on where it can go, but it seems as though flying will have a prominent place in the game's general formula, with players being able to soar to their next destination, and even engage in aerial combat with RDA gunships.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's flying mechanics seem to be one of its defining features, and the primary way the game is setting itself apart from Far Cry, but it shouldn't be the only unique traversal mechanic that the game focuses on. While flying is a major aspect of the Avatar universe, it isn't the only way the Na'vi get around, and a AAA open-world title based on the franchise should make sure it embraces those options as well.
Ubisoft has already confirmed that players will be able to ride a Direhorse in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and while it certainly looks visually impressive, those mechanics need to be just as fleshed out and responsive as the game's flying mechanics. Similarly, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora needs to deliver some engaging parkour mechanics. Throughout the Avatar movies, the Na'vi are constantly seen leaping from cliffs, climbing up trees, and swinging from vines, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora needs to a movement system that can capture that experience in a satisfying and enjoyable way. Every form of traversal in Frontiers of Pandora needs to be equally fun, or the game's moment-to-moment gameplay is going to feel uneven.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora releases December 7 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
