Ubisoft held its showcase yesterday during the Summer Games Fest to give the world a glimpse at the various titles it has in active production. While the usual familiar faces were in attendance with franchise favorites such as The Division and Assassin's Creed, one of the most notable new additions to Ubisoft's offerings was Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. First teased during E3 2021, Ubisoft finally pulled back the curtain on this long-anticipated game based on James Cameron's hugely successful science-fiction film franchise.
The game will not be available for another few months, but early reactions to the game have been mostly positive so far. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora aims to deliver an immersive way to dive into the universe presented in the films, from its stunning visuals, huge open areas, and a multitude of gameplay options like combat and scavenging for supplies. However, there is one gameplay mechanic that while fascinating to watch, does raise some concern for how it will actually feel to play based on how a similar concept was handled in another recent AAA experience.
Using Banshee in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Being a video game set within the Avatar universe, there are many elements present in those films that players will expect to be able to do in the game. Leaping across the towering tree tops, shooting a bow and arrow, and engaging with the wilderness and nature all seem to be on full display in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. From the gameplay overview trailer presented during Ubisoft's 2023 showcase, it seems like developer Massive Entertainment went to great lengths in order to replicate the look and feel of everything in the wondrous world that James Cameron has created.
Of course, this includes being able to ride the airborne creatures known as Banshees. As seen in the two Avatar films so far, Banshees are giant winged animals that the Na'vi use to soar across the skies of Pandora, and Massive Entertainment has also included it in the upcoming open-world game. The notion of diving off a cliff and calling out to one of these winged beasts in order to witness the world in its entirety seems breathtaking; however, if it isn't engaging enough to actually play then it will detract from the visual beauty of the experience.
Improving Upon Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
In 2021, Insomniac released Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart for the PS5, which was critically acclaimed as a technical showcase for what would be possible on Sony's latest home console. While it was certainly breathtaking, it did receive some criticism, specifically aimed at the aerial combat sections in the game. There are a handful of set-piece moments in which Ratchet would take control of giant winged creatures, similar to the Banshees from Avatar, and take to the sky in order to combat his enemies.
While it's an interesting idea on paper and new concepts are always welcome, the execution wasn't exactly perfect. These aerial sections were often cited as a lower point in the runtime of the game, considered as filler and a tad repetitive. To pour salt in the wound, the controls in these sections were somewhat clunky as well, with the winged beast Ratchet rides not being as responsive as it should be considering how fast-paced the battle was. The Banshee will hopefully be integrated into the game more like the aerial machines in Horizon: Forbidden West, recapturing the exhilarating experience of taking the sky and gazing at the world below.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora looks extremely promising so far, aiming to deliver the interactive experience fans of the movies have dreamed of. The gameplay looks like a mix of Avatar and Far Cry and should provide a fresh spin on the open-world gaming experience. Massive Entertainment hopefully nails the Banshee sections as well to ensure a well-rounded experience when the game eventually launches.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is set to release December 7, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
