James Cameron's Avatar: The Game Review

It ain’t easy being blue. But if you can’t make it as a Na’vi, with the long and lanky frame, maybe there is hope in the NBA.

In James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game, the Na’vi are native inhabitants to Pandora, a world that a human-based faction known as the RDA is mining. Unfortunately for humankind, the Na’vi are disrupting the mining operations and forcing the humans to think of ways to neutralize the threat (and yes, the planet has a nice variety of indigenous species that pose threatens to any other living species). As one of the newer members of the RDA to be assigned to Pandora, your job is simple – transfer your consciousness into the Na’vi avatar that has been created and infiltrate.

Oh sure, there is a lot more to it than that, but that’s the crux of the game. Avatar: The Game is based on the pending movie James Cameron’s Avatar, a lushly animated film that sports some recognizable faces such as Sigourney Weaver. That quality of work has been transferred to the video-game in a manner that will provide a treat for the eyes.

While the game has some very familiar elements, there are aspects where it diverts from the norm. As the game begins you are the rookie on Pandora. Your goal is to run around to complete some stock missions and soon into the game you are able to transfer your mind into your Na’vi avatar. You will meet up with the Professor heading the Na’vi avatar program and he immediately foreshadows what may lie ahead when he says you will either be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. Why? Because you get the chance to determine what side you will be fighting on – you can either go back to the humans and fight the Na’vi, or you can take the role of the Na’vi against the human invaders.

While this sounds great, the philosophical debate this could spark is tossed aside for gameplay mechanics that are reasonably familiar. And that’s too bad. Avatar could have resonated on several different levels when you consider the wealth of material available that details how some elements of humanity toss aside the right of natives and just march in to conquer and exploit the natural resources. Instead the game provides an albeit entertaining vehicle for two campaigns – each wrapped up in social justification for what they perceive as being in the right.  

The game also features role-playing elements in terms of gaining experience with field work – which means running missions from the base – and that experience translates into leveling your character. When you level, you get to upgrade skills, which are then assigned to the hot keys and you can trigger those with a shoulder-button/key combination. The main drawback to the mission system, though, is the repetition of the missions. There are not that many mission types and they repeat.

You start off as Ryder, a member of the RDA and the storyline takes on some predictable qualities. As a Na’vi avatar, you begin to see the world of Pandora in a new way. The game has some nice mechanics that allow it to depart from the general run ’n gun element endemic to a lot of shooters. You can dodge with the tap of a button and there is also a way to temporarily slow the situation so that you can react faster. Unfortunately, though, as you slow the setting, the movement speed of your avatar also slows, which makes aiming slightly more difficult.

Combat takes on some nice elements. There are the weapons of the humans, with stations dotted around the maps that will allow you to replenish your ammunition. The Na’vi weapons are more on the primitive side – from first appearances, like a bow. However, the Na’vi weapons are surprisingly effective and because the environment is not as hostile to the Na’vi as it is to humans, you can work through the maps much easier.

The camera is also a concern. It is not quite over the shoulder but rather off to the right behind the game’s characters. This means you are countering the angling runs of your characters rather than being able to scan the landscape and proceed with a behind-the-back or isometric viewpoint. The voice work is hit and miss; not enough emotion to make it compelling but the dialogue itself drives the story lines and hints at what is pending.

Avatar: The Game is a title of tradeoffs. It has the base concepts to be more than it ended up being and yet it is still manages to provide a decent gaming experience. That it has a strong movie tie-in is certain to spark interest in this title.

Gameplay: 7.0
The targeting can be a touch off and the camera angles do not help the game. The interface, though, is serviceable enough and players should not find understanding the layout too intimidating.

Graphics: 8.0
A nice game to look at and the animations are solid. Come combat scenarios, particularly playing as a Na’vi against the humans (think Ewoks against Imperial mechanical walkers and you have an idea of the scope that this game tries to feed to players) provides some nice contrary elements.

Sound: 7.0
Not bad, but a bit too much dialogue foreshadowing. The voice work comes across as too sterile at times. The environmental effects and music are understated but decent.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.0
This is a missed opportunity for social commentary … but then, it is a game. The branching campaign choices give it some bounce, but there are more than a couple of stumbles en route.

Overall: 7.0
Some camera problems and a somewhat predictable story throw up a few roadblocks. Still the game throws out a nice bit of eye candy, has enjoyable challenges and combat elements involving the more primitive Na’vi against the advanced weaponry of the humans. The movie tie-in will no doubt help the game.