In 2008, James Cameron released his ambitious blockbuster Avatar . The action-packed epic was structured around a science fiction-based allegorization for colonialism, all set against the backdrop of an alien planet called Pandora. The film was a huge success, beating Cameron's own Titanic as the highest-grossing film of all time and elevating 3D technology to more than just a simple marketing gimmick. Although the film's initially positive reception would eventually give way to a hateful bandwagon, its success made it clear fans had not seen the last of Pandora. A sequel seemed inevitable, even if it took over a decade to make.
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However, it turns out The Way of Water is not the only opportunity fans will have to revisit the alien landscape this year. Ubisoft has finally revealed their upcoming game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora , an open-world adventure that promises free exploration of Cameron's iconic world . The trailer and gameplay reveal can only show so much, but there are some fascinating details that can be uncovered about just what fans can expect from this exciting game.
The Na'vi, a race of blue-skinned gigantic humanoids indigenous to Pandora, have always been crucial to the lore surrounding Avatar . Their conflict with the RDA is what drives the entire plot, but it is still a story about humans. The original film's protagonist started as a human, even if he ended up preferring his Na'vi body (the titular "avatar"), and he had several human allies that made up the core cast.
Frontiers of Pandora shakes things up. The protagonist is not a human in a Na'vi body, but an actual Na'vi. Granted, they are a Na'vi who grew up under unusual circumstances that resulted in a limited understanding of Na'vi culture, but they are not an Avatar, nonetheless.
The story expands on Na'vi culture as seen in the film. In addition to exploring the world, the player will get to interact with different Na'vi clans who all have their own unique customs and beliefs. This does mean, at the very least, that a large portion of enemies will be human. Whether any human allies will appear is unknown. In any case, the Na'vi will be at the center of it all, and for once, players will see matters from a Na'vi's perspective.
Admittedly, information on the player character is a bit vague. Her name has not been revealed, but everything shown so far has indicated the player character to be a female Na'vi who appears to be a capable fighter.
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She does, however, have an unusual background. This character was part of an RDA project that involved kidnapping Na'vi children and raising them to become soldiers that fight against their own people. This puts the player in an interesting position . On the one hand, she is fully equipped to take on Pandora's wilderness, but on the other, she has to learn alongside the player.
In the movie, the primary antagonist was the Resources Development Administration (RDA), a mega-corporation that specialized in exploiting other worlds' resources. Their interest in Pandora was motivated by a desire for unobtainium, a rare mineral that is worth a fortune on Earth, and this is what sets the main conflict in motion. The RDA proved to be ruthless, having an entire army at its disposal under the command of Colonel Quaritch. The final battle ended with them being forced to leave, with the exception of a few open-minded individuals.
That said, if Frontiers of Pandora is anything to go by, the RDA did not take defeat well. Fifteen years later, it appears they're back in full force, probably wanting payback after the events of the movie. From the looks of things, they've even expanded their operations on Pandora. The player will naturally learn how to fight the RDA and their machines, being able to lay waste on everything from mech suits to helicopters.
At least one member of the RDA has been identified—a man named John Mercer. According to the developers, he was the one responsible for kidnapping Na'vi children (including the player character) to turn them into soldiers RDA soldiers. It is probably fair to assume that he is a major antagonist.
Ubisoft clearly channeled some of their Far Cry experience into Frontiers of Pandora . Aside from the first-person perspective and open world, the player has access to a variety of options when it comes to combat. Players can choose to be stealthy or go into full Rambo mode.
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Weapons are quite varied as well. Thanks to her unique background, the protagonist can handle different types of firearms, or she can go for a quieter approach with a bow and arrow, or combine them with explosive arrows. A big part of the appeal of Far Cry is the variety of weapons and ways to accomplish tasks. It looks like Frontiers of Pandora is going to deliver.
A big theme in the movie was the interconnectedness of Pandora's ecosystem. The Na'vi held a deep connection to it both figuratively and literally. The braids on the back of their heads could literally be connected to Pandora's wildlife, like a USB cable.
Of course, this detail has led to a lot of ridicule, but it is something the game seems to be taking full advantage of. Part of the player character's journey will involve learning to ride different types of animals, a bit like the override mechanic in the Horizon games. This means being able to ride some of the iconic creatures from the movie.
The big thing that's been promised from the game is the Ikran, a large winged creature that develops a bond with the player. This flying mount is fully customizable, and can even be named.
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora patch notes: Frontiers of Pandora is set to release in December 2023.
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