Games that are essentially movie tie-ins are always difficult to properly assess. For example, take the most recent game in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. That particular game could serve as an example of how not to do a game of a film (…of a book!). It takes the already condensed film storyline and further condenses it until you’ve got a plot thicker than a can of Campbell’s soup stuffed into around 4 hours of game-play.
Luckily for us gamers, this is not how the game of James Cameron’s epic cinematic experience pans out! Rather than do the usual and take its storyline directly from that of the movie, this game does something rare and instead follows an offshoot story, resembling that of the film but with many unique aspects. This is a terrific idea because it neither spoils the film for anyone who plays the game before watching it, nor vice versa.
For anyone who hasn’t seen the movie, it is set in the 22nd century on a moon called Pandora, in a star system near to our own. This moon has a race of indigenous people on it, called the Na’vi. It also contains masses of an element known as Unobtanium, which the RDA Corporation are mining out of the ground, regardless of the resistance of the Na’vi. Its main character is named Jake Sully, twin brother of deceased scientist Tom Sully (who was supposed to be the one on the mission).
Instead of Jake Sully, our character is known as “Able” Ryder and is a military ‘Signals Specialist’ who has just made the 5 year journey from Earth to Pandora. Much like Sully, Ryder had an avatar created for him to enable him to have much less restricted access to the planet’s surface. The game is played from a third-person perspective.
Initially, you set out carrying out your orders, as you are employed by the RDA Corporation and expected to do as they please for a short period of time. One of the missions asked of you is to discover the ‘mole’ within the RDA, who is passing information on to the Na’vi. Once you’ve become familiar with the control system for both the human and Na’vi , the storyline presents you with a choice: You can either kill the ‘mole’ and cement your position within the RDA faction; or you can betray your own kind and choose to aid the Na’vi in their quest to rid the planet of the RDA corporation. It’s at that point that the game splits into two very distinct parts. I am only going to be able to talk about one part currently, as I chose to betray humanity and help the Na’vi.
It’s worth mentioning now also, that the game does have an online multiplayer mode, which looks interesting from the game-play trailers I have seen but due to our review console (Codename: CANTONA) having no access to the internet, I’ve not been able to try it out and therefore not able to comment on that particular aspect of the game. It could be said though, that with a game based on a science-fiction epic, like Avatar, you would be likely to purchase it based on the quality of the single player campaign mode and a decent multiplayer mode would be a bonus. Presumptuous? …Maybe.
The Na’vi story arc focuses upon our character’s development as a Na’vi warrior and his acceptance into the many clans that live across Pandora. You become able to learn to ride some of the local wildlife (specifically Banshees, Direhorses and, later in the game, Thanators) and become an accomplished Na’vi. In order to prevent the RDA from succeeding in their plans, you are sent to hunt for ‘shards’ in various locations on the planet. From these shards, you channel ‘songs’ which then (to cut a long story short) enable you to eventually find a location that will help you against the RDA. The game goes far deeper into the Na’vi mythology and belief system than the movie does. It is very easy to think of it as an accompaniment to the film with all the additional nuggets of information we get given! (Such as the Pandorapedia… which is a pause-menu based encyclopaedia of everything related to Pandora. Which is really handy if you’re interested?)
With regards to a game like Avatar, graphics are always worth mentioning – especially as the film was recorded in 3D. The game follows suit with that technology. There are options within the display menu for you to switch on the 3D settings. My TV, despite being High Definition, was completely unable to deal with the snazziness presented by the game. However, if you own a modern enough LCD or LED panel then chances are you might want to arm yourself with a pair of 3D specs, because the cut-scenes of this game will be displayed in full “ohmygodthathelicopterisgoingtolandonmyface” 3D! Even without that technology, the graphics are crisp and smooth. Fogs, mists, water and foliage all look wonderful – even more so when missions are carried out in the Pandora night and the phosphorescent plants and trees become visible. Much like the film, it truly is beautiful.
The game would stand up to scrutiny as a stand-alone product …even without the films existence… but the fact that these two products of this franchise stand side-by-side and tell two different stories of the same saga is both interesting and refreshing. It really is invigorating to find a game that has been properly thought out and written as a separate entity from the movie it is promoting. More developers should make this sort of effort when they try to create movie tie-ins.
Though how much scope there is to make original games out of films like ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ or Disney’s ‘Up’ is debatable…but that’s another subject entirely (for another time, perhaps).
In summary, if sci-fi/action epics are your cup of tea, then there is a strong chance that this’ll be you sort of thing too. If you loved the movie and want to continue your love affair with Pandora and its population or you want a more in-depth experience from the Avatar franchise, then this delightful little title could well be worth your hard-earned pennies!
