GameGuide

There has only really been two games I’ve been waiting for all year, Modern Warfare 2 and this one. James Cameron’s Avatar is tipped to be the dawn of a new generation of movies, and for some inexplicable reason James Cameron has approved the release of the Game before the movie was screened. But that’s ok, perhaps he was using it as vehicle to set the scene for the movie.. And to that end Avatar the game delivers..

Right from the outset you are immersed into the Avatar universe and the story line, which at this stage sounds remarkably like what the movie will be. As a member of the RDA you discover a bit more about your surroundings and occasionally spot the odd Na’vi while fighting off the odd local animal. After the initial grind of the game is out of the way you get involved in the Avatar program, and much like the movie you are faced with the reality of life on Pandora. The great part here is that you can start making your own choices. Do you side with the Na’vi or stick with the RDA. Forcing players to make moral choices in a game is nothing new, but in this particular rendition of moral choice really does open up the experience into almost two separate games. 

Now at this stage i need to halt.. Unfortunately i was limited in time with the PS3 and thanks to some rather bizarre choices made by a store assistant at a local rental crowd I was unable to go much further with the game play.

However the visual elements in the game are stunning. The world of Pandora really looks great, subtle details to the environment really makes the experience. As promised the movie and the game use the same wire models and textures, and while not being a perfect, they do add a very dramatic sense of realism to the story.

There is also a degree of openness to the maps of Pandora, however it only serves to slightly hide the linear fashion of game. The initial stages do feel like a grind fest, but that soon passes and you are awarded with some rich gameplay.

The other decision by James Cameron to set this as a third person / over the shoulder shooter has some interesting ramifications. While being incredibly stunning it does take a bit to get used to, often i spent time shooting the wrong way. And then there’s the 3D mode. With your high def 3D display you can immerse yourself even more in a rich 3D experience.

Sorry? You don’t have a 3D screen? Yeah neither did we.. and neither did any of my friends i asked.. and neither did the local retail stores..

We did however get to experience the 3D gameplay at Armageddon Expo in Auckland, and it was very nice. It wasn’t too over the top and seemed to be fairly comfortable to watch. However I’m not sure how long you would want to play in 3D mode before your eyeballs leave our skull in search of a dark cupboard.

At the end of the day Avatar is a very good entertainment product in its own right. The game is fun and immersive and visually stunning, as well as having a degree of playability that shouldn’t see this one end up as a trade in anytime soon. But i wonder if the novelty will wear off once the Movie is released.

And that’s my biggest concern on the game.. is it the same script as the movie.. Only time will tell and perhaps being the same as the movie may work well, one can only trust the James Cameron is making the right decision.

Reviewed on: PS3

Available on: XBox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS, PSP


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