Avatars: Frontiers of Pandora It was one of those games that, surprisingly quickly after its release, was forgotten. Technically impressive, but often inconsistent in its gameplay, as in... as recorded in our review at the time.
Our preview of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes Ubisoft is now attempting not only to continue the story but also to specifically address old criticisms. The crucial question, therefore, is not: Is this just more content, or does the game finally feel the way it should have been from the start? After extensive playtime, one can say: From the Ashes It's not a breakthrough, but a significantly better game.
A new protagonist changes everything.
Perhaps the most significant difference lies in the player character. Instead of an inexperienced Na'vi novice, you take control of Solek, an older, battle-hardened warrior. This is more than just a narrative twist; it changes how believable every encounter feels.
Where the main game often questioned why a novice could seemingly effortlessly clear entire RDA bases, Solek's presence feels perfectly natural. His calm demeanor, his experience, and the significantly more serious tone of the dialogue ensure that the plot unfolds more quickly. The expansion picks up a few weeks after the events of the film and begins with a massive attack that leaves entire regions of Pandora devastated. Ash, smoke, and ruined nature dominate the landscape – both visually and thematically.
This darker approach suits the game much better. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes It doesn't feel like an adventure tour, but like a real conflict with consequences that needs to be resolved.
Third-person mode: More overview, more control
Is playful the third-person mode The biggest and most important innovation. While the main game relied almost exclusively on a first-person perspective, the expansion now allows for an alternative viewpoint that changes the entire flow of combat.
Especially in hectic fights with multiple opponents, the improved situational awareness is a clear advantage. Attacks are easier to read, positioning becomes more important, and the fights gain in dynamism. Takedowns and finishers are now significantly more powerful and convey a sense of physical presence that was often lacking before.
The system isn't entirely without flaws, however. Animations can appear clunky at times, and camera pans can be abrupt. Nevertheless, I quickly abandoned the first-person perspective altogether. Third-person doesn't feel like an add-on here, but rather the more consistent way to play. This should also have a positive impact on the main game.
Stealth remains the biggest problem
As positive as the open combat has developed, the stealth system remains disappointing. Enemies often spot the player too early or seemingly without reason. Lines of sight are unclear, and alarm sequences are difficult to predict. Even precise, silent eliminations frequently trigger an immediate reaction from enemies.
In the end, sneaking around feels riskier than open combat. And that's precisely what shouldn't be the case. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes It works significantly better if you accept that chaos will break out sooner or later anyway. This imbalance also affects mission design.
New enemies, too many tasks
With the Ash Clan, the expansion introduces enemy Na'vi for the first time. These battles are one of the strongest additions. The opponents are fast, resilient, and force the player to take movement and timing seriously. This feels fresher than the familiar battles against human soldiers.
Unfortunately, the game doesn't always live up to this potential. Many missions still rely on overloaded scenarios, such as large bases, lengthy checklists, and constant waves of enemies, along with turrets and air support. At times, this is reminiscent of other Ubisoft formulas, but without their gameplay elegance.
Not every mission suffers from this, but when it does, it noticeably slows down the pace. Fewer tasks and clearer objectives would certainly have improved the gameplay.
Flying remains magical – until rockets arrive.
Flying the Ikran is and remains one of the highlights. The freedom to hurl oneself off cliffs, summon the mount, and glide across Pandora continues to work brilliantly, both emotionally and in terms of gameplay. These moments contribute significantly to the game's identity and are one of the few aspects where Avatars: Frontiers of Pandora which makes the franchise absolutely unique.
The aerial combat is less successful. Missiles with extremely aggressive target tracking quickly make dogfights tedious rather than exciting. Evasive maneuvers often offer only limited help, unnecessarily interrupting the flow of the game.
One clear improvement is the character progression. Instead of complicated crafting dependencies, equipment can now be improved more directly. Leveling up feels logical, not like the result of grinding for resources. The expanded skill tree offers meaningful options, even if not every skill is relevant to gameplay.
Technically, the expansion isn't entirely without flaws, although many are negligible. Visually, however, the game remains at a very high level.
I personally don't like the third person perspective; I tested it a few days ago.