Avatar review (PS3, Xbox 360) By Sayed Islam Published: 01/04/10 PrintEmail
A video game based on a film. Has this premise been done before? Yes, it most certainly has been done before. Regrettably, it continues to plague the video game industry. This is definitely the case with the recent release of Avatar. The storyline is not actually what you would call a “see the movie and play the movie experience.” Instead, the plot transpires prior to the events of the James Cameron film Avatar. The game takes place in Pandora, and natural resources are an invaluable commodity. This is undoubtedly where the bitter rivalry between the humans and the Navi ensues. While the game attempts to emulate an engrossing story, it fails to meet those same intriguing anecdotes from the movie.
Regardless of which side you play as, you will succinctly recognize how unpleasant and insipid the gameplay is. You control the main protagonist named Abel Ryder, and he just happens to be a member of the RDA (it is not clear was the acronym RDA even stands for). In the early embryonic stages of the game, you are presented with a choice. Option one is to play as a member of the RDA, and option two is to play as an Avatar for the side of the Navi. Albeit the two choices might seem like an astonishing premise on paper, there is very little enjoyment from either choice. It is like picking between getting kicked in the groin or getting punched in the groin. On the whole, it is still a lose-lose predicament. Either side has very mundane mission objectives that lack any shred of creativity. The Navi character allows gamers to equip various melee weapons such as blades. In addition, the Navi can utilize bows and arrows. Conversely, the RDA character has access to guns.
In terms of the visuals, just about everything is immensely underdeveloped. The three dimensional graphics fall flat and are significantly not noteworthy at all.
About the audio, this is yet another flaw. The voice acting is disappointing, and the music is adequate at best.
Overall, Avatar turns into another unsuccessful film to game transition. If only James Cameron could have invested some earnest money and effort into this game, it could have had as much potential as the movie.
Art direction 6 In terms of the visuals, just about everything is immensely underdeveloped. The three dimensional graphics fall flat and are significantly not noteworthy at all. Audio 6 About the audio, this is yet another flaw. The voice acting is disappointing, and the music is adequate at best. Gameplay 6 Regardless of which side you play as, you will succinctly recognize how unpleasant and insipid the gameplay is. Presentation 6 While the game attempts to emulate an engrossing story, it fails to meet those same intriguing anecdotes from the movie. Replay value 6 There is multiplayer, but nobody cares. Final verdict 6 out of 10
A video game based on a film. Has this premise been done before? Yes, it most certainly has been done before. Regrettably, it continues to plague the video game industry. This is definitely the case with the recent release of Avatar. The storyline is not actually what you would call a “see the movie and play the movie experience.” Instead, the plot transpires prior to the events of the James Cameron film Avatar. The game takes place in Pandora, and natural resources are an invaluable commodity. This is undoubtedly where the bitter rivalry between the humans and the Navi ensues. While the game attempts to emulate an engrossing story, it fails to meet those same intriguing anecdotes from the movie. 
