James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

Vandal Online (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Avatar logra algo poco habitual: que un juego basado en una película no nos plante una mueca de disgusto. Es más, en realidad nos encontramos con un título interesante y muy competente en su planteamiento, ofreciendo una buena propuesta de acción en tercera persona que destaca por la atmósfera y su buen planteamiento. Sea como humano o como na’vi, su fórmula funciona, y lo hace bien, llevándonos –pese a su lento comienzo- por una aventura de acción que captura al jugador, convirtiendo a este videojuego en una buena opción tanto para quienes disfruten con el cine de Cameron como para quienes estén buscando un nuevo juego de acción que llevarse al mando.

Cynamite (8 out of 10) (80%)

Nicht nur für Fans des Films: Avatar ist eine überzeugende Filmumsetzung mit toller Fantasy-Atmosphäre und solider Technik. Pro: Atmosphäre, Mit Multiplayermodus / Koop-Modus, Rollenspiel-Elemente Contra: Kamera zickig.

Impulse Gamer (7.9 out of 10) (79%)

Even though there are quite a few negative reviews for this game, if you put the time into it, it may actually pay off. I suggest a rent before a buy and yes at times it feels like a buggy BETA but for fans of the movie, it actually works well as a movie game and once you have ironed out those fiddly controls and stopped falling from high ledges and worked out how the camera works, Avatar surprisingly works well. If only they spent a little more time ironing the bugs and this would have complimented the movie rather well.

3D Juegos (7.6 out of 10) (76%)

Avatar cumple con notable eficacia en su experiencia jugable, y ofrece una muy digna adaptación de película a videojuego. En estos tiempos encontrar decoro y ambición en un producto de este tipo es toda una sorpresa, y el título lo consigue con una campaña individual de planteamiento muy acertado y también gracias a un buen multijugador.

videogamer.com (7 out of 10) (70%)

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game is easily one of the best movie licensed games I've ever played, but at the same time it's not good enough to stand alone as a must-own title. While the presentation is great and the combat generally enjoyable, the missions leave a lot to be desired - and there's little of the sense of wonder that the movie promises. Had the two campaigns been packed with superbly entertaining moments, the missions been more diverse in their structure, and the "vehicles" been more fun to man, then yes, Avatar the Game might have reached the heights its source material looks set to achieve. It's still a great effort, and will go a long way to right the wrongs of publishers down the years, but it seems that even James Cameron's involvement isn't enough to turn a movie into a triple-A video game.

GameZone (7 out of 10) (70%)

Some camera problems and a somewhat predictable story throw up a few roadblocks. Still the game throws out a nice bit of eye candy, has enjoyable challenges and combat elements involving the more primitive Na’vi against the advanced weaponry of the humans. The movie tie-in will no doubt help the game.

4Players.de (68 out of 100) (68%)

Avatar ist ein Vorzeigespiel! Es präsentiert geradezu vorbildhaft, welche Lücke zwischen technischen Qualitäten und spielerischen Werten klaffen kann. Hier wird eine visuelle Glanzleistung unter solchen Mängeln geradezu begraben, die ein modernes Actionspiel nicht aufweisen darf. Das fängt bei der Technik an, die zwar idyllische Kulissen zum Leben erweckt - in der sich aber wie Zombies animierte Wesen aus der vorletzten Konsolengeneration tummeln. Es gibt ja gute Ideen: das lebendige Na'vi-Abenteuer z.B., das rundentaktische Minispiel, in dem man sich Vorteile für die Kampagne erarbeitet oder die zwei Handlungsstränge samt der verschiedenen Kampfstile ihrer Protagonisten. Doch warum macht Ubisoft daraus je nach Fraktion ein belangloses Run&Gun bzw. ein ähnlich monotones Run&Slay? Gerade die gut gedachten Rollenspiel-Elemente wirken so aufgesetzt, dass beim Erforschen der weitläufigen Areale trotz erwachtem Sammeltrieb Langeweile aufkommt.

Wonderwallweb.com (6.8 out of 10) (68%)

Overall then Avatar is quite a disappointing game, where the movie promises to take things to a new level and be like nothing else before it, Avatar the game is just like most other movies turned game, disappointing. Sadly this game is not as inspiring as the film, nowhere near it.

IGN (6.8 out of 10) (68%)

Avatar: The Game feels like all of the development effort was put into building out the look of Pandora. In 3D, if your TV or monitor can handle it, the world comes to life. Even in standard HD or SD, the lush jungle is inviting and exciting. Take all of that away and you aren't left with much worth talking about. The gameplay feels like it needs more work. Loose controls, bad melee combat, weak mission design, and a wonky camera dull the experience. Middling storytelling doesn't help matters, and it ultimately fails in matters of motivation. The thrill of the fight just isn't here, and that's a problem for an action game.

IGN Australia (6.8 out of 10) (68%)

Avatar ultimately falls down as a game. It's just not that interesting, compelling or fun. It is, however, a remarkable demonstration of stereoscopic 3D – and for a very small percentage of players out there, that'll be enough to content with the dim-witted approach to the missions and, bafflingly, the lack of an end boss. Still, assuming you want the richest possible Avatar experience, small touches like the Pandorapedia, which features a wealth of information on Pandora's flora, fauna and main characters, will make the rest of the experience easier to swallow.

Cheat Code Central (3.4 out of 5) (68%)

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game doesn't pave any new horizons. Instead, it introduces a few new concepts while playing it safe in every other area. I loved the different sides of the story aspect of the game, it felt like getting two games in one, but because nearly everything else felt insipid, it didn't much influence the replayability of the game for me. Even though I am not amongst the rabid fans of the upcoming motion picture, I can say I hope this game is not an indicator of the caliber of the film, because if it is, moviegoers are in for a boring, bland experience.

PSX Extreme (6.6 out of 10) (66%)

In the end, Avatar: The Game isn’t anywhere near as good as the movie is hopefully going to be and for the most part, it ain’t worth a full $60. Sure, you can double your play time by going through with both races but it’s just not worth it. The controls aren’t tight enough – especially in regards to the vehicles – the camera is rarely on-point, the music isn’t prominent enough, the AI is iffy, and the overall fun factor dips frequently. On the other hand, there are plenty of pluses and I don’t like to frown on good ideas, even if they didn’t quite execute said ideas to the best of their ability. I guess it might be worth the price of admission if you end up really adoring the film, but with so many amazing titles available, I just can’t recommend it.

NZGamer (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

What Avatar the Game does get right is the presentation. The game looks stunning and is packaged with tidy menus and a non-obtrusive, clever GUI. Those playing it will feel like they really are exploring an alien world, with eerie floating landscapes in the horizon and monstrous shrubs that can rip you limb from limb amidst the mutant plant-life. Shooting stuff is fun as a human, and hooning around as an acrobatic Na'vi and clubbing stuff is even more enjoyable. But for all of the game’s eye-candy, it lacks any real substance and originality. Then again, I can’t help but feel this same sentence might just sum up the movie as well.

GamersGlobal (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

Avatar strahlt mit jeder Pore aus, dass es zu den Top-Titeln des Weihnachtsquartals gehören möchte. Doch seine mannigfaltigen Defizite sind unübersehbar. Unter der extraterrestrischen Verpackung wartet relativ simple Action-Hausmannskost auf euch -- erfahrene Spieler sind schnell gelangweilt. Dass just ein eng an den zugehörigen Film angebundenes Spiel in der Story- und Charakter-Kategorie so belanglos bleibt, hätten wir nicht gedacht. Als Budget-Titel für Science-Fiction-Fans oder als "Schau mal her"-Spiel für Besitzer von 3D-Equipment mag Avatar interessant sein, ansonsten fällt uns beim besten Willen kein Kaufgrund ein.

GamingExcellence (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

Avatar certainly avoids a lot of problems associated with being a movie tie-in. A relatively independent story, competent gameplay, and a relatively non-linear experience make for a game that is actually pretty fun. Some of the gameplay can get a little repetitive, however, and levelling up kind of loses its purpose when you can’t choose what you gain from it. Then there’s the lack of variety in the weaponry, and the too-similar humans and Na’vi. Overall, it’s certainly not a bad game, but leaves far too many things to be desired.

Game Informer Magazine (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

In the end however, these extra layers can’t fix the subpar combat and disappointing storyline at the game’s core, leaving Avatar a lackluster, though not entirely unpleasant, experience. While forgiving sci-fi fans might still appreciate this intergalactic romp, the average gamer is left with an easy choice: this game is a rental at best.

Spazio Games (6.3 out of 10) (63%)

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game è un titolo legato a doppia mandata al colossal cinematografico, dal quale prende diversi spunti e funge da anticamera al complesso mondo di Pandora e alle sue interazioni. Per questo motivo visto in un contesto slegato a quello della pellicola il gioco non riesce a brillare di luce propria, limitato da qualità tecniche e ludiche non molto elevate, ma riuscirà probabilmente a divertire e coinvolgere i fan del film, alla ricerca di nuove avventure in questo universo.

Eurogamer.pt (6 out of 10) (60%)

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game não consegue destacar-se, tanto em qualidade como originalidade, da restante oferta de jogos que é possível encontrar no mercado. Os seus graves problemas, aliados a uma jogabilidade pouco divertida, fazem com que o 3D seja o principal chamariz para quem quer experimentar esta tecnologia em alta definição no conforto da sala de estar.

Game Over Online (60 out of 100) (60%)

I’ve probably made Avatar: The Game out to be worse than it is. The problem is I’ve seen Avatar, the movie, and I was profoundly moved by it. I figured the amazing team at Ubisoft Montreal would have been more than capable of doing the source material justice. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. In the end, Avatar: The Game joins a long list of misguided movie-turned-video games.

IGN UK (6 out of 10) (60%)

Of course, you will anyway. You can't possibly have already played Modern Warfare 2 and Borderlands and Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 and Bayonetta and Left 4 Dead 2 and The Ballad of Gay Tony and ODST and and and, which makes the very idea of purchasing Avatar just now rampant silliness. The RDA campaign is an adequate action game, but it's never an inspiring, tell all your friends one. It does little to endorse Ubisoft's claim that it's been in development for years, as underneath the admittedly high-detail visuals it's a pretty rudimentary thing. It's a long way better than bilge like the Quantum of Solace, but it's certainly got no sense of a landmark pop-cultural moment, in the way we're repeatedly told the film will. At least, if the film is on a par with its game, we're all in for a terrible disappointment.

1UP (C+) (58%)

Overall, Avatar's not a bad-looking or playing game -- it's just very average. You may have the whole planet to explore, but your primary objectives boil down to "go to a point, push a button and or kill some guys, then go back to the start." The framework's in place -- a wide array of weapons, big enemies to take down -- but Avatar just doesn't put them in an interesting setting.

GameSpot (5.5 out of 10) (55%)

One of Avatar's main selling points is its use of 3D technology, so if you own a high-definition television equipped with stereoscopy, you may get a kick out of seeing Avatar pop out of your screen. Yet even if you're one of the few lucky enough to see the game this way, no TV yet has the capability of making James Cameron's Avatar: The Game play any better than it does. It's not a bad game, and portions of it are competent, if not quite remarkable. But Avatar wears thin quickly, and the story is too fragile to compensate for the deficiencies.

XGN (5.5 out of 10) (55%)

De setting en wereld van James Cameron's Avatar: The Game is geweldig. Jammer genoeg kan dit niet gezegd worden over het verhaal en de gameplay van het spel.

Gamer Limit (5.5 out of 10) (55%)

The bottom line is that there are plenty of other action titles that are more unique, more refined, and more enjoyable. Rent if you must.

Boomtown (5 out of 10) (50%)

The sad truth is that Avatar: The Videogame has published months before it was really finished to meet the deadline of the cinema launch. It's obvious in the stuttering framerate and lack of polish in some areas. If the game had more time - perhaps held back to launch alongside the DVD it might have been better. As it stands Avatar: The Videogame is a pretty mediocre release.

Thunderbolt Games (5 out of 10) (50%)

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game is your average movie tie-in. While it tries to do a lot with its MMO style quests, EXP, multiple campaigns and Conquest mode, it never really focuses on making the basic gameplay mechanics a success. The RDA campaign can be enjoyable when you’re using some of the more powerful hardware, but the Na’vi are poor on all levels and the mundane quests you’re sent on never fail to bore. With more refinements to the combat this could have been a solid effort in the battle to make a good movie tie-in; as it is, it can join the rest in the bargain bins.

D+PAD Magazine ( ) (50%)

It’s fair to say that here at D+PAD we’ve played a fair few movie tie-ins over the years and have grown to approach such titles with a certain degree of caution; with Avatar: The Game however, we were quietly hopeful that Ubisoft Montreal would deliver something special, but once again we’ve been left wanting. James Cameron has undoubtedly created an interesting universe in Avatar with the potential to spawn a cracking videogame spin-off. Unfortunately, Avatar: The Game is not that title.

Gamer.nl (5 out of 10) (50%)

Aan een tekort aan ambitie ligt het niet bij Avatar, maar het spel is te simplistisch en repetitief opgezet om leuk te zijn. Het doet zich voor als een RPG, maar resulteert in dom knallen. Het verhaal laat elke kans om interessant te worden schieten en is zelfs ronduit wrang als je alleen als de mensen speelt. Avatar is een gemiste kans. Maar dat het een filmgame is, daar ligt het niet aan deze keer.

Gaming Age (C) (50%)

In the end, Avatar was a bit of a roller coaster ride for me. I wasn't expecting much going into the game but I got my hopes up when I saw the variety of gameplay and then had them dashed by a poor story line, or lack there of, and unresponsive controls. As it stands, if someone asked me if I would buy this game I would have to say no but I would rent it as it is worth playing. It is just not worth the $60 price of admission.

Gameplanet (5 out of 10) (50%)

Perhaps if Ubisoft focused on just a few of these features, instead of trying to cram it all in, this may have been a better title - we will never know. As it stands, it is your typical movie tie-in. Fingers crossed the actual movie is a lot better, it sure look like it is.

Gamestyle (5 out of 10) (50%)

James Cameron’s Avatar the Game is an ambitious license that Ubisoft has taken on wholeheartedly but failed to achieve anything memorable. Crucial errors were made in its overall concept and design from an early stage resulting in a generic and bizarrely mundane experience. Pandora isn’t worth saving on the basis of this and you won’t care about its fate either.

Blend Games ( ) (50%)

Ubisoft clearly put some effort into Avatar: The Game - it uses Far Cry 2's powerful Dunia engine to create a beautiful, alien world. It offers up some interesting ideas and a decent amount of content, too. The game's a lot better in paper than it is in practice, though. Too many gameplay features are incomplete or poorly implemented to recommend it, even to folks who end up enjoying the film. It hits the low ceiling that we've come to expect from movie-to-game adaptations.

AusGamers (4.7 out of 10) (47%)

I imagine, the description of the game is similar to the movie; there is a lot of showiness masking some mediocre core structure. In the end the hero wins, we enjoy our hours in the dark, walk out into the sunshine and immediately forget the experience. Perhaps those blessed with 3D equipped TV’s or PC’s will get more from this release, the eye-popping screen-jumping effects masking a shallow gaming experience.

GameSpy ( ) (40%)

But it wouldn't really be worth it, because the basic gameplay of Avatar is so fundamentally flawed that even those few bright spots would only set you up for disappointment. Because, despite the guiding hand of Cameron, Avatar is ultimately just another big-name movie game that doesn't fulfill its early promise.

InsideGamer (4 out of 10) (40%)

Een verhaal waar je weinig soeps van maakt, een morele keuze die uit de lucht komt vallen, een schietsysteem dat niet werkt en een missiestructuur van heb ik jou daar. Door al deze rotte bomen is het lastig te zien dat er in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game ook nog een prachtig bos te bekennen is waardoor je de misère even kunt vergeten. Laten we dus hopen dat James Cameron weer tien jaar heel hard gaat zitten nadenken, dan hoeven wij voorlopig niet met zijn games lastiggevallen te worden.

Teletext (4 out of 10) (40%)

The trailers may make the film look like a live action Halo but the game plays nowhere near as well.

GamePro (US) ( ) (40%)

The game has native support for 3D capable televisions, but I wasn't able to test that feature out. It may end up adding a bit more fun to the game visually, but overall, Avatar is simply a rather dull experience, which could be the worst thing you could say for any piece of entertainment. From my time with it, James Cameron's Avatar: The Video Game only furthers the point, rather than dispels it, that the movie-to-video game genre is as treacherous as the planet of Pandora itself.