Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes Hands-On Impressions

Quick Overview

The "From the Ashes" expansion for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora introduces Na'vi enemies, specifically the warlike Monuan clan allied with the RDA, provides a significant challenge bump, shifts the focus to the side character Sole, and adds new mechanics like Sole's Warrior Vision ability, while also introducing a highly anticipated third-person play option for the game.

Key Points: The expansion introduces Na'vi enemies, the Monuan or Ash people, who are warlike and side with the antagonistic RDA forces, presenting a "pretty significant bump in challenge." Players control Sole, a side character with a dark past whose clan was wiped out, making the expansion's attack on the home tree deeply personal and bringing a "darker feel" to the game. Sole possesses the unique ultimate power called Warrior Vision, charged by dealing or taking damage, which highlights enemies and grants the player increased damage output and reduced incoming health loss. The expansion forces cautious exploration in the ravaged Kinglaw Forest region because destroyed areas lack resources needed to craft ammunition or healing items. A major story mission involves freeing a towering Fireback Mastodon that the RDA has mechanized and driven into a frenzy, requiring Sole to remove mechanical attachments to free the animal. A major technical update accompanying the expansion allows players to switch the entire game from its original first-person view to a new third-person mode, though the reviewer found the third-person movement felt "a little loose and floaty." The RDA utilizes Major Bukowski, described as Jake Sully if Sully never left the RDA, who speaks Na'vi and understands their culture but remains loyal to humanity.

Context: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, developed by Massive Entertainment, initially told a story separate from James Cameron's films on Pandora's other side; the new expansion, "From the Ashes," aligns more closely with the narrative of the upcoming movie, "Avatar Fire and Ash." This expansion centers on the Monuan Na'vi clan, who are in league with the human military forces of the RDA, creating conflict against the established resistance members like the Serenu, whom the player character, Sole, must protect.