If you haven't heard of (or seen) Avatar (James Cameron's newest movie) you have clearly been living under a rock. With over 1Billion is sales it is likely to become one of the highest grossing movies of all time. However, we aren't here to discuss the movie. We are here for the game based on the movie. Will the game be as epic as the movie? We will find out..

First Impression

The first thing I noticed about the game is attention to graphical detail. The visuals look remarkably close to what you see in the movie. Ubisoft also took the time to develop a fully integrated 3D system. Thus you can have full 3D gaming on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 assuming you have the right hardware. While the graphics are great, they come with a drawback. The recommended system specifications are much higher than what would be considered a standard "mainstream" computer. So, if you really want to enjoy the graphics you need a powerhouse.

Gameplay

The storyline is independant from the movie, and you actually get a choice on who you would like to fight as. You can choose to fight as the native Na'vi, or the RDA who have invaded Pandora. Each story is approximately the same length. Obviously this adds to replay value because you will likely play as both sides at some point.

My biggest complaint is the lack of explanation in the game. You are simply thrown into the story; so you have to figure everything out on your own. The controls seem awkward at times, and quite honestly the game seems to suffer from a lack of depth. The "stunning visuals" seem to be a way to try to mask the problems in the game. It doesnt work very well either.

Conclusion

There really isn't much to say about the game. It looks great (if you can run it maxed out) and its nice to have the 3D aspect. Unfortunately I do not have the hardware to play it in 3D to see if it makes it more enjoyable. As I said, the controls and gameplay feel awkward and lacking. If you are looking for a game to truly capture your attention this might not be the best. If you just want to look at some pretty graphics, give it a shot.

Overall I would give this game a 5/10. Its playable, and its definitely not terrible. However; I wouldnt not recommend this game to many of my friends because it just doesnt have enough to warrant playing.