Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes

Two years after the release of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the "Among the Ashes" expansion successfully meets its challenge: to revitalize Ubisoft's video game in the best possible way, while simultaneously complementing the film's release with a parallel storyline that is meaningful and entertaining, even if it doesn't quite transcend expectations. Far from completely reinventing the wheel or transforming the experience from A to Z, the improvements and adjustments that Massive Entertainment has implemented are enough to make the gameplay vibrant and enjoyable. Beneath the ashes of the Mangkwans, a fire still burns, rekindling the flame of Frontiers of Pandora, and that's exactly what this title deserved.

From the Ashes is, in some ways, what Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora should and could have been. Ubisoft's expansion is hands down the best content available for the game, thanks to a more interesting protagonist, a more engaging story, and significantly more refined and enjoyable gameplay. If you already enjoyed the initial adventure or want to experience something as close as possible to "Fire and Ashes," we highly recommend playing this DLC.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From The Ashes is a pleasant surprise, especially for those who didn't care too much about the base game when it was originally released. The different perspective alone makes this feel less like Far Cry, even though the actions haven't changed too much. The lack of fluff makes the game feel more focused, and the game remains exciting thanks to the addition of more formidable boss fights and finishing moves. Nothing will convince non-fans to give this game a shot, but if you had a passing interest in the Avatar franchise, this DLC is a pretty good showcase of what a good Avatar game can be like.

Two years after its release, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora still offers one of the most beautifully breath-taking worlds we have ever experienced in a video game. The gameplay mix of stealth, shooting, hunting, gathering and crafting is entertaining in short bursts. However, it feels a little too shallow and repetitive for lengthy trips to Pandora. The story presentation is weak, NPCs are walking tropes and the plot offers zero nuance or grey area. The DLC From the Ashes offers better pacing and fast-paced action, whilst also delivering noticeably better cutscenes and story moments. The DLC feels better and more entertaining than the base game, however, it's also a lot shorter than Frontiers of Pandora.

A new protagonist, punchy third-person combat, and more agile Na’vi enemies give the DLC more bite than you’d expect. Not essential, but an easy recommendation for fans of the base game.