Gaming

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora felt like a movie you want to play

It’s giving “manifest destiny” with a war fought on all fronts

Published

January 3, 2024

Gab Orlina

The prospect of doing an entirely new video game on the James Cameron version of Avatar was something I’ve been waiting for before 2023 came to an end. We already got one in 2009, which was set two years prior to the movie’s events, but it was depending on which version you played. In particular, there was a version that follows a similar plot to this 2023 release. However, as a whole, the 2009 Avatar: The Game wasn’t received that well by a lot of people.

One thing I thought about that game was that it failed to shed light on the actual premise of the Avatar movie, which was on the war between the Na’Vi and the human race for Pandora’s resources and habitat. In the eyes of the Na’Vi, increased involvement from the Resources Development Authority (RDA) had severed their ties to their entire heritage. Furthermore, it had driven them out of the land bestowed upon them as their home.

When Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was announced, the main thing I wanted out of it was to just address this one premise. Sure, the gameplay mechanics, overworld look and feel, and customization aspects were cool and all. However, all of these will just make it a good open world game instead of having the potential to be an experiential cinematic gold mine.

A recognition of the past

Right off the bat, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora tackles one important aspect of the plot – its place in the James Cameron timeline. First off, the entire opening sequence takes place roughly eight years prior to the first film’s events. It even foreshadows the oncoming violence the RDA will inevitably wreak on the Na’Vi several years down the line. You are still a young Sarentu, though, so you’ll further understand things in due time.

Secondly, the entire main plot happens sixteen years after the events of the first movie, just in a different area of Pandora than the one Jake Sully was in from Avatar: Way of the Water. Now, you’re all grown up and having just awakened from cryogenic sleep, and the RDA still wants you dead. Luckily, you’ll be able to escape a destroyed RDA base and find your way into the forests of Western Pandora. This is where your journey begins.

Honestly, the initial seeds of the main plot sound riveting enough to play through and through. It’s as if this was a separate spinoff to the main movie franchise, or it can be its own standalone series if adapted into one. I found it rather weird that Ubisoft didn’t make an effort to try and tie this game with Way of the Water together, but the brief callback to the first movie was a nice touch.

Being one with Eywa again

As you venture out into Pandora during the early stages, it is revealed that you were part of a nearly extinct Na’Vi clan, the Sarentu. Eventually, you’ll find out more details on what happened. You’ll learn what happened to your entire clan at the hands of the RDA. Then, you’ll find out how you ended up in their care in the first place. For now, your objective revolves around having to remove the RDA from Pandora. Of course, with the help of the Resistance forces and all the Na’Vi clans living in the area. Also, you will go on a more personal quest to re-establish your connection with Eywa and your Sarentu ancestry.

From an overall gameplay standpoint, a lot of the mechanics actually served a purpose. They were integrated well within the premise of this game. For example, I like how the Skill Tree looks. It isn’t heavily based on XP for you to earn Skill Points. This helps you out immensely when acquiring new skills. This helps improve every aspect of your being, including the new Na’Vi Vision feature. Furthermore, relearning Core Skills entails you exploring further in Pandora. There is a purpose to do that instead of treating it like a forced side quest.

Combat and movement is pretty decent and isn’t particularly overwhelming to learn all the way through. One thing I was excited about was that you can ride an Ikran to make traversing through places faster (even with Fast Travel). Also, you get access to a variety of both traditional and modern weapons to take down foes and aid you in hunting quests, and you can craft more powerful ones down the line.

The beautiful wonders of Western Pandora

Amidst all the hunting, raiding, and even having to earn favor from all the clans, I had to literally stop playing most of the time because of the visuals. Obviously, the James Cameron films always had these as their hook. For the audiences to marvel at the beautiful fauna of Pandora. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora highlights the overworld further, especially when it gets dark.

Admittedly, playing on a TV that doesn’t support 4K at 120 FPS with HDR10+ meant that the colors seem a bit washed out for my liking. However, it didn’t really stop the developers from creating vast biomes by day and a spectacle of color by night. I likened the visuals to that of Ubisoft’s more recent releases in the Assassin’s Creed franchise in terms of attention to detail.

This is also true when using Na’Vi Vision to scope out enemies, trails of creature scents, and even markers for your next objective. The fact that when you use this feature and elements brightly shine towards you is super helpful for most of the main quests.

A Sarentu’s last stand for all of the Na’Vi

Like every Avatar movie that has come out so far, Frontiers of Pandora presented an ongoing struggle for supposed progress at the expense of entire civilizations going extinct. As the few remaining Na’Vi on the Western Frontier, the imminent threat of the RDA comes to a head. It’ll fully consume Pandora and drain it of its last ancestral breath. You, a full grown Sarentu having gone through an entire journey of reconnection and resistance must take the final stand.

This game felt like a movie. It gave you intense action and excellent visuals. It also delivered some twists and turns in the plot that will have you on the edge of your seat. In my eyes, what really stood out was that a lot of things just made sense. The developers didn’t waste time adding unnecessary fluff just to prolong the game. It took a while to finally get the ball rolling on the main story. However, it acknowledged that proper context must be made. This way, even those who didn’t catch the 2009 film can follow along.

In the end, only one group’s destiny will be manifested and reign supreme. With the fate of the Na’Vi resting on your hands.

Related Topics:Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Ubisoft

Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade free demo released

For Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox

Published

December 18, 2025

GadgetMatch

Square Enix has released a free demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade which is launching on January 22, 2026.

The demo is available on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC. Players can carry their save data from the demo period over to the full game and claim the bonus items “Revival Earrings” and “Survival Set” in the process.

In addition, the game has Xbox Play Anywhere support. This means players can enjoy seamless progression across console and PC platforms.

Switch 2 users can enter the following codes to download the demo via the “Redeem Code” option on the Nintendo e-Shop:

United States: D3GM3304HKQBB2VB
Europe: D3GM3304HKPBB2VB
Japan: D3GM3304H3DBB2VB
Korea: D3GM3304H3CBB2VB
Hong Kong and Taiwan: D3GM3304H3BBB2VB
Southeast Asia: D3GM3304HY9BB2VB

Meanwhile, the free demo for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox for PC is available via this link.

Aside from the aforementioned platforms, the visually enhanced and expanded version of the original 2020 remake is already available on PlayStation 5, Steam, and Epic games.

What players can expect

In the demo, players can experience the game’s iconic opening chapter, in which the mercenary Cloud Strife and the underground resistance group Avalanche attempt to destroy a Mako Reactor powering the dystopian city of Midgar.

In their fight against the Shinra Electric Power Company, Cloud and his comrades are thrust into a larger conflict that will decide the fate of the planet.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade features improved graphics and performance. Aside from that, the game includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission.

This exciting additional story features fan-favorite ninja Yuffie Kisaragi as she embarks on a thrilling new adventure.

Players can expect expanded gameplay mechanics, refined combat systems, and immersive storytelling that deepens the lore of Midgar.

Square Enix has also released a new One-Winged Angel trailer:

Gaming

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro might be the comfiest headphones I’ve tried

The memory foam cushioning is divine.

Published

December 17, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Despite being a self-professed audiophile, I have always had a problem with wearing headphones the whole day. Sooner or later, the weight just becomes too much. So, when I saw the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro with its thick cushioning, it was love at first sight.

But will that love last?

Lookin’ like a succulent pork belly

Obviously, I’m exaggerating, but the head strap really does look like a pork belly because of how thick it is. And that’s not a complaint, either.

The BlackShark V3 Pro has one of the most comfortable cushioning I’ve ever experienced from a pair of headphones. Plus, both the head strap and the earcups use memory foam, so it feels like new every single time.

Over time, I can barely feel the headphones bearing down on the top of my head because of the thick cushioning. I lasted more than five hours before I felt anything. Even after taking it off for a spell, I was ready to get back into the game. For me, that’s an absurdly good record.

The earcups, on the other hand, fit perfectly. For reference, I have an average ear size. A lot of headphones I’ve tried often leave my ears in pain from all the flexing, but the BlackShark’s fit is just right.

A minimalist but elegant design

Besides the nice cushioning, the rest of the headphones exude that elegant look you might expect from more premium headphones. Except for incredibly subtle Razer branding and a thin ring of lime green around the mic button, there’s nothing to indicate that this is a pro gaming headset.

The earcups are connected to the strap via thin metal arms and a braided cable. The same arms offer 15-degree maneuverability to ensure the most comfortable fit.

Unfortunately, they don’t fold, so it’s harder to take these headphones outside. It’s a slight wrinkle in an otherwise stellar design.

Going back to analog

A lot of headphones today prefer using gesture controls over actual buttons and knobs. Getting rid of buttons does help make designs look sleeker. However, it comes with the added frustration of fiddling around with often-finicky gestures.

Thankfully, the BlackShark V3 Pro has a wealth of buttons and knobs for, in my opinion, easier control. This also lends to its credence as a gaming peripheral. When I’m in the zone, I don’t want to mess around with gestures that might not even work.

The left cup has a dedicated power button, a microphone button, a USB-C slot, and a 3.5mm port (for both input and output). It also has a nifty knob for volume control.

Meanwhile, the right cup has an equalizer button, a noise cancelling button, and a dial to adjust the ANC levels. There’s also audio feedback that lets you know exactly what you’ve pressed.

I love this layout. Though you can argue that all these buttons seem like overkill, there’s just something about manually pressing buttons and turning knobs, especially when you’re focused on gaming. It’s like a palpable feeling of turning it to 11 that you just don’t get with gesture controls.

Premium for gaming, a step less for everything else

The BlackShark V3 Pro is a bass-leaning headset. That’s pretty much what you’d expect from a gaming-focused device. A premium on bass helps you feel the immersive thump of gunshots, explosions, and even simple footsteps.

Personally, I don’t prefer bass-heavy devices. However, this pair refreshingly does not tear with high bass level. It offers a pretty rich output for the deeper end of the audio spectrum. An extensive listening session of metal created thrumming breakdowns and heavy drum solos.

However, there’s a clear step down when it comes to treble. It’s only one step down, though, because I can hear that these cans are capable of impressive treble. However, the focus on bass can drown out the other end. I’ve tried adjusting the equalizer, but it made too little difference to elevate the experience for audiophiles.

Additionally, the soundstage feels more centered than immersive. This pair isn’t what I’d pick for long listening sessions. Then again, this wasn’t made for that. This shines more brightly for gamers.

With THX Spatial Audio, these headphones feel more alive during FPS gaming sessions. Another audio enhancement can amplify footsteps, too. The audio adjustment feels weird at first, but it does give a competitive edge for shooters. It’s also compatible with a few other games, including Civilization VII, which gave a pleasant auditory experience.

A much better mic than I expected

The BlackShark V3 Pro comes with a detachable microphone you can snap on to the 3.55mm port. As a pro gaming peripheral, the attachment is expected but not even necessary for a headset of this caliber already.

It’s a fairly decent, well-thought-of accessory. The audio input was, according to people I played with, clear for in-game comms.

Even better, the Razer Synapse app comes with its own equalizer just for the mic. If you need more control over how you want your voice to be broadcast, these headphones give a surprising level of customization. Being easily accessible through the app is a huge plus, too.

In terms of quality, I might still default to a dedicated external mic. However, if you don’t have one, Razer’s premium pair is a great alternative.

Battery good enough for almost two weeks

Razer promises that the BlackShark V3 Pro can last around 70 hours on a single charge. This is a fairly accurate prediction which aligned with how I used the headphones.

As I mentioned, I can withstand around five hours straight of using the headphones. By the end of the first week, I still had a lot of juice. And if I didn’t push it to my absolute limit, I could make this last even longer than two weeks.

Ultimately, the battery’s life depends on how you use the headphones, which differ greatly from person to person. And, at the end of the day, I had no problems with keeping the headphones connected to the long and braided wire.

Is the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro your GadgetMatch?

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is one of the most comfortable pair of headphones I’ve ever tried. It’s also a premium gaming peripheral that reflects its price point well at US$ 249.99.

Sure, you won’t get a pair of headphones worthy for an audiophile, which makes this a Swipe Left if you are. But as a gamer, these are more than what you need, which makes it a hardy Swipe Right.

As someone who’s both, I’d still give this a Swipe Right. My audiophile side already has a more balanced alternatives, after all. But the BlackShark V3 Pro is excellent as a tough-as-nails daily driver.

Gaming

Silksong is getting its first major expansion next year

The expansion is called Sea of Sorrow.

Published

December 16, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

I still can’t believe that Hollow Knight: Silksong came out this year. After years of just waiting for the mythical title, it’s surreal to have it in my library. Now, barely waiting to catch their breath, Team Cherry is already working hard towards the next content drop, starting with Silksong DLC.

Just like the original Hollow Knight, Silksong is getting free DLCs to expand its story. The upcoming Sea of Sorrow DLC will be the game’s “first big expansion.”

The expansion’s trailer barely shows anything about the new content, besides vague allusions to what’s coming. At the very least, Team Cherry has confirmed, both via the announcement and the accompanying poster, that Sea of Sorrow will be nautical-themed.

It will feature new locations, new tools, and new enemies. By itself, Silksong is already a huge game. Adding more content then is a massive undertaking. Plus, Team Cherry says that this is just the first expansion, hinting at more coming in the future.

Sea of Sorrow will launch in 2026.

Besides the new expansion, the studio is also working on a Nintendo Switch 2 update for the original Hollow Knight. It will add higher framerates, resolutions, and more graphical effects. PC players will also get some upgrades to support larger screens.

The Switch 2 update, which will be free for those who already own the original game, will also launch next year.