Exploring the Unconventional in Gaming
In the realm of PC gaming, where the peculiar often finds a home, our Saturday column, Weird Weekend, dives into the eccentricities that make this medium so captivating. Each week, we share the obsessions of our team—Jeremy, Josh, and Rick—as they uncover odd games, intriguing trivia, and snippets of forgotten history. From the curious canon height of Thief’s Garrett to the surprising tale of a Vatican official pirating Football Manager, there’s always something unexpected to explore.
In a recent twist of fate, Dr. Monroe quips, “Just because your DNA is a one in a billion match doesn’t mean you can be a princess. Get moving, tiara.” This playful remark sets the stage for an unusual narrative that unfolds in the Avatar universe. The protagonist, known as ‘Able’ Ryder, finds himself in a rather unconventional lottery win. After a childhood spent in a California megacity grappling with poverty, he receives an invitation to the Avatar Program. Fast forward five years of cryosleep, and Ryder awakens at Hell’s Gate, a colonial military base on the exotic planet of Pandora.
As Ryder navigates this new reality, he encounters a warning from a fellow soldier: “You start growing a conscience, and you’ll end up on the dead end of a na’vi spear.” This stark advice sets the tone for his journey, which is anything but straightforward. Yes, ‘Able’ Ryder is indeed the central character of the Avatar game developed by Ubisoft—a title that may not be the one you immediately think of. Released 14 years prior to the more recent Frontiers of Pandora, this third-person shooter coincided with James Cameron’s billion-dollar cinematic venture.
As we reflect on the evolution of the Avatar franchise, it’s worth noting the recent enhancements to Frontiers of Pandora, which now includes a retroactively added third-person mode. This development serves as a reminder of Ubisoft’s earlier endeavors, showcasing how far the company has come while still paying homage to its roots.
For those curious about the fate of ‘Able’ Ryder, it’s safe to say that his commander had little patience for mishaps. Threatened with a month of latrine duty, Ryder’s subsequent misadventures—crashing his gunship into mountains—suggest that his time during the Avatar films was likely spent not wielding a machine gun, but rather clutching a bottle of Toilet Duck. Such is the unpredictable charm of gaming narratives, where even the most serious missions can lead to hilariously unexpected outcomes.
