Upon arriving at the camp and convening with old friends, from Nesim and Nefika to Teylan and So’lek, one of the high points of the base game swims over you. The immersion into the culture, listening to random conversations and enthusiasm over the games, and interacting with the Zakru (even if a sequence involves moving one for the sake of recovering…cheese). It’s all as endearing as ever and makes you appreciate the sheer dedication to capturing the culture. Sure, Mokasa the traitor is back because of loneliness or something, but then you get to the Great Games.

"I’m torn on the overall direction of the plot because this effectively takes place after the base game’s events. Yet it feels like the writing is reusing plot points, like violence against the Zakru and general distrust among the humans."

Or rather, game. After that, it’s off to investigate an abandoned facility to learn that the RDA is keeping tabs on you potentially planning something against them. It immediately leads to an attack on the campsite, resulting in tragedy and an obnoxious title drop to remind you that you’re playing The Sky Breaker. After a few days, the protagonist awakens and is on the move, again in the familiar cycle of battling RDA mechs, clearing out their camps, and discovering the occasional skill point and wind flute to tune. That initial opening almost feels like a distant memory; the Great Games a meaningless distraction.

I’m torn on the overall direction of the plot because this effectively takes place after the base game’s events. Yet it feels like the writing is reusing plot points, like violence against the Zakru and general distrust among the humans. And while the whole “Somehow the RDA returned” is from the movies, it feels even more underwhelming here.

How convenient that immediately after learning that the RDA are up to no good, they should immediately launch an attack as soon as you return. Even more convenient is that it knocks you out of commission for a few days, providing ample opportunities to set up new camps to clear out. There’s a fine line between coincidence and contrived, and The Sky Breaker dances back and forth on it.

While the base game leaned on several well-worn open-world tropes, its narrative at least offered some genuinely interesting moral conflicts. The kidnapping of the Sarentu and their sudden release into the wilderness of Pandora, doing their best to make sense of everything. Their reconnection with the culture of their clan and many others.

"I couldn’t tell you anything interesting about the “new” RDA lieutenants, aside from having more health. Sadly, Massive couldn’t even deliver a unique final boss to cap the story."

Those are all pretty much absent here, and the protagonist is little more than John (or Jane) – exploring the world and laying waste to the RDA, whose resistance ranges from laughable to unbalanced, depending on how much healing you have available. Even Mokasa’s eventual redemption feels under-cooked. The funniest part of all this is that after dealing so much damage to the RDA in the base game, you’re not even one of their prime targets here.

I did appreciate not having to liberate some enemy camps before assailing a core base, and the latter offered more of a stealth experience, which was also fine. Unfortunately, the average camp liberation experience remains relatively unchanged from the base game, save for perhaps more mechs.

It wouldn’t be that dull if they at least added some more interesting new enemies. There’s a newish mech with a shield and a gatling gun, the latter providing a sizable weak spot to shoot. I couldn’t tell you anything interesting about the “new” RDA lieutenants, aside from having more health. Sadly, Massive couldn’t even deliver a unique final boss to cap the story.

While the gunplay remains responsive, especially as you run around deleting human enemies, it’s often better to run to a guarded location and pelt the mechs with Heavy Bow shots until they keel over. It’s especially preferable against certain types you’re meant to flank and target weak points on their back.

"Outside the relatively short main quest, there are optional side quests and challenges to complete, the latter consisting of things like hunting wildlife with a shotgun or depositing Fine quality materials into the clan basket."

Enemy AI is also just as iffy as the base game at launch. You could blow up helicopters and human enemies continue patrolling, making the average grunts in Metal Gear Solid look intimidating in the process. One mech opted to jump down and try to flank, giving me a high-ground advantage on a silver platter as opposed to, I don’t know, shooting me. Another one, mid-fight, seemingly goes back to search mode before they’re untimely death.

There are occasions where the RDA can be threats, especially when you’re under fire from two flamethrower mechs while other units pelt you from afar and there’s no cover. It sometimes felt like a Power difference, though, especially with how effectively they shredded my health compared to other places.

The hacking does feel like it has more opportunity to shine when puzzle-solving, and things are slightly mixed up when it’s unavailable (key emphasis on “slightly”). The RDA Balloons are also a little different, now requiring you to remain close and fight off airborne foes rather than landing and hacking them. Silver linings and all that.

Outside the relatively short main quest, there are optional side quests and challenges to complete, the latter consisting of things like hunting wildlife with a shotgun or depositing Fine quality materials into the clan basket. The former is also fairly straightforward as you paint roaming Zakru, bring back some distraught ones and clear out other RDA camps.

"The soundtrack is also pretty good, and the voice actors are all on point, delivering strong performances. It’s just that you can only care about the presentation so much when everything else feels underwhelming or lacking."

You can also craft new armor and weapons, but for a DLC that touts the Great Games, I wanted fresher activities (riding around on Direhorse-back and shooting targets is still a nice distraction, though). It would have been nice to have some new abilities – if you’ve maxed out everything, then Skill Points only increment your health, damage and energy. I’m not expecting a Paragon Board that can flip around in multiple ways, but this is simply unexciting.

As down as I am on much of the story direction and content of The Sky Breaker, the presentation is still excellent. The texture work and foliage, the clouds and skyboxes, the lighting and shadows – even the draw distance and animation work are simply gorgeous. The weather effects are also noteworthy, and even if they don’t shake up the gameplay, at least they affect visibility to a degree. The soundtrack is also pretty good, and the voice actors are all on point, delivering strong performances. It’s just that you can only care about the presentation so much when everything else feels underwhelming or lacking.

However, don’t get me wrong – if you enjoyed Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and wanted more content, this may satisfy you. Maybe you like watching that Power level go up while earning slightly better loot, whose uninteresting stats still annoy me. It could just be the comfy filler you need until, well, the next paid DLC.

Considering this is the follow-up to the main game in terms of story, I expected more from The Sky Breaker. Almost everything about the content screams “acceptable but uninspired” – a serviceable but ultimately bland experience. This doesn’t make it outright terrible or mediocre, but it’s not worth going out of your way to experience.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail

A new world awaits in Final Fantasy 14’s new expansion, Dawntrail, as the Warrior of Light ventures to a new continent in Tural. Whether it’s new cities like Tuliyollal and Solution Nine; new Jobs, from the Viper and Pictomancer to the limited Beastmaster; or brand new dungeons, it promises tons of content for long-time players. You even have a new Alliance Raid Series tying into Final Fantasy 11, The Arcadion and the MMO’s first major graphical update. What new story threads will be woven, and how do they connect back to the Twelve? We’ll find out when Dawntrail launches on July 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Zenless Zone Zero

From the developer behind Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact comes a brand new free-to-play action RPG with an over-the-top sense of style. Zenless Zone Zero is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the last bastion of humanity, New Eridu, fights against the Ethereals. Various factions are intertwined in the conflict, and as a Proxy, it’s the player’s job to rally them together on different missions. Featuring fast-paced combat, gorgeous animated visuals and an incredible soundtrack, Zenless Zone Zero could be yet another hit for miHoYo when it launches on July 4th for PS5, PC, iOS and Android.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Ashen developer A44 Games’ next title, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, is a mix of action-adventure, hack and slash, and Souls-like mechanics. Following multiple delays, it’s finally set to launch on July 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. As Nor Vanek, players venture to the City of Dawn after the Great Below’s Door has opened, fighting back against undead forces and other threats. With a flintlock pistol, swords, Nor must fight back and ultimately seal the door. Whether you played the demo or found its trailers intriguing, Flintlock is certainly a dark horse, and we’re looking forward to exploring it.

EA Sports College Football 25

When football gaming needed it most, EA’s College Football series returned. EA Sports College Football 25 launches on July 19th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, featuring several new features like Wear and Tear for more realistic player health over a match. Abilities like Homefield Advantage can influence how well your team performs on the opponent’s turf, and a new kicking meter, trick plays, and more further add to the strategy. It’s been a long wait, but College Football could surpass expectations.

F1 Manager 2024

After the previous entry and its post-launch controversies, Frontier is back with another F1 Manager. There’s a lot new with this year’s iteration, from creating your own team and Mechanical Failures that alter races in unpredictable ways to the Mentality System where your decisions can affect the morale of different drivers. It’s intriguing, for sure, and hopefully, it can make up for its predecessor’s shortcomings. F1 Manager 2024 launches on July 23rd for PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Earth Defense Force 6

Humanity has finally won against its hostile invaders after a seemingly endless series of conflicts, but Earth is much worse off. Of course, another threat emerges as well, and it’s up to the EDF to instill hope back into humanity by slaying hundreds upon hundreds of enemies (as is tradition). Earth Defense Force 6 touts the most number of missions and weapons in the series yet, with online co-op for up to four players. It’s out on July 25th for PS4, PS5 and PC.

The First Descendant

You’ve probably heard this a few times by now, but the future, invaders from another dimension, humanity struggling to survive, and so on. This time, however, it’s a third-person looter shooter from Nexon, where players control the Descendants – humans with strange powers that lead the fight against the Vulgus and the overwhelming Colossuses. Though there are some Destiny influences, The First Descendant also takes hints from modern shooters with its various Descendants and abilities, weapon modding and more. Launching on July 2nd as a free-to-play title, it will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

EvilVEvil

We’re due for a fast-paced first-person shooter in July, and EvilVEvil could be it. As a vampire investigating a conspiracy, players shoot, slice and slay hordes of enemies. Three different classes – Assassin, Berserker and Arcanist – are available, each possessing different vampire abilities. Of course, there’s plenty of firepower to go around, and you can tackle the game solo or with up to two other players. EvilVEvil launches on July 16th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – The Sky Breaker

Though it didn’t enjoy explosive popularity, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora offered a pretty immersive take on the series’ mythos with some compelling action. The Sky Breaker is its first paid DLC, launching on July 16th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, with players venturing to the new Upper Plains. New locations are available to explore, though the RDA isn’t far behind, bringing new lieutenants to the forefront. Nevertheless, with new Legendary items, an increased rank cap and new challenges to complete, The Sky Breaker may be worth returning for.

Asphalt Legends Unite

While Forza and Gran Turismo are more well-known, Gameloft’s Asphalt series has had a pretty dedicated following through the years. Asphalt Legends Unite continues in that vein, serving as a rebranding of Asphalt 9: Legends, with racing clubs, co-op races, and a new Career Mode. There are over 250 Hypercars to unlock, and the series’ signature arcade racing remains intact. Asphalt Legends Unite is available on July 17th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS and Android as a free-to-play title.

Once Human

If you were craving some survival action but with more gunplay, Starry Studio’s Once Human could be worth a look. Out on July 9th for PC, it sees players as Meta-Humans, exploring the remnants of the post-apocalyptic world while fighting against the effects of the Stardust. Fighting mutated creatures and inter-dimensional beings, managing one’s sanity, base-building and more await, along with plenty of guns to customize.

Nobody Wants To Die

New York, 2329. Death is but a memory, as consciousness can exist in memory banks. Of course, it’s far from ideal – a serial killer is going around, hunting more affluent citizens, and it’s your job as detective James Karra to stop them. With gorgeous visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5 and a cyber noir aesthetic, Nobody Wants to Die presents a compelling mystery as players manipulate time and gather clues to arrive at the truth. It launches on July 17th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Flock

Imagine shepherding a flock where creatures of all kinds – sheep, birds and whatnot – can join. That’s more or less the premise of Flock from Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg. Explore the world, discover all the different animals, some rarer than others, and add them to your flock. Maybe encounter some other players doing the same. You can even create scarves, socks and hats from any excess wool. Flock launches on July 16th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC while releasing day one on Game Pass.

Anger Foot

It feels like Anger Foot’s been, well, kicking around for a while now, each new trailer looking more surreal than the last. However, it’s finally launching on June 11th for PC, allowing players to kick doors, enemies and much more to their heart’s content while on a vigilante mission to recover their stolen sneakers. With a focus on clearing levels quickly and multiple pickups to mix things up, Anger Foot could be a surprise hit.

The Sky Breaker will see players once again going up against the RDA. As the Na’vi clans partake in their celebratory Great Games, the festivities are brought to a disastrous and explosive end by an RDA attack, following which it falls to players to go up against the humans and protect the unity of the clans. As you might imagine, that will involve plenty more combat, parkour, and taking on mechs. Check out the DLC’s announce trailer below.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – The Sky Breaker will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on July 16. A second story expansion, Secrets of the Spire, is due out this Fall.

The Sky Breaker is the first story pack, launching in Summer 2024. It follows the nomadic Zeswa Clan, with players discovering new areas in the Upper Plains of Pandora. There’s even a “grand gathering” of clans, which includes a reunion with “old friends” until a mysterious giant shadow in the sky interrupts the festival.

The second story pack is Secrets of the Spire, launching in Fall 2024. It features a new region in the Western Frontier where the RDA’s mining has proven costly, and players will use their Banshee to fight back in aerial combat.

The Season Pass is included with the Gold and Ultimate Editions. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches on December 7th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.