Biscarrosse
Interesting game. Flow is average. Only one ramp.
Need more time on it.
Stern
Avatar (Pro) Pinside Rating
This game received 160 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.365 /10
Avatar (Pro)
Top 100 ranking
This game ranks 2nd in the game group "Avatar". The group itself ranks #104 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.135
Artwork: 7.719
Sounds/Music: 7.386
Other Aspects: 7.128
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 5 of us have rated this game.
This title is part of group: "Avatar"
Found 113 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 113 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 5.
List options
8.720/10
6 years ago
Westminster, CO
If you liked the movie this game is awesome. The rules are pretty unique in that you have to start and hopefully complete modes to get to the wizard mode "The Final Battle". Stacking modes with certain multiballs is crucial and quite the challenge. Sounds and speech are top notch, 3D translight is one of a kind, playfield and cabinet art are very representative of the movie. Changing the GI lighting to light and dark blues with some UV's gives you that Pandora look and is the only game for me that good in colored GI. This game is great and glad to have it in my line up.
7.417/10
7 years ago
I really liked the movie so naturally I was drawn to the pin. Nice backglass and cabinet art. The game was fun to play and did relate to the theme/bring up some memories of the film. I would definitely consider adding one to my collection if I had the extra room. . .
4.890/10
7 years ago
A decent machine I guess, but the fun factor is definitely near to zero (I admit the theme is not ideal for that). I got bored very quickly, even though I became Grand Champion on it (factory highscores, so not a big deal). But it really lacks of interest and variety. And, on location, the replay value is incredibly low, but it's almost impossible to get an extra ball: not the best for players who want to go deeper and explore the ruleset.
An other typical thing that really bugged me: you launch the ball, aiming for the skillshot, it goes in the bumpers for a few seconds, then it drains SDTM. Too bad, no ball save anymore. Very frustrating, and even more stupid as this machine is visibly aimed to casual and novice players.
An other typical thing that really bugged me: you launch the ball, aiming for the skillshot, it goes in the bumpers for a few seconds, then it drains SDTM. Too bad, no ball save anymore. Very frustrating, and even more stupid as this machine is visibly aimed to casual and novice players.
9.800/10
8 years ago
the most cool pinball I try, soft music, soft colors , ramps are very easy to climb, it's a very interesting machine with a game play very deap and very difficult to finish ....not in his place in this classement must be on the top 50 sincerely ....
8.008/10
8 years ago
Unbelievable to me that this is not in the top 100......I love the game and some of the best callouts in pinball.
7.981/10
8 years ago
Avatar is a notoriously simplistic modern Stern game. Despite this simplicity, it is a solid game that is built for controlled/skilled players. Flailing only leads to ball drains here, and the game is absolutely punishing as a result. Some may not enjoy this one because of that aspect, but to everyone else, give it time and it will likely grow on you.
Rules-wise, Avatar is an enigma in that there is more to do here than what initially meets the eye, but there's still not enough meat in the end to make it last in a small collection. The playfield itself is limiting to a degree, but there could have been so much more done with the existing rules already in the game to make it constantly interesting. Still, in order to play well you need to know what everything does in detail, otherwise you are not going to pull off a decent score. Without knowing the fine details of each mode, you also might not have much of a chance in ever making it to the wizard mode, the most lucrative scoring mode in the game.
Mode stacking is Avatar's strongest aspect and it is one of the few games I can think of where you can stack every single main mode in the game together--Seeds, Banshee, Bomber Battle, Navi Scoring, Link Multiball and Ampsuit Multiball. When you string all of this together it really feels amazing (and the points flow as a result). From a casual perspective, being able to start both main multiballs together is a great thing. If you are scared to go for the Amp Suit in single ball play (that magnet can really whip the ball around unpredictably), start up Link instead since it's safer, then bring in Amp Suit during the safety of Link.
Playfield-wise, I can't ask for much more on Avatar other than more intricate rules better built for the layout. The layout is simple, but at least everything on the table has a worthwhile purpose (Seeds being the weakest part, but from a mode completion perspective it is fine). My only wish is there being something more to the one ramp. I don't mind there being one ramp on the game, but I wish more modes utilized it.
Sound-wise Avatar does an amazing job. This is easily one of the best audio packages Stern has put together, even if some of the callouts are taken straight from the film (others, like the main antagonist, were recorded specifically for this game. Sweet!). The cabinet and backglass are incredible as well for a Stern game and look beautiful. The playfield only looks so-so, but when you're playing you really don't notice.
For me, Avatar is a game that demands patience as it can be very brutal. Methodical play and planning if you plan on making it to the Final Battle and it's this aspect that kept it interesting in the first month-and-a-half of owning it. However, a limiting ruleset turned it into being a rather repetive game when it came to the replay value in the second month-and-a-half I owned it. If you just want to step up to a game, bat the ball around and not think much, Avatar can be fun, but even then don't expect it to be easy.
Edit on 8/25/2015 -
I have now sold the game and updated my rating as a result. I thoroughly enjoyed it while I had it, but after achieving the Final Battle 20 times or more, it just became repetitive for me in my small collection of pins. More thought into it also made me realize that the character inserts don't do anything, and there are a lot of little other gameplay and scoring tweaks that could have been made to allow the game to truly flourish. Multiple wizard modes would have been a great start, but fleshing out other neat ideas (like The Bond hurry-ups) and adding a diverter on the orbits could have really made the game one of Stern's best in the same category as something like Iron Man.
Rules-wise, Avatar is an enigma in that there is more to do here than what initially meets the eye, but there's still not enough meat in the end to make it last in a small collection. The playfield itself is limiting to a degree, but there could have been so much more done with the existing rules already in the game to make it constantly interesting. Still, in order to play well you need to know what everything does in detail, otherwise you are not going to pull off a decent score. Without knowing the fine details of each mode, you also might not have much of a chance in ever making it to the wizard mode, the most lucrative scoring mode in the game.
Mode stacking is Avatar's strongest aspect and it is one of the few games I can think of where you can stack every single main mode in the game together--Seeds, Banshee, Bomber Battle, Navi Scoring, Link Multiball and Ampsuit Multiball. When you string all of this together it really feels amazing (and the points flow as a result). From a casual perspective, being able to start both main multiballs together is a great thing. If you are scared to go for the Amp Suit in single ball play (that magnet can really whip the ball around unpredictably), start up Link instead since it's safer, then bring in Amp Suit during the safety of Link.
Playfield-wise, I can't ask for much more on Avatar other than more intricate rules better built for the layout. The layout is simple, but at least everything on the table has a worthwhile purpose (Seeds being the weakest part, but from a mode completion perspective it is fine). My only wish is there being something more to the one ramp. I don't mind there being one ramp on the game, but I wish more modes utilized it.
Sound-wise Avatar does an amazing job. This is easily one of the best audio packages Stern has put together, even if some of the callouts are taken straight from the film (others, like the main antagonist, were recorded specifically for this game. Sweet!). The cabinet and backglass are incredible as well for a Stern game and look beautiful. The playfield only looks so-so, but when you're playing you really don't notice.
For me, Avatar is a game that demands patience as it can be very brutal. Methodical play and planning if you plan on making it to the Final Battle and it's this aspect that kept it interesting in the first month-and-a-half of owning it. However, a limiting ruleset turned it into being a rather repetive game when it came to the replay value in the second month-and-a-half I owned it. If you just want to step up to a game, bat the ball around and not think much, Avatar can be fun, but even then don't expect it to be easy.
Edit on 8/25/2015 -
I have now sold the game and updated my rating as a result. I thoroughly enjoyed it while I had it, but after achieving the Final Battle 20 times or more, it just became repetitive for me in my small collection of pins. More thought into it also made me realize that the character inserts don't do anything, and there are a lot of little other gameplay and scoring tweaks that could have been made to allow the game to truly flourish. Multiple wizard modes would have been a great start, but fleshing out other neat ideas (like The Bond hurry-ups) and adding a diverter on the orbits could have really made the game one of Stern's best in the same category as something like Iron Man.
7.351/10
9 years ago
Kettering
Played a very nice and well cared for version of this game at a local meet not long ago which certainly helped but this game just doesn't do it for me. The playfield feels very bare and the ramps all seem to hug the edge of the game which looks a bit odd. Stern could have done a bit more with this license to make it so much better.
Richmond Hill, ON
8.106/10
9 years ago
Very underrated. I played it on a whim (knowing it was considered a dog). Really enjoyed it. Probably spent more time and money on this one than any other while at Disney World.
8.239/10
9 years ago
Acquired our Avatar on the 8th June 2014. Came with mirror chrome backbox hinges, side rails, lockdown bar and coindoor. It sure plays really fast, rules not TZ deep but still enough to do to hold the interest.
Really nice sound package in this pin. Great music and custom callouts are fun and motivating. Decent light shows and flasher positioning is spot on. May not be my keeper, but will have fun and enjoy it while it lasts.
Really nice sound package in this pin. Great music and custom callouts are fun and motivating. Decent light shows and flasher positioning is spot on. May not be my keeper, but will have fun and enjoy it while it lasts.
8.112/10
10 years ago
Almere
This is a type of game that grows on you !
At first it looks to open and 1 ramp ??
But it the game in general is very nice and the rules are balanced and challenging.
Go for it and play more than a few games and you will see how this games come to life.
At first it looks to open and 1 ramp ??
But it the game in general is very nice and the rules are balanced and challenging.
Go for it and play more than a few games and you will see how this games come to life.
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