Atomfall transports you into a captivating exploration of England’s serene Lake District, yet it’s far from a casual stroll in nature. Instead, brace yourself for an immersive, nerve-wracking survival tale that maintains its grip on you, despite a few challenges with combat sequences, making it hard to tear yourself away.
For two decades, Atomfall, a game development studio based in the UK, has been crafting exhilarating third-person shooter games with a grisly touch and setting them in France or Germany. Now, they’re heading back to their roots.
2024 saw the announcement of Atomfall, often compared to Fallout in the UK. However, this comparison is rather superficial as it only points out the similarity in the post-nuclear environment reminiscent of Bethesda’s action RPG series. In reality, the game developed by Rebellion is not the same, and despite its imperfections, that might be a positive aspect.
Instead of complex systems and intense battles, the story offers an intriguing enigma set against a beautiful backdrop, which keeps drawing you further into its perilous realm as you explore it more.
Atomfall screenshots
What is Atomfall about?
Immediately captivating, Atomfall’s narrative pulls you in seamlessly. You find yourself stirring within a bunker nestled within the Quarantine Zone, five years after the Windscale nuclear incident in northern England. Your past is a blank slate to you, and as you step out into the expansive landscape, your curiosity drives you to uncover the truth behind the events that transpired. Notably, a cryptic voice over a phone instructs you on a mission: locate The Interchange and eliminate Oberon.
If you find yourself puzzled by all of this information, don’t fret. Over the next 15 hours or so, expect to delve deeply into discovering the details behind these events, leading to a conclusion that provides resolution, although it may not include any unexpected surprises (at least in the ending I experienced).
In this game, you won’t find obvious signs or question marks guiding your way. Instead, you’re encouraged to explore freely, uncover hidden notes, and chat with the eccentric residents for hints.
All your discoveries are consolidated into the Leads section, a convenient space where all your findings are stored for easy access, preventing you from misplacing your work while still allowing you to tackle them in any sequence that suits you. Feel free to delve deep into each location and engage with every settler you encounter.
In this scenario, both the principal goal and ancillary tasks intertwine subtly, making it possible that even what appears to be an insignificant action could lead to a crucial discovery or earn you goodwill from someone who may prove valuable in the future.
Atomfall’s most notable asset lies in its immersive quality. The thrill of accidentally uncovering crucial evidence or convincing a character to unlock a restricted zone is tangible, leaving you feeling brilliant when that “eureka!” moment finally arrives.
In a less engaging setting, these events might not hold much interest, but the picturesque Cumbrian landscapes, adorned with undulating hills and babbling brooks, make even the prospect of being almost assassinated delightful. The series Rebellion successfully encapsulates the charming ambiance of the region, and the quaint village stores and cozy traditional pubs instantly invite warmth — though it goes without saying that the presence of angry Druids and glowing monsters should be noted as exceptions to this warm welcome.
Combat is harsh but dull
This isn’t just a leisurely walk through the countryside; it’s quite the opposite. The green paths and hidden subterranean passages teem with peril, from bandits wielding cricket bats to researchers infected with some terrifying disease who lumber toward you as relentlessly as a silent Terminator.
This isn’t a peaceful countryside ramble; it’s a hazardous journey. The grassy trails and concealed underground tunnels are teeming with danger, from outlaws brandishing cricket bats to infected scientists who advance menacingly like silent Terminators.
Luckily, you’ve got quite a few weapons at your disposal for self-defense, primarily old shotguns and rifles found in the wilderness. The issue is that ammunition is hard to come by, and enemies can quickly overpower you if you’re not cautious, making every encounter tense and nerve-wracking.
You’re not a super soldier, so it can be incredibly harsh when you’re still getting the hang of things. What makes it even more challenging is that accessing your inventory doesn’t pause the game, which means managing health restoration or curing status effects like bleeding, infection, and burn during battle is nearly impossible.
This relentless design turned every choice and interaction into a matter of survival. Unfortunately, it resulted in some aggravating situations where I sustained injuries from stabs or caught an infection due to a Feral’s long-range attack. In such instances, I realized that there was no way out and accepted the inevitable consequences.
Considering this, I chose to attempt avoiding conflicts whenever feasible, instead leaning towards a more covert playstyle that seemed fitting for the gameplay.
In other words, during confrontations or shootouts, combat seemed quite uneventful. However, hand-to-hand fighting quickly became chaotic with us wielding hatchets haphazardly against one another. The only tactic I could employ effectively was timing a kick to throw my opponent off balance. Strategy was scarce as the more conventional firearms were functional but awkward to operate, often necessitating a lengthy reload that made me wish my character would hurry up.
In the course of the campaign, there are several abilities to discover which may alleviate some of the challenges later, yet none that fundamentally alter the dynamics of each battle. This is a story of perseverance for an ordinary person facing immense hardship – it’s not a complex RPG designed for crafting a unique gameplay style.
It’s far from Fallout, and that’s ok
Instead of being constantly compared to Fallout, Atomfall establishes itself as an engaging science fiction enigma all on its own. The riveting narrative and immersive environment make it simple to overlook its flaws, and the absence of excessive guidance is a welcome departure that games like Elder Scrolls or Assassin’s Creed could learn from.
The fight scenes aren’t as smooth as those depicted in Stalker or RPGs like Fallout that it seems to have taken inspiration from. Also, the challenging difficulty level can get annoying when all you want is to travel from one point to another. However, despite having finished the game, I find myself eagerly anticipating re-entering this world and unraveling some of the remaining plotlines to see where they lead me on my next adventure.
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2025-03-21 17:19