Atomic Heart Enchantment Under the Sea Review – Return to Form

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In this review of Atomic Heart’s Enchantment Under The Sea DLC 3, we delved into Mundfish’s latest expansion for the Atomic Heart narrative. Continuing the tale post its second DLC, our protagonists P-3 and Blesna traverse through familiar and fresh environments on a quest to retrieve the Beta Connectors. Notably, the standout feature of this DLC is the Neptune Complex, which evokes a sense reminiscent of Rapture from Bioshock. However, we question whether this latest expansion provides an equally enjoyable experience.

Atomic Heart Enchantment Under The Sea DLC Review – What is DLC 3?

The third expansion, titled “Enchantment Under the Sea,” is part of Mundfish’s four DLCs for their Sci-Fi FPS game, Atomic Heart. You can get it with the Atomic Pass ($39.99) or buy it separately for $9.99 USD. It’s playable on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC through Steam.

WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!

Story – Atomic Heart Enchantment Under The Sea DLC 3 Review

The event “Enchantment Under the Sea” unfolds following the second downloadable content expansion titled “Trapped in Limbo,” consequently occurring after the main game’s extended conclusion. In summary:

1. Game’s second DLC – Trapped in Limbo is completed, leading to…
2. Game’s longer ending is experienced, and then…
3. The event “Enchantment Under the Sea” takes place.

At the culmination of Atomic Heart’s primary storyline, character P-3 faces a pivotal choice with consequences for two different outcomes. He needs to determine whether to join CHAR-les and Granny Zina in challenging Dr. Sechenov, or to walk away from the mission altogether. Choosing to depart results in the Annihilation Instinct (DLC #1), whereas sticking with the mission leads into DLCs 2 and 3.

In Limbo, protagonist P-3 reconnects with his spouse Ekaterina Nechayeva (Agent Blesna). As they journey through this strange realm, their goal is to find a way out and return to the physical world. Along the way, P-3 uncovers secrets about Limbo and discovers that Dr. Sechenov isn’t completely deceased… but not quite dead either. In the end, he successfully escapes Limbo, promising to rescue his wife and exact revenge upon Chariton.

In essence, “Enchantment Under The Sea” continues the tale from where “Limbo” ended. Blesna now functions as an ally within P-3’s glove. Together, they stumble upon Chelomey, a place devastated by Robots. The main objective of this storyline is to retrieve the Beta Connectors, which P-3 discarded during the primary campaign.

From the get-go, I’d like to mention that I’m likely one of those who appreciate P-3’s English dub voice actor. To put it simply, I’m smitten with Plutonium as a character. Despite the hardships he’s faced, he maintains an optimistic demeanor while battling against wickedness. You can’t help but cheer him on because he embodies the best of humanity. He serves as a stark contrast to CHAR-les, who consistently despises humanity. In essence, Plutonium is the ideal representation of virtue in the face of vice.

As a gamer, I’m torn about Agent Blesna. On one side, she plays a crucial part in the narrative and offers a significant role that advances the storyline. Yet, compared to other characters, she doesn’t quite grab my attention as much. It’s challenging to fill CHAR-les’ shoes; he was so intricately crafted and brought life to the game, especially since I’ve been along for the ride since before it even launched.

Blesna lacks the same depth that I found fascinating. Frequently, she quarrels and complains with P-3, making their interactions feel like the bickering of a long-married couple, although I understand they’re married. Still, it wasn’t the relationship dynamics that initially captivated me about Atomic Heart. However, as the DLC progresses, their issues seem to resolve, making it less bothersome. Moreover, three new characters emerge in the DLC, each offering an engaging addition to the storyline.

And on the fun side, Blesna’s interactions with the repair vendor NORA were hilarious.

Following their encounter in Chelomey, P-3, Blesna, and Granny Zina are reunited, a grouping last seen in Annihilation Instinct. Upon discovering that Blesna is still breathing, the trio concoct a strategy to thwart CHAR-les. Zina then sends P-3 and Blesna to the submerged Neptune Complex, while she proceeds with Terentiy towards Chelomey.

As you journey through Neptune Complex, your understanding of the facility, its happenings, and other details deepens. For me, it’s the most engaging part of Atomic Heart when exploring these facilities and discovering how they work. The design and functionality of the facilities in Atomic Heart seem thoughtful and are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. It reminds me a bit of Rapture from Bioshock while still holding true to Atomic Heart’s unique backstory.

The narrative of the DLC becomes more compelling when you encounter the three newcomers: Kolya, Nastya, and the Hunter. Each one seemed a valuable addition. While your mission is to retrieve the rings, P-3 forms an alliance with this threesome to create an escape route. Out of the trio, it’s Kolya who captures our curiosity, as he appears to be harboring secrets.

I enjoy the solitary and secluded atmosphere of the main campaign, but it’s pleasant to have additional characters that enrich the storyline. Since we didn’t find Blesna’s interactions particularly engaging, the others felt like a welcome change. We would look forward to seeing more of these characters in future encounters with P-3 and CHAR-les.

As a gamer, diving into Enchantment Under The Sea has been an absolute treat, marking what I believe to be the most captivating storyline for any Atomic Heart DLC so far. It seamlessly picks up where the game left off, extending the narrative in a way that truly satisfies me. While Blesna may not be quite as intriguing as CHAR-les in my memory, I can’t help but wonder what twists and turns await us in the final DLC for our beloved P-3. If there’s any truth to rumors of Atomic Heart 2 being in development, then bringing back P-3 to battle hordes of robots once more is something we eagerly anticipate!

Gameplay – Atomic Heart Enchantment Under The Sea DLC 3 Review

Enchantment Under The Sea adds new weapons and abilities that add more reason to check it out.

Regarding Glove Skills, we have two options: Whip and Blaze. Whip is essentially a grappling hook that enables P-3 to move towards enemies quickly. Additionally, it serves as a means to access hard-to-reach locations and uncover hidden caches. For speedrun enthusiasts, enhancing this skill will eventually grant P-3 the ability to move at high speeds for short durations, aiding in faster progression.

In summary, it excels at exploration but sees limited use in combat. Boss fights often necessitate using its evasion feature, which is essentially all it’s good for. However, it’s enjoyable to utilize and adds depth to problem-solving, making the game more intriguing.

In battle situations, Blaze’s second skill turned out to be extremely beneficial. In essence, this power enables P-3 to unleash a ball of fire towards the opponent, causing significant harm. With an upgrade, it transforms into a explosive mine that detonates regardless of whether it hits an enemy or not. The wide area damage effect of Blaze makes it particularly effective against the hordes of enemies the game presents you with.

Furthermore, the new weapons include the Thunderclap (melee) and KM-4 Muzmich (Shotgun).

Instead of the Zvezdochka, I found the Thunderclap to be an effective stand-in. It dishes out reasonable damage once enhanced, and its unique feature allows for long-range attacks against foes.

Compared to the KS-23, the Kuzmich seems like an improvement. You can modify the gun’s bullet pattern and boost its firing speed to help you handle hordes of robots more effectively. Its secondary function even launches a grenade that turns out to be handy against some of the DLC’s novel adversaries. However, it should be noted that it won’t make much impact on the DLC’s armored foes, which we’ll discuss later. In summary, I found this weapon enjoyable to use and hope it appears in future updates as well.

As for the roster of adversaries, the Enchantment Under The Sea expansion introduces both familiar faces from the past and a variety of fresh opponents to maintain excitement. You’ll encounter VOV-A6s, Mutants, and other adversaries from the original game. However, this DLC also introduces several new enemies. These include upgraded versions of Rafiks and Rotobots, as well as aquatic enemies such as Trilobites and Octopuses. Familiarize yourself with a host of new adversaries to overcome.

Afterward, you’ll encounter modified crustaceans that are quite formidable. You might find yourself battling hordes of miniature crabs, or colossal ones that inflict heavy damage. These new adversaries provided an enjoyable and novel combat experience. Moreover, some of these enemies necessitated the use of various tools from my collection to defeat them effectively.

In combat, Kuzmich’s Grenade Launcher proved incredibly effective against armored crabs, whereas Blaze is more useful when facing large groups of enemies. If ammo conservation is important, the Thunderclap/Shock Combo consistently delivers results against standard VOV-A6 targets.

In summary, two boss battles were present in the DLC. The initial encounter is against a Robogirl, marking the first time players engage with this robot character. Although she made a brief appearance in the main game, combat never occurred before. This robot was featured prominently in various pre-release videos and was a significant element in Soviet Lunapark VR. As someone who has closely followed the game for years, it’s satisfying to witness Artem Galeev’s iconic designs becoming more integrated into the gameplay experience.

In DLC 3, Atomic Heart frequently combines puzzle-solving with combat encounters, and there’s no scarcity of brain teasers here. On occasion, you’ll assist a Dolphin using a Thought device to maneuver through the facility. Additionally, you’ll delve into the expansive Neptune Complex, offering a pleasant respite from the action. Although the puzzles were relatively simple, they offer a refreshing change of pace.

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in an exciting DLC expansion, where I encountered an intriguing underwater section that’s devoid of combat. Instead, it’s all about stealth as I evade the relentless MOR-4Y – a mechanical beast reminiscent of Burav, but this time swimming beneath the waves. If it spots me, it’s game over. To progress, I must remain hidden and undetected, using every ounce of my gaming skills to navigate this challenging underwater maze.

In addition to its role as the DLC’s ultimate adversary, this Robot is also quite formidable at first, offering a tough challenge. Its move set can be rather erratic, and during the battle, it continuously introduces new attacks against you. All in all, it was an enjoyable fight, but one that requires careful preparation.

My main issue with the gameplay stemmed from a restricted selection of weapons and some technical problems with the Whip. I managed to create a Kalash AK-47, but unfortunately, the additional content primarily offered pistol and shotgun ammunition, so I rarely utilized it. Despite enjoying the Thunderclap, having an alternative melee weapon as an option would have been beneficial.

In summary, the Whip usually functions well, but there are instances where it may not be cooperative. While it generally performs acceptably, it’s important to note that it might not work perfectly every time.

Setting that aside, the Downloadable Content’s gameplay is new, enjoyable, and exactly what we anticipated. No longer are there Counter-Strike-style slides; instead, it’s back to the classic First-Person Shooter excitement!

Sound – Atomic Heart Enchantment Under The Sea DLC 3 Review

In this game, Atomic Heart’s audio quality matches its stunning graphics. Boogrov and Geoffrey Day are back, joined by some fresh talents, to produce a diverse selection of tracks. Moreover, you’ll find a mix of contemporary tunes due to the Radio of the Future’s influence.

To me, what I really enjoy about Atomic Heart’s music is its soothing melodies. The tunes from the PEAR devices and the sounds of the glove collecting items have a distinctive charm that matches the atmosphere of the game perfectly.

Music-wise, Enchantment Under The Sea offers an appealing blend of tunes suitable for the watery atmosphere of the place, as well as for intense action scenes reminiscent of battles.

Graphics – Atomic Heart Enchantment Under The Sea DLC 3 Review

One of the top-notch FPS games currently available is Atomic Heart, and a significant portion of its appeal comes from its exceptional art design. Artem Galeev’s artistic contributions exhibit a creative yet realistic and deliberate touch. The meticulously crafted facilities in Atomic Heart exude thoughtfulness and care, immersing players in a 1950s-inspired vision of the future that feels truly authentic.

As a gamer, diving into the immersive world of Atomic Heart’s Neptune Complex is like stepping into an underwater paradise. The soothing ambiance and tranquil underwater theme make you want to pause, take a moment, and appreciate the vibrant flora around you, if only virtual ones. Despite being able to complete this DLC within 2.5 to four hours, I found myself lingering much longer, lost in the captivating beauty of the surroundings.

The game “Atomic Heart” is sometimes called the “Russian equivalent of Bioshock,” and it’s true that Neptune Complex draws some influence from it. However, Neptune also aligns with the design aesthetic of 3826’s other complexes. In essence, it seems to pay homage to the classic FPS series while maintaining its unique identity within the “Atomic Heart” universe.

No matter if you’re submerged, buried deep, or walking on solid ground, Atomic Heart consistently leaves us awestruck with its stunning visuals.

Verdict: Is Enchantment Under The Sea Worth Your Time & Money?

The Enchantment Under the Sea DLC for Atomic Heart seems like a triumphant revisit to the game’s original charm. It skillfully encapsulates what made Atomic Heart exceptional in its initial release. Additionally, it provides an enjoyable gameplay experience, introducing fresh gadgets to tinker with, a stunning new location to traverse, and a compelling narrative that keeps you captivated until the very end. To top it off, the DLC’s length makes the $10 price tag feel more than fair.

Apart from some minor technical glitches and a somewhat restricted inventory, “Enchantment Under The Sea” is the most impressive Downloadable Content (DLC) released by Atomic Heart so far, leaving us eager for more. We’re particularly intrigued to see how P-3 will seek revenge against CHAR-les. Alternatively, we wouldn’t mind a DLC that continues the story of Annihilation Instinct. Mundfish has demonstrated their ability to create engaging gameplay and a compelling narrative.

Score: 9/10

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2025-02-01 00:10