As I played through Rebellions‘ new game Atomfall, I found myself cycling through many thoughts and emotions. The game is ridiculous, punishing, confusing, fascinating, frustrating, gorgeous, quirky, and above all, very British. In the end I am truly glad I played it, but can’t quite convince myself I loved it.
Set during the early days of the Cold War, Atomfall is set in the aftermath of a mysterious nuclear catastrophe that has inexplicably ravaged rural Britain. The game starts with our character waking in a bunker with no memories and being handed a cryptic message to find the Interchange and deal with Oberon, a mysterious name that needs to be investigated and discovered.
Game Quickly Gets to the Point
One thing I found very refreshing about this game is how quickly it gets to it’s point; if enemies are avoided, the Interchange is found very quickly, as is a mysterious stranger warning about Oberon. However, getting to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding this slice of Britain walled in to protect from the atomic disaster takes patience, a lot of exploring, and a great deal of dying.
This is when the comparisons started coming to me. Atomfall is like if Fallout, Deathloop, and The Long Dark were put in the teleporter from the fly and mixed with a healthy dose of 1960’s British attitude. There is crafting, exploring, gun mechanics, sloppy leveling, and skill progression, and a lot of backtracking and learning from mistakes to get ahead.
Brutal Default Challenge Settings
The game at the default challenge settings are brutal until more weapons and skills are discovered. For my first 5 or so hours, I was killed as roaming bands swarmed me until I learned to hide or when I finally got better guns. The difficulty curve of the game veers wilder than the stock market during the last few US administrations and, while it was certainly frustrating at times, it sure felt good when I survived a nasty section of the game.
Essentially, Atomfall compels you to move around the various maps, talk to the main factions that are working against each other, and choose how to work with them or play the off each other. The eventual goal is to escape the exclusion zone in one piece and, since the character has no memory, I found myself not really caring who I messed with as long as I came out on top.
Taking Out a Group of Bandits
A perfect example is when I finally got some weapons and was able to take out a group of bandits. I was on my toes, and had some clues for where the crucial atomic batteries were stashed (needed to open up the Interchange). Heading out, I spotted a lone soldier; screw this, I thought to myself, and took her out with a well placed head-shot. Well, she was the local friendly trader and sure enough I could loot her body and get the much needed battery.
This is Atomfall in a nutshell. As long as no one sees it, whatever you do is fine. Kill villagers as they have some information you need? Sure. Betray The Protocols commander to another faction; definitely, as long as you get what you need from him first. The game is all about doing what you need to do and, while it seems very loose in its consequences, it kind of fits with the environment and lawlessness of the experience.
Somehow Liberating
In order to survive, backstab, literally murder, escape prisons, and unlock the Interchange weapons that need to be found, items must be crafted and key groups need to be sweet talked. Doing all of this can be frustrating, but also somehow liberating as there are very literal shackles on the game as you discover where you can go and what you can do.
Exploring this slice of Britain thankfully looks gorgeous with a fantastic art design that melds majestic scenery with decaying landmarks and military outposts. There were many moments I just looked around in awe as I contemplated my next move in the stunning world of Atomfall.
While I have compared the game to many other experiences, Atomfall,is a unique offering that puts it’s cards on the table quickly and exposes both ugly and refreshing qualities confidently.
Dr. Who Meets The X-files
The game is gorgeous but has an oddly off-putting audio presentation. The gun-play is, well fine, but the skills mechanics are very weak and hard to progress. The story occasionally gets riveting in a Dr. Who meets The X-Files way, then meanders as new characters are introduced then sidelined.
Overall, Atomfall is a refreshing and unabashedly unique take on the survival first person style of games and, while it is not a masterpiece, it is a compelling experience. I feel this will be a game that people who even don’t like it will still want to talk about it, and those that love it will adore it with a cult like fervor. In my mind that makes it a game well worth checking out despite it’s challenges and flaws.
Atomfall is available right now for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store.
