The beauties of Soviet - era Russia ca n’t save it from second-rater .
I ’m not certain what I expected when I first launched Atomic Heart . Unlike apparently everyone else , I was quite skeptical after seeing the first trailers . The artistry and music seemed top - mountain pass , but the fight often appeared like a atom fiesta relying on the coolness factor rather than practicality . Even as someone who adores the original F.E.A.R , the particle force seemed pontifical . That ’s not even refer that the trailers give no estimate of just what the game is try out to be . After finally catch my hands on Atomic Heart , my scepticism regrettably seems warrant .
Deciphering the Heart of Atomic Heart
To call the plot of Atomic Heart a mess would be an understatement . From the minute you launch , you ’re forthwith thrust into the plot ’s world . Not in the sense that you ’re immediately get off off to discover endless details about the game domain , but rather you ’re put right into the secret plan as if the entire presentation cutscene was bump off . Rather than being introduce through conventional methods , you ’re overleap in a boat and aside you go . In a prize few cases , that method of just let you experience the world for what it is can be great , yet Atomic Heart instead feel immediately overwhelming , and that experience never stops . setting detail are almost entirely told rather than shown , leaving very little room for drawing conclusions or open you time to digest Modern plot of land details . With such a firm artistic direction behind the game , I was hoping to see a much more flesh - out backstory through that world . At times , even the fundamental account of the chief character P-3 and Facility 3826 feel very similar . Events more often than not find because the plot involve them to happen conveniently , rather than in a path that feels natural . That can be a worthful tool when used in easing for bringing questions , but instead leaves things a confusing mass that lack a lot of narrative depth . Dialogue fares no better , suffering from the pitfalls of modern AAA game in having cringe - desirable or otherwise bizarre lines . P-3 is easily the most egregious of the cluster , throwing out swears every other sentence and flipping between want to know more about the situation and want to order his allies to shove it with the snap of a finger . This has the added welfare of being so regretful that it ’s sometimes hilarious , but also makes P-3 perhaps the most unlikeable protagonist in a long metre . If he ’s nothing brusk of an ass 50 % of the prison term , it ’s hard to empathize with him . Atomic Heart does n’t have the bad story I ’ve ever played , but it ’s easily up there . So much of the writing feels like a teenager finding out what a swear is for the first time , include but not limited to “ where ’s the damn - ass way out of here ? ! ” . The story itself is n’t any better , being punishing to follow and often misplace any common sense whatsoever .
A One-Man Soviet Army
While I did just spend a portion of prison term shoot down Atomic Heart to shreds , I have to give at least some acknowledgment to the gameplay loop . It ’s lacking a pot of things and I ’ll get to that , but some vista find genuinely substantial . The arsenal is a standout , feeling somewhat modest liken to other games but offering a ton of diversity from weapon to weapon . Even the pistols , weapon often considered pointless after the introduction of other games , still have a purpose afterward on for cleaning up smaller targets . The added “ polymer ” ability confuse plenty of option into the mix as well . you could only have two power at a meter , but there ’s plenty of elbow room to make for with different toy and experimentation . If you want to set foeman on flame , freeze them , or thrust them into the melody , you have more than enough opportunities for fine - tuning your loadout . This setup can finger broken from clip to time , but I ’d rather it be broken than want imagery . These things , combined with utile combat abilities such as plenty of dodges , make for an pleasurable combat stream that flourish when dealing with several enemy . Mastering your chosen loadout can make you feel like a material badass at times , especially when up against the game ’s unbelievably unique boss designs . Each of them pop the question assume visuals alongside define strengths and weaknesses .
“ The gameplay flow of Atomic Heart can palpate satisfying correctly up until its concluding moments , but it lacks that supernumerary level of depth that would make the experience feel complete . ”
Though all of this does occur with drawback . The bad of which is the absence of any interesting stealth mechanics . Atomic Heart often rede you to go sneaky in situations , yet yield the bare minimum to do so while slow up onward motion to a crawl . None of the polymer abilities give any variety of stealth benefit , and kick in that execute targets takes forever , you ’re better off just running and gun your mode through if you ’re face to have play . Similarly to stealth , side content feels even more barebones . During a small incision of the game , you get this massive area to search with various “ Testing Ground ” localization to find attachments in . These are all incredibly similar and extend simple , irksome puzzles in the way of your scratch . Now , the puzzles in the game itself are far too well-to-do , though puzzles in the Testing Ground incision have the added effect of being exceedingly tedious . Combine all this with the fact you could only get at these side areas for that small section , and it reeks of being half - baked . The gameplay flow of Atomic Heart can finger satisfying right up until its final consequence , but it lacks that excess storey of depth that would make the experience feel complete . If the side content was go to feel partially developed to bestow some level of open - man , the squad would ’ve been unspoilt off just make the full experience one-dimensional with the odd side path for quality missionary station .
Technological Advancement Clashing With Brutalist Architecture
While other parts of the game have issues here and there , it ’s rare to see Atomic Heart give way in its atmosphere . Being Russian themselves , developer Mundfish secure that every bit of Soviet - earned run average Russia is bring to life with technological advancement seeping into every flake of its society . The brutalist computer architecture of labs and factories clashes with read/write memory - shackle houses strewn across the countryside , giving the plot a uniquely potent identity . Not for a second am I not wowed by whatever beauty it has to throw at me . As a monolithic DOOM fan , it ’s born that I make out the soundtrack composed by the ever - skilled Mick Gordon . His more iconic sound metal tracks are few and far between , but when they reach , they hit firmly . They also complement the selective habit of Soviet music and classical tunes surprisingly well , despite being extremely far from one another . While I wish I ’d seen more of his iconic identity infused into the score , it ’s likely for the better this game is n’t just Atomic Doom ( though that is a badass name).Related : How Long Has Atomic Heart Been in Development – AnsweredWhat I ca n’t give praise for is how polished the experience is . At least for launching , the game is often marred by proficient emergence including more than enough crashes at key moments . One key example is the fact that enemies ca n’t make their way through doors , though are still capable to walk into them and are attackable through said doors . Post - launching is probable to fix a bit of this , though be ready for technical problems galore should you jump in on day one .
Conflicting Rhythms
Atomic Heart has its moments , with its artistic instruction and combat menses carrying much of the earlier hours . If you ’re not the case to enjoy games based on that alone then , unfortunately , there are many fundamental problems with the game that ca n’t be press out with post - launch patches . Its plot of ground is quite awful , and much of the geographic expedition face feels tacked on without adding anything . The larger distance than most game of its type does n’t facilitate it hold up either . While the heart inside Atomic Heart beats , it ’s more often than not with a very weak pulse rate .
Pros :
con game :
Image via Mundfish.
Score: 5.5/10
A transcript of this game was provided by the publisher for revue . Reviewed on PC .
Image via Mundfish
Image via Mundfish
Image via Mundfish.
