February 2025 was a significant month for game releases, featuring three major titles: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Avowed, and Monster Hunter Wilds. March continues the trend with several highly anticipated games scheduled for release. The month began with Split Fiction, followed by WWE 2K25, and The First Berserker Khazan from Korean studios Neople and Nexon. At the end of the month, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch, which I have nearly completed. Another notable game releasing on March 27, 2025, is Atomfall. I had the chance to play the final version alongside the developers a few weeks ago and will be sharing my captured 4K PC gameplay. Often compared to Fallout, STALKER, and BioShock due to its English countryside setting, narrative, and gameplay, can these comparisons hold up? Let’s explore together.
NOT SO GREAT BRITAIN
As is often the case with scenarios related to nuclear disasters, our setting is within a well-established contaminated zone characterized by significant radiation levels, which leads to erratic behavior in individuals and frequently deformed creatures. Our journey commences five years after the catastrophe, at what appears to be a seemingly stable equilibrium for the surviving population. However, as players, we find ourselves arriving as strangers with amnesia, prompting us to question the mental state of those we encounter. It becomes evident through our progression that these individuals seek our demise and are resolute in their intent.I am uncertain of the exact moment my gaming session began, but the adversaries were notably aggressive, attacking in coordinated groups without hesitation to engage us physically. Fortunately, I was well-armed with options including an axe, a cricket bat, or a rusty rifle, albeit lacking ammunition for the latter.
Atomfall is a survival-oriented game in which firearms play a secondary role. Instead, mastering melee combat, especially utilizing a powerful front kick that can push and momentarily stun enemies, is essential. Players must also keep track of their health and stamina levels. While weapons may be scavenged from fallen foes or bare hands can serve as defensive tools, retreating when the danger becomes overwhelming is not seen as dishonorable; players have the option to hide in tall grass or caves. The underground areas feature zone loading, allowing for genuine evasion of enemies.
GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF, COCO
Atomfall remains an open-world game, though it struggles to conceal its loading times, possibly due to Rebellion Studio’s first attempt at developing an open world with their in-house engine, Asura. This engine excels for Sniper Elite games but shows limitations when applied to more ambitious projects. Nevertheless, the British studio intends to compensate for these drawbacks through other elements, such as vibrant characters and dialogues that are quintessentially British, capable of discussing the weather even while a massive semi-obscured blue vortex looms in the sky. The story and narration in Atomfall are constructed around interconnected puzzles and clues that must be pieced together. These clues can be followed in any order, although they are all interlinked, without requiring traditional quests or complex quest design. This approach offers several benefits, primarily allowing players to tailor their experience and providing cost-effective production needs by eliminating the necessity for elaborate quest sequences or cinematic cutscenes.
In any case, offering less directive open worlds is the current trend. Players are now familiar with Ubisoft-style formulas and prefer not to be guided extensively through games. To differentiate itself, Atomfall will introduce bartering as a key feature, which is rarely used today. In this game, resources are scarce and traditional currency is unnecessary; therefore, all trading takes place through bartering. Securing favorable deals with traders can be essential for survival. For example, one player might need food and medical supplies, while another requires weapons, thus changing the dynamics of interaction within the game.
Crooked Atoms?
If Atomfall is often compared to Fallout, it is primarily due to its atmosphere and universe rather than its gameplay mechanics. Unlike Bethesda’s game, Atomfall is not an RPG; however, it does incorporate some RPG elements in a distinctly different manner. The game leans more towards being an exploration and survival experience, similar to STALKER, with a progression system tailored to this style. One notable feature of Atomfall is the choice players have regarding whether to kill or spare enemies. According to the developers, it is possible to complete the game without killing anyone, which presents a unique challenge that speedrunners may attempt to demonstrate. Despite comparisons to well-established titles like Fallout and STALKER, Atomfall aims to differentiate itself with its own distinctive offerings. Mark your calendar for March 27th to experience this for yourself!
