Atomfall Review: A New Post-Apocalyptic Gem Distinguishing Itself from Fallout

Atomfall is not Fallout. Despite its familiar post-apocalyptic setting, complete with mutants, warring factions, and a crucial bunker at the heart of the plot, Atomfall establishes distinct differences from its far-famed comparator. Set in a 1950’s British countryside, the striking divergence lies in the game’s heart, The Interchange, a locked-down facility players are asked to infiltrate instead of escaping from. 

– Atomfall is an open-world game set in a post-apocalyptic world wherein the player must uncover mysterious leads and unravel a complex, branch-able story.
– The game allows a high degree of freedom and exploration, with its unscripted narrative and quest system being its strongest points, though aspects like stealth combat and resource management can be challenging.
– Despite being a new IP, Atomfall shows potential for a sequel, provided it builds on its intriguing game framework and addresses its gameplay issues.

Despite being compared to Fallout, Atomfall sets itself apart with its unique story and gameplay dynamics. The post-apocalyptic world, created by the developers of Sniper Elite, is completely its own, featuring a rich, open-ended world with various choices and paths for the player to follow. Though aspects like stealth and combat sometimes hamper the game, its intriguing plotline and the general thrill of discovery keep players engaged.

The open-world exploration and story progression set Atomfall apart. As an amnesiac character, you receive mysterious phone calls urging you to destroy “Oberon.” Your quest is to get inside The Interchange, rumored to be the site of a failed science experiment. Simultaneously, the world grapples with repercussions from an unspecified event, resulting in groups forming to restore order.

Unlike conventional games, Atomfall’s narrative progression doesn’t contain a linear central storyline. Instead, it succinctly reveals itself through “leads.” NPCs, audio logs, written notes, and exploration uncover these leads, offering an immersive experience. These could lead to main-story quests, weapons stashes, skill points, or something unanticipated.

The game removes the constraints of time and place, instead leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the player to discover. The adaptability of the world and its story keeps players captivated as each discovery and accomplishment feels hard-earned. Atomfall shines brightest in this aspect; the game engagingly leaves you to define your exploration and story mapping.

The story branches depending on the player’s preferences. Your alignment and decisions influence the path of the story, from choosing to escape the region to aiding various factions—providing an opportunity to experiment with different outcomes through multiple saves.

Despite the game’s robust storytelling and exploration systems, there are drawbacks one can’t ignore. Though intricately designed, the map can be a chore to navigate due to the keen sight of enemies and their unlikely impaired hearing. The unbalanced stealth mechanic disrupts the fluidity of gameplay. The cumbersome gunplay also adds to the game’s shortcomings, making the combat aspects of the game somewhat rough around the edges.

The survival genre elements of Atomfall also contribute to our rating. Although the default difficulty makes combat tough, Atomfall offers an abundance of crafting recipes. However, the balance between crafting materials and storage space proves challenging, as materials outpace storage capacity.

While there are similarities between Atomfall and Fallout, the new IP offers a distinct and engaging gameplay experience. Despite its few shortcomings, Atomfall promises a unique, self-guided story progression and robust world-building. Atomfall is, indeed, Atomfall—unique in its narrative progression and stimulating in its simulation of a shattered world. This intriguing foundation offers a brighter potential for the sequel, Atomfall 2.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.

Atomfall is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X on March 27, 2025.

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