Atomfall Massacre: One Man's Deadly Rampage

Join me on a thrilling journey through the English countryside, or rather, 90 minutes immersed in the world of Atomfall, the latest survival-action game from the creators of Sniper Elite, Rebellion. Recently, I found myself in a North London pub, not just for a pint but for some hands-on time with the game, and I left both intrigued and somewhat bewildered by Atomfall’s open-ended mission design and its haunting atmosphere. My experience took a violent turn as I, perhaps unwisely, decided to swing my cricket bat at everyone in sight, including an innocent old lady. Let me walk you through why this happened.

In Atomfall, every NPC is fair game for your attacks, whether they're a minor grunt or a crucial quest-giver. As I began my demo, I set out to test this feature. My approach was far from subtle; within minutes of exploring the digital version of Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire alarm, forcing me to dispatch three guards using nothing but a cricket bat. This weapon, drenched in blood, became my close companion in this chaotic exploration.

Later, I acquired a bow and arrow, satisfying my penchant for archery in video games. With this, I was equipped for both long and short-range combat, allowing my cricket bat a much-needed break. The landscape revealed a towering wicker man, a clear reference to folk horror themes that underpin the eerie atmosphere of Atomfall's world, segmented into various "open zones." This unsettling environment amplifies the overarching mystery: what catastrophe befell this now-irradiated corner of England?

My musings were interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They served as perfect targets for my new bow. As I took them down one by one, I couldn't help but feel like Robin Hood. However, my surroundings quickly reminded me I was still in a London pub, and it was only 10am.

The bow was enjoyable to use, but what truly captured my interest was Atomfall's innovative stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, the game uses a heart rate monitor that escalates with physical exertion. For instance, sprinting increases your heart rate, making it challenging to aim accurately when you suddenly need to fight. I later discovered a Bow Mastery skill manual, which offers a perk to mitigate the effects of a high heart rate on drawing the bowstring. While the skill tree might not be the most complex, it allows for customization of your character's abilities, catering to preferences like stealth or gunplay.

Atomfall Screenshots

13 Images

With my only notable achievement being a trail of dead druids, you might wonder about my overarching goal. Truthfully, so did I. My aimless wandering through Casterfall Woods hadn't uncovered anything significant, so I followed a quest lead pointing to a herbalist named Mother Jago, near an old mine. The journey was punctuated by subtle hints of a larger narrative, such as a shimmering, oily anomaly over a power plant, the supposed epicenter of Britain's post-apocalyptic state, and a creepy phone call warning me to avoid the woods.

The path was dotted with intriguing environmental storytelling elements, like a boathouse rigged with an eerie alarm and a painted warning to "get lost." Atomfall's atmosphere shifts from serene forests to zones of terror, drawing comparisons not just to Fallout but more aptly to the Stalker series, both in tone and game design. The game encourages thorough exploration and conversation, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, as I discovered when meeting Mother Jago. Despite her enigmatic attire, reminiscent of Angela Lansbury dabbling in dark magic, she offered little clarity on the mystery. After exhausting all dialogue options, she hinted at valuable information in exchange for her herbalism book, currently held hostage by the druids in their castle.

Atomfall’s freeform design allowed me to approach the druid castle from any angle. Opting for a side attack, I encountered a patrol near an abandoned petrol station. The ensuing "Battle of the Forecourt" was sparked by a well-placed grenade, though the AI's lack of evasive tactics was noticeable. The visceral satisfaction of combat, however, made up for it, as I navigated through a hail of arrows to reach and confront the enemy head-on. While the combat might not be the game's strongest suit, it serves as an engaging distraction from the main focus: unraveling the world's secrets.

Inside the castle, I navigated the outer walls and stumbled upon a locked hut, with a note suggesting the key lay far to the southeast. Atomfall eschews objective markers, instead tasking players to study their maps and set their own markers. Ignoring the hut, I ventured into the central keep, searching for the elusive book. Despite thorough exploration, I found only crafting materials and no sign of the book, highlighting Atomfall's challenging and sometimes frustrating mission design.

Following a clue to the southeast, I encountered a poison plant monster that proved nearly invincible to my rifle. Employing my Skyrim-honed bunny-hopping skills, I bypassed the creature to retrieve the keys from a previous victim. Back at the hut, I found perks and ammo but no herbalism book.

Venturing deeper into the castle's underbelly, I eliminated the High Priestess and her followers, uncovering an SMG, poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery hinting at a new questline. Yet, the book remained elusive.

After my demo ended, I learned the book was actually on a table inside the castle, one I had missed. Convinced the book was a ruse, I returned to confront Mother Jago, only to kill her in frustration. In her belongings, I found a recipe to combat the poison swamp monster, the very information she promised in exchange for the book.

Atomfall's developers suggest a playtime of 25 hours for most players, with the potential for varied experiences. My fellow demo participant had an entirely different adventure, encountering killer robots and mutants. While some might find the objectives too obscure, Atomfall rewards those who delve deep into its mysterious world, blending side and main quests to create unique narratives.

Despite my violent spree and the unfortunate end for Mother Jago, I'm eager to see how my story unfolds. For now, I'll embrace my inner Brit, take my cricket bat, and head to the pub, waiting for the dust to settle on this irradiated adventure.