Atomic Heart Review
Atomic Heart is an enticing game in many ways. It combines elements from various other titles, and if you've played them, you'll notice some familiar aspects. It has the supernatural elements of Bioshock, the mechanized gunplay of Wolfenstein, an open-world feel like Halo Infinite, and a sci-fi storyline with plot twists leading to multiple endings akin to Deus Ex.
Overall, Atomic Heart draws inspiration from well-known games but manages to offer a unique and independent gaming experience. It has the potential to become one of the most impressive FPS games of 2023.
The game is set in a fictional past, specifically in 1955 when the Soviet Union became the world's leading superpower, following the ideals of Socialism. With advanced scientific technology, the Soviet Union outpaced its competitors and rose to dominance. Everything in the game takes place in a location known as Facility 3826, where research, development, and production of numerous robots occur. The mastermind behind these cutting-edge scientific endeavors is the eccentric scientist Sechenov.
Sechenov became the genius responsible for propelling the Soviet Union to the top of the world through his groundbreaking inventions, most notably the massive AI neural network known as the Kollective, which granted robots intelligence and freedom from human constraints, aiming for equality. Players step into the shoes of Captain P-3, a former Soviet intelligence officer, and are tasked by Professor Sechenov to investigate and prevent the impending disaster caused by a deliberate sabotage during the unveiling of the upgraded version of Kollective, Kollective 2.0.
In essence, Atomic Heart boasts an intriguing storyline that is abstract yet comprehensible, despite what some trailers might suggest. However, for those eager to delve deeper, the game introduces various scientific and political concepts that pique curiosity. Overall, the game's plot meets the necessary requirements and is fairly straightforward. I'm confident in concluding that most gamers will grasp the events unfolding in Facility 3826.
Atomic Heart indeed features multiple plot twists, including a significant one, along with various smaller side plot twists. The game keeps you moving from one surprise to another, although these twists might not be jaw-dropping, as the game's narrative isn't overly intricate. Therefore, it can be somewhat predictable from a certain perspective. If someone expects the story of Atomic Heart to be filled with mind-bending plot twists and philosophical depth like BioShock, they may be disappointed. However, Mundfish Studio did not aim to replicate Irrational Games' style, and Atomic Heart has its unique flavor.
Considering the storyline, character portrayals are well-rounded. It's somewhat surprising that the game shares similarities with Forspoken regarding the main character having a speaking AI companion. However, Atomic Heart handles this much more elegantly, and you won't encounter the cringe-inducing "I just move shit with my mind" moments as in Forspoken. The two main characters in Atomic Heart are P-3 and the AI device Charles, who accompany you throughout the game. Their dialogues feel natural and entertaining, and you won't find yourself irritated by their conversations.
The character P-3 himself is not an annoying protagonist. He comes across as straightforward and strong, making the game's journey feel direct and engaging. The AI character also demonstrates intelligence and guides the story effectively, making the quest for truth interesting and motivating.
Additionally, while secondary characters may not have much on-screen time, they are not entirely one-dimensional. The game includes familiar character archetypes often seen in dystopian sci-fi settings, such as the mad scientist, resistance fighters, morally compromised high-ranking officials, or young scientists betraying their superiors due to ethical conflicts.
In general, even though their screen time is limited, the additional characters and elements in Atomic Heart seem intriguing and not superfluous. These appearances defeat the feeling of being out of place and add diversity to the storyline.
What I find particularly interesting and exciting, which is perhaps something only found in games from Russia or Eastern Europe in general, is the image of the grandmother flying a plane. Yeah, there's a character like that in the game, and she's extremely badass. Of course, I can't say what her role in the game is, but rest assured, her presence is entirely justified and adds an interesting touch to the game's plot.
And many people will surely be curious about the two extremely sexy twin robot girls. They are also a standout addition to the chaotic backdrop of the Soviet Union. They are indeed seductive, dangerous, and sophisticated. However, the interesting thing about them is their bizarre and highly eccentric behavior. I know many people might think of them as crazy. But in reality, the appearance of these robot girls, while visually appealing, is something that few people can truly understand. I myself believe that they play a significant role in the game's marketing because of their appearance, and the developers are well aware of that. But they are not just eye candy. They contribute to the storyline, and once again, I can't say who they are or what their relationship is with our main character, P-3. What I can say is that they are very intriguing and hold mysteries that we need to uncover.
Moving on from the plot and characters, what truly excites me and gets me thrilled is the gameplay of this game. It's skillful and challenging.
The game allows you to combine the two ways of attack, one using superpowers and the other using basic combat weapons. So why not combine them for an exciting combat experience? Yeah, you'll have a variety of fascinating abilities like lightning, ice, telekinesis, or magnetic shielding. And although there aren't many firearms, there's enough to keep you from getting bored. From rifles, AKs, rocket launchers to various melee weapons, you'll have plenty of options for combat and mayhem.
Combat in the game now requires strategy, as simply sticking to one approach won't be enough, especially since the enemies are intelligent and formidable. You'll need to master the use of superpowers and combine them with firearms or close combat in precise timing.
I've had impressive combat moments when freezing enemies and then using a melee weapon or a shotgun to finish them off. Or launching a polymer to create a conductive object and electrocute them to death. And if you're into the Magneto style from X-Men, you can use telekinesis to make them float in the air and then unload your firearms.
Of course, these abilities aren't overpowered, as they have cooldown times, and excessive use may even cause you to lose health as a consequence of abusing your powers. This is all to ensure that, even though you're a badass, this isn't Doom. You can still die at any moment, so the game also allows for a stealthy approach and rewards you with health if you successfully execute stealth actions.
Now, what do you think when I say that the enigmatic aspect of Atomic Heart lies in its gameplay, as the game is somewhat like an Escape Room? Yes, alongside combat with enemies, the game features numerous puzzles, and at times, it made me forget that this is an open-world game. The puzzles in the game are brain-teasers, often without any hints, so if you're not paying attention to the character's dialogues, you might find yourself stuck in a room, not knowing what to do to escape.
You'll have to unlock, find objects, or change the room's structure to create a chain reaction. Sometimes, it feels like Christopher Nolan directed this game, especially in the room-shifting puzzles, akin to Inception's rotating hallway scene.
The puzzles in the game are truly creative and made me appreciate the quiet moments for exploration and puzzle-solving, even if it meant not spamming the fire button to eliminate enemies.
On the downside, there's a notable flaw in the game, and that's the boss battles. If Inception was an inspiration for the puzzles, then Pixar's animated film The Incredibles seems to have inspired the design of the robot bosses. Anyone who's seen the movie won't be surprised by these spherical, long-legged robot bosses that move like rolling balls. Even their attack patterns resemble those from the film, and they are quite powerful. Defeating them requires careful planning and isn't as straightforward. This, however, led to some intense and exciting combat encounters.
The only weakness in the gameplay perhaps lies in the design of the open world, which feels somewhat lackluster and doesn't provide much motivation. Additionally, the map interface design is notably cumbersome and frustrating, with limited zoom levels that make navigation in the 3826 land challenging. It seems that my main motivation to explore this land was to find blueprints to purchase the weapons I wanted. There's a lack of compelling motivation to fully engage with the open world.
This game may benefit from its linear levels, as they are excellently designed and can be quite lengthy, making you feel like the world you're in is more than enough, and the open world might lose some of its charm in comparison, unless you particularly enjoy admiring the Soviet scenery.
Speaking of beautiful scenes, it's undeniable that the graphics in this game are stunning. However, they come at a cost of requiring a powerful PC configuration, and that's when the game's optimization issues become evident. A painful truth is that I initially experienced this game on PC with a fairly robust setup, but the game crashed multiple times and even prevented me from progressing. Consequently, I had to switch to playing on the PS5. Everything in the game is meticulously designed, character animations are reasonably lip-synced, and the color palette is quite muted, fitting the retro style of the 1950s-60s. The art direction of this game is indeed impressive, recreating a grand Soviet Union in the imagination. Unfortunately, the subpar optimization marred the PC experience. Fortunately, playing on Xbox Series X|S or PS5 is exceptionally smooth, making console gaming the preferable option.
The music is also a standout aspect, with the renowned composer Mick Gordon, known for his work on the Doom series, delivering a thrilling soundtrack. There's no need for many words when the game features energetic and badass rock music that perfectly matches the intensity of combat. Beyond that, the game also incorporates nostalgic Russian music, which many people from Vietnam might have heard before, adding a touch of authenticity to the impressive presentation.
However impressive the presentation may be, the game suffers from a glaring, invisible issue that you won't see. I don't want my review to sound overly critical, but the game has a very serious problem: an extremely low field of view (FOV), leading to a dizzying and headache-inducing experience after only a short time of play. I can understand the lack of FOV customization on consoles, but the absence of this feature on PC is difficult to accept. The low FOV makes the PC experience significantly less comfortable compared to playing on a console. PC players tend to sit closer to their computer screens rather than being farther away like console players with TVs. I believe this will be the biggest drawback when the game is released, and you might have to wait for the developers to issue an update or rely on modders to address this issue.
VERDICT
Atomic Heart seems to be a product of drawing inspiration from many video games and even movies. It touches on various themes and issues such as politics, graphics, human ethics, and the ongoing struggle between capitalism and socialism. But above all, it's an entertaining and visually stunning game with all elements designed cohesively. Even though it's just a fantasy of a grand Soviet Union, every second spent in this stormy retro world is worth it. Atomic Heart has brought to life what people might have imagined about this world in real life, making it a unique and engaging FPS game.
