Atomic Heart offers a fun experience yet feels quite familiar. The reason for this familiarity is the fact that it takes inspiration from Bioshock. Just like Bioshock, it begins from a city but then decent to some other crazy stuff which we will discuss later on. The main character has reality-bending and elemental powers. Players will descend into a crumbling city where they will scramble for resources.
The basics are pretty generic but it is different from other games in the way its narrative takes shape. It focuses on Soviet industrialization. Despite having a good structure of narrative the story feels predictable and the main character is less interesting. Combat is good and can offer a good escape from the general progression.
Despite bringing the concept of AI in the Soviet era, the game can feel stale in the way you interact with the world. Sure there is an open area to explore but there isn’t much to do in that area. There are still a lot of things that the game does right even if it botches many. All this makes you wonder, Is Atomic Heart worth it? Let’s find out.
Premise (Spoiler Free)
The game takes place in alternative history where a scientist has started a robotic boom in 1930 which has abolished the working class by the 50s through the use of robots. These robots are controlled by a collective hive mind known as Collective 1.0. Atomic Heart takes place a few years after that and before the unveiling of Collective 2.0. It gives all humans access to control robots through a device.
The main character believes in a world where everyone can equally access thoughts. He is assigned to investigate a scientific facility. He has a glove that is controlled by an AI assistant called Charles. The gloves give you telekinesis and cryokinesis powers.
Though the device is implemented in your head (Charles) information is transferred from everyone having the implant similar to how we upload stuff to different sites. You are sending ideas and information. The idea of holding back information the way social media does is laid bare. With such tactics, humans can be controlled remotely with limited information provided to them.
In a sense, players are controlling the character Sergey so it shows you how it feels when a person is controlled. The issue is the main character does not care about the good or bad and who controls who. He just wants to get the job done which is a major issue that keeps popping up when you are playing Atomic Heart.
The Combat
Players will control Sergey who is kind of a douchebag. He is antagonistic towards everyone including Charles. You will be stuck with playing as a bad human being who knows how to fight. He uses both hands to attack. Sergey uses the weapon with his right hand while using abilities with his left hand. He is a hard-hitting fighter even though robots can be faster than him.
Depending on the enemies some fights can be faster than others in Atomic Heart. Despite quick fights, you can easily dash to reposition yourself. At times it can turn into a hit-and-run kind of combat experience.
Combat is simple in the beginning but becomes a more engaging experience once more enemy types are introduced. Each enemy type has its own attack patterns and weaknesses. There is a good amount of enemy type to keep combat fresh. Enemies might seem familiar because their characteristics could match the enemies of other games but there is a verity and there is no denying it. The way gunshots work and abilities are used can be generic.
The Loot
Atomic Heart is not all about combat as there are resources to be harvested as well. The looting aspect of the game is pretty interesting. You will basically be teleporting everything to your pockets. Getting loot feels good due to teleportation. You will then use these resources to craft firearms, ammo, weapon attachments, and other items.
The World
After the first mission, Surgy will move to the main area that opens up in an open world. At that point, the game narrative slows down to a crawl. You will be visiting one of the several facilities to complete missions. You will be moving from facility to facility to complete missions. Even if the missions don’t take time, you can freely explore the world, look for challenges, and look for material to unlock special attachments.
The journey between waypoints can bog down the story but it does work well enough. Atomic Heart can be less entertaining when you are outside the facilities The careful placement of enemies in the facilities makes sure that the combat is better inside. The overall design of facilities makes the open world seem less interesting.
Some of the main levels have a distinct and engaging theme that helps it stand out from the rest. The soundtracks are good and they are some of the best in boss fights. However, most of the soundtracks are only there for boss fights and you will never hear them again which is a bummer.
Verdict (Is Atomic Heart Worth It?)
There are a lot of things that Atomic Heart does perfectly while leaving others bare minimum. Quite a few parts of the game do not fit together. The disparity that the game creates with the difference in quality of content has a massive impact on the experience. One moment you have the best experience possible and the next moment you are in a barely good game. It seems like the game is at odds with itself.
The history, the world, and the ideas are interesting but the main character doesn’t care about anything which leaves much to be desired. There is not a lot to like about him but there is a lot to hate about him. At times it feels like all he cares about is smashing stuff. A lot of the topics are being stopped from exploring due to the nature of the main character. Despite all that, it can still be a good catch for the fans of Bioshock or if you want to have an odd experience.
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