Atomic Heart is set in an alternate 1955, where the Soviet Union has made significant advancements in robotics. Players assume the role of Major P-3, tasked with investigating area №3826. Upon arrival, Major P-3 discovers that the robots have been reprogrammed and are attacking the populace. Armed initially with only a fire ax, he must delve deeper into the facility to uncover the truth behind the robot uprising.
Before discussing the gameplay experience, it’s important to address the controversy surrounding Atomic Heart. The game is developed by Mundfish, a studio based in Cyprus. While their press materials highlight the diverse nationalities of their employees, including individuals from Ukraine and Austria, they omit the fact that a significant portion of the core development team is of Russian origin. This is particularly relevant given the game’s Soviet-era theme and aesthetic. While the developers may view this timing as unfortunate, the release of Atomic Heart occurring three days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raises questions. Notably, composer Mick Gordon has pledged his royalties to Ukrainian aid organizations, while the developers have remained conspicuously silent.
At senses.se, our game reviews are apolitical, and the rating of Atomic Heart remains unaffected by the aforementioned circumstances. However, we felt it was necessary to acknowledge these issues for the sake of transparency.
Atomic Heart features impressive visuals, with a high level of detail throughout the game. Even in performance mode, which prioritizes a higher frame rate, the graphics remain compelling. Played on a Playstation 5 connected to a Panasonic TX-55JZ1500 display capable of 120Hz and VRR, the game exhibits smooth and responsive gameplay, even during intense combat encounters. While frame rate dips are noticeable under heavy load, performance remains generally stable. Furthermore, I did not observe any texture pop-in or flickering.
The game features a robust upgrade system, allowing players to develop and modify weapons and equipment. Combat is intense and can be genuinely challenging, as the seemingly innocuous robots attack with surprising ferocity, demanding strategic play for survival. Do not underestimate them.
Atomic Heart offers three difficulty levels, each providing a compelling level of challenge. The game utilizes manual save points located at designated stations, as well as an autosave system. It is currently unconfirmed whether the autosave functionality is exclusive to the Playstation version, similar to Dead Space, as testing was limited to the Playstation 5.
A notable drawback of Atomic Heart is its heavy reliance on established tropes and mechanics from other titles. From the outset, the environmental design evokes strong Bioshock influences. The weapon designs, with their improvised aesthetic, further reinforce this connection. However, the similarities become more pronounced, and somewhat problematic, when the player character’s glove gains the ability to manipulate electricity and acquire other abilities. At this point, the game’s “inspiration” from Bioshock, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored becomes overly apparent. Furthermore, certain enemy designs bear a striking resemblance to creatures from the Half-Life series. The game’s originality diminishes with each successive appropriation.
Another significant issue is the dialogue, which echoes the style found in Forspoken. The protagonist’s constant, supposedly humorous, banter with his glove (analogous to the bracelet in Forspoken) quickly becomes repetitive and grating.
In conclusion, Atomic Heart boasts striking visuals and engaging gameplay. However, its over-reliance on elements borrowed from other games, without offering substantial innovation, detracts from its overall appeal.
Focus Entertainment provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial judgment.
