Atomfall’s action-survival journey through an irradiated UK is a harrowing adventure

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Global gamers have longed for a thrilling post-apocalyptic experience set in the United Kingdom, yet games like ZombiU have been our only taste so far. Series such as Fallout seldom explore England, despite movies such as 28 Days Later and Shaun of the Dead offering captivating narratives about post-apocalyptic settings. Remarkably, it’s not Bethesda stepping in to fill this gap but Rebellion, developers of Sniper Elite, who are working on Atomfall. This is a first-person action survival game set in post-apocalyptic Northern England, and we recently sampled a challenging sneak peek into the gameplay.

Hi Windscale of a different scale

In a parallel reality, the catastrophic Windscale nuclear accident of 1957 in Cumberland (now known as Sellafield, Cumbria) spiraled out of control, transforming the area into a haunting landscape of mutated creatures and radioactive debris. You find yourself, with no memory of your past, trapped within the restricted zone of the Lake District, Cumbria – the epicenter of the disaster. Your mission is to traverse this perilous region, decipher the fate of the area and yourself, and survive by whatever means you can.

In the preliminary gameplay session, we found ourselves dropped into a section of dense woods, with the objective of locating a woman called Mother Jago, who is said to offer assistance. Documents discovered hint that she may be beneficial to us. However, the woods where she resides are inhabited by a doomsday cult known for brutally eliminating strangers, and that’s not taking into account the radioactive environment and dangerous creatures roaming between their settlements. Our initial step was to familiarize ourselves with melee and ranged combat, and to prepare ourselves for the challenging journey ahead.

In our observation, Atomfall’s initial map resembled a lush countryside dotted with rocky outcrops and woods. Scattered throughout were remnants of homes, stores, and other signs of a once-thriving civilization. Beyond these, an old castle and colossal nuclear facility loomed in the distance. Similar to games from the Sniper Elite series set within rebellions, Atomfall offered a sandbox environment where we could roam freely and choose our own paths to main missions such as encountering Mother Jago. This freedom was more than just a perk; it was rewarding to traverse this world. We weren’t just gathering supplies, resources, side quests, or puzzle solutions along the way, but also appreciating the stunning visuals and the haunting charm of its ruined splendor.

Additionally, I appreciate the open-ended nature of this adventure, as it allows for a multitude of unique encounters distinct from other players. For example, during my gameplay, I stumbled upon a radio and notes in a particular village that led me to a woman who had discovered a bunker, along with its coordinates. I managed to locate her and she turned out to be one of the most sane and non-violent individuals around. We conversed, and she asked for my help in restoring power to a nearby facility, although I didn’t get to witness the outcome. Meanwhile, one of my teammates came across a madwoman residing in a dilapidated mansion, who seemed to believe her servants were still present. It appears there are numerous storylines to uncover, and the experiences you have will depend on how deeply you delve into the game.

Clean the cultist off your bat

In Atomfall, gameplay is an intense survival experience I’ve observed. You start off with minimal tools, but your survival hinges on the data you collect, the supplies you save, and the weapons and equipment you locate or craft yourself. Engaging large groups of enemies in this game isn’t advisable, as I discovered after getting overpowered by groups of three cultists or more several times. Even attempting to sneak up on one for a stealth kill can be loud enough to draw unwanted attention from others. Therefore, it’s crucial to use stealth and always assess the overall situation before making any moves.

In Atomfall, you’ll find numerous strategies to navigate survival. The game offers melee weapons such as cricket bats with disorienting and stunning effects, and hatchets/machetes that inflict bleeding. For ranged combat, we encountered rusty firearms like a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, which were mostly emergency choices due to their loudness and unreliability, but they could clear enemies or cause severe bleeding. A bow and arrow served as a silent option, though slower due to the need to load arrows. Additionally, throwables like Molotov cocktails, nail bombs, and poison vials could assist in dealing with groups quickly. Resource gathering is essential for crafting more weapons, including cloth, glass, and alcohol.

Traversing this realm was quite an engaging journey for me as a gamer. From what I’ve gathered, when you uncover the specifics of a mission or a fresh location, Atomfall provides a rough guide, but it doesn’t seem to lay out obvious waypoints for you. When I stumbled upon the woman who shared her bunker’s coordinates with me, I had to locate those coordinates on the map myself to find her. If this is the kind of navigation problem-solving Atomfall demands, I must admit, it piques my interest.

In addition to cultists, we’ll encounter various other perils as we explore Atomfall. For instance, I stumbled upon a peculiar purple growth on a tree that attracted colossal purple hornets which attacked me, forcing me to retreat. However, I discovered I could destroy their nest from afar, causing the hornets to swarm the area. I’m curious if this scenario can be used to lure other enemies into danger and allow the hornets to handle them. Moreover, I descended into an underground tunnel filled with eyeless, zombie-like beings submerged in blue fungus. Upon detection by me, they’d pelt me with harmful blue goo that caused prolonged damage and produced eerie whispers. I can’t wait to uncover what other irradiated abominations lie hidden deeper within the bowels of Atomfall.

A trot through scenic nuclear Cumbria

In a nutshell, Atomfall seems to be crafted by Rebellion – the signature traits are evident in its storytelling freedom, abundance of exploration and side missions, and the tactical balance between tackling what you can handle without taking on more than you can comfortably chew. These elements resonate strongly with Sniper Elite, but here they’re incorporated into a first-person action game that delivers an immersive combat experience, whether melee or ranged. It may lack leveling systems, but as you improve your gear and uncover new leads, your abilities will grow, extending your lifespan. If the rest of the environments are as finely tuned as this one, I’m eager to discover what secrets each corner of this world holds.

This sneak peek is from an initial computer version of the game, shown during a private event organized by the publisher. Atomfall is set to launch on March 27, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, PCs, Xbox Series X/S, and Game Pass.

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2025-03-07 17:50