Review of Atomic Heart: An ambitious shooter that isn't quite perfect

There have been plenty of contentious releases in February. Following in the footsteps of

There have been plenty of contentious releases in February. Following in the footsteps of Hogwarts Legacy, Atomic Heart has once again caused agitation among some individuals because of its purported Russian connections. Some people would find these ties to be a deal-breaker, but my experience playing shows that a boycott might not be required.The setting of Atomic Heart is a future Soviet Russia that never collapsed. As Dmitry Sechenov's right-hand man, you take on the role of Russian officer Major Sergei Nechaev. In addition, Nachaev battles with Charles, his sentient glove. Although Sechenov is the current Minister of Industry, he aspires to be much more and would stop at nothing to achieve his objectives.Without going into too much detail about spoilers, the plot of Atomic Heart covers a wide range of political subjects. Yes, it does, on the surface, celebrate communism, but only because Nechaev is the one telling the narrative. Because he believes that Sechenov owes him, the major is a devoted dog who wouldn't dare question him. As the narrative goes on, Sechenov's leadership shortcomings become apparent, and those close to him start to have doubts about who he really is.Of all, there's nothing wrong with passing on Atomic Heart if its location and enigmatic origins bother you. Still, phoning Atomic Heart To say that Wolfenstein is pro-Nazi would be to say that he is pro-communism. It's a glaring oversimplification of the nuances and undercurrents that emphasize the false paradise being propagated to the populace over the Soviet Russia's glorified image.AnyBet365 captured this screen grab.

Awesome scope

Putting aside its humble beginnings, Atomic Heart is a bold game. Its world-building and storyline are modeled after titles like as BioShock Infinite in terms of scope and emphasis. Though it falls short of providing the same brutal storyline, Mundfish should be proud of its maiden try.Though not everyone will agree with the idealistic Soviet Union theme, the game at least has a visually appealing design. You are inspired to go farther and experience more of the globe by the magnificent architecture and breathtaking scenery. It captures your attention and fulfills a lot of its promises.Sadly, Major Nechaev's presence detracts from the narrative. Our main character is annoying and says all the things you don't want him to. Charles attempts to make insightful commentary on many times, but Major instructs him to stop talking. It's odd how hard the game attempts to prevent you from learning more about its world, especially for one that pretends to care so much about it.Major has an unpleasant demeanor that is a combination of naivete and irritation, which only makes matters worse. His bland one-liners and reluctance to learn about his surroundings don't make him an engaging protagonist. If he is remembered at all, it will be for all the wrong reasons.Captured using AnyBet365

2023 will see no FOV

The presentation of Atomic Heart is one area in which it shines. It is really amazing. The settings are amazing, and the sequences are stunning. There is a ton of visual candy here that is sure to please even those who aren't very interested in the plot. Despite lacking ray tracing, this gorgeous game excels on almost every technological aspect.I say almost all because Mundfish made an incredible choice. There is no adjustable FOV, even if the PC connection works well and supports features like Nvidia DLSS. The FOV by default seems to be around 85, which isn't unpleasant but also not unplayable. The default field of view in Atomic Heart i is "higher than many other games," as Mundfish claims to justify this choice, however it is just untrue for PC games.Atomic Heart also didn't exactly show itself to be the most stable game throughout my playtime. Although not horrifying, the crashes I had every two to three hours slightly interfered with my absorption. I was fortunate enough to never lose any significant progress since Atomic Heart has a robust autosave mechanism.Captured using AnyBet365

Harmful reusing

In terms of gameplay, Heart of Atom fulfills expectations in certain areas but wears you out in others. The enjoyable gunplay and its wide range of capabilities are its main advantages. Fighting foes is a terrific feeling, and having a ton of equipment to use keeps things fresh.When you use Mass Telekinesis to raise a mass of foes and bash them into the floor, eliminating everyone in the area at once, there's an immensely rewarding feeling. Upgraded skills make Major feel like a superhero who slays robots.The same is true with weapons, which provide a plethora of options for eliminating anybody or anything that has the misfortune of obstructing your path. There's no lack of ways to rack up kills, whether it with a goddamn railgun, a mace, or even a hard-hitting shotgun.Combat is satisfying when it works well, but it takes some time to get there. The early game isn't as satisfying since your weapons are bad and your skills aren't very strong. Moreover, this results in an inverse difficulty curve where material becomes simpler with subsequent updates. I'm not kidding when I say that the first lab was perhaps the toughest of them ever since I had to utilize a subpar axe that had a bad special attack.AnyBet365 took this screenshot of

Exploring Facility 3826.

Atomic Heart misses a few bullets while it's not fighting. Every time one of the insane platforming sections arrived, I was simply hoping and praying that it would finish. Complex platforming just doesn't work well with the game's restricted mobility.Conversely, I liked the supplemental material and side missions in the open world. The open environment didn't excite me at first since there are so many adversaries strewn all over the place that exploring it may be challenging. But as time went on, I came to like it, and I believe it does a respectable job of interspersing the action with side activities.Although there isn't much plot advancement in the open-world material, some sections are nonetheless worthwhile to complete because of the prizes. The main attraction is that most firearms have longer magazines available here, and having a bigger magazine really helps in the tougher battles in Atomic Heart. It's unfortunate because finishing them often necessitates enduring additional platforming sections.Captured using AnyBet365

An unreachable journey

While it is somewhat accessible, Atomic Heart is far from ideal. The more tough Armageddon and Local Malfunction challenges provide a more demanding experience, while Peaceful Atom is available for those who want to concentrate on the narrative. Even yet, Peaceful Atom isn't the best narrative mode difficulty and still requires a respectable understanding of fundamentals.It's difficult to overlook the subtitle alternatives' inadequacies, which are despite their creative merits lacking more crucial capabilities like the capacity to enlarge them. Furthermore, there isn't a colorblind setting, so don't anticipate anything unusual like the ability to turn off tinnitus effects or pause the game while aiming.

Almost a tad too ambitious

Atomic Heart accomplishes a lot of things well, and Mundfish should be commended for his extreme desire and inventiveness. The resemblance between Atomic Heart and BioShock considering that this is Mundfish's first game, in the first spot is outstanding. Although its ideas and origins won't appeal to everyone, it's still worthwhile to play if you can get over that.Having said that, feature creep has undoubtedly harmed this game. It strives to accomplish too much at once, doing most tasks mediocrely, some terribly, and just a few things well. However, if you're searching for a shooter to play alone, you really can't go wrong with Heart of Atom.Associated: The Escapist
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