Rebellion’s Atomfall plunges us into a gripping survival-action game set in a world still reeling from the real-life Windscale nuclear disaster that devastated Northern England. Formed on the echoes of this historical catastrophe from October 10, 1957, Atomfall reconstructs the past to imagine a future where the implications are even more dire.
Five years have passed since the UK’s most disastrous nuclear event sent waves of radioactive fallout across Europe. Authorities encircled the affected area, severing ties with the outside world, leaving a mystery shrouded in uncertainty. This is where Atomfall situates its players, as you awaken in a forgotten bunker, drawing blanks on your identity or how you ended up here. With the world outside cut off, the game builds a tense narrative as those within have become, let’s say, a bit unconventional. You’ll find a society carved into factions like Protocol, the B.A.R.D., Outlaws, and Druids, each struggling for dominance in this new world order.
Survival hinges on your ability to scavenge for essentials. Resources are scarce and contested, demanding creativity and cunning. Crafting becomes a lifeline, enabling you to turn scraps into tools and weapons to stave off hostile factions and fend off grotesque, radiation-spawned creatures. Short-range weapons will often be your go-to due to persistent ammo shortages. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon pistols without enough bullets for a full load. A powerful single-shot rifle might promise high damage, but it leaves you vulnerable amidst Outlaw packs.
The game invites you to navigate its challenges across five difficulty settings: Sightseer, Investigator, Brawler, Survivor, and Veteran. Sightseer lets you explore the story with minimal combat stress, whereas Investigator ups the ante with moderate resistance. Opting for Brawler will test your combat prowess, while Survivor aims to deliver Rebellion’s intended balance between exploration, combat, and survival. And for those seeking hardcore thrills, Veteran difficulty ensures that a single misstep could be fatal.
From a first-person viewpoint, navigate your character with the seasoned ease born of twin-stick controls, with running mapped to the left stick and crouching via the Circle button—vital for stealth movements through the danger-laden terrain. The X button lets you jump, with the L1 button ready for a surprise kick to knock off-balance foes. Weapons and quick-use items can be seamlessly deployed with the D-Pad, though be prudent as consumables aren’t included.
Combat involves the R2 button for attacking, whether swinging a melee weapon or shooting a firearm. For more significant impact, charge up a heavy melee strike with R1. Precision follows aiming with L2, making each shot count before reloading with the Square button. Your heart rate ties directly to accuracy, making calmness an asset for steady aim. Consider throwable weapons via your weapon wheel, a Molotov cocktail being a strategic choice against clustered foes. Takedowns are silent yet lethal, conserving ammo while making you momentarily conspicuous.
Instead of traditional quests, Atomfall introduces Leads—threads of information gleaned from interactions or discovered items. These clues will guide you, though some may be deceptive, designed to mislead rather than illuminate. You’ll need sharp instincts to navigate without waypoint assistance, relying on compass markers for self-imposed targets.
Bartering features heavily in Atomfall’s economy, pushing you to trade intelligently with NPC traders, each with unique inventories and trade preferences. Crafting recipes are vital; whether bought, found, or unlocked through exploration, they dictate what can be crafted from your scavenged materials. Weapons can be upgraded from rusty to pristine, refining their quality over time with duplicates and the right resources.
Training Stimulants unlock skills, expanding your repertoire with abilities like Thick Skin for less damage from melee strikes, or Weapon Throw Training to maximize the lethality and speed of thrown weapons. Fortify your trading charm with Charisma, or bolster your survivability by boosting health with Fortitude.
Accessibility options make Atomfall inclusive, with adjustable UI text sizes, color customization for visual elements, and a suite of features for controlling playstyle preferences—camera settings, subtitle options, and traversal assistance. Audio aids bolster player experience, such as cues for targeting, enhancing tactical awareness through sound.
For trophy hunters, Atomfall presents a substantial challenge. As a retail release on PS4 and PS5, it offers a dual Platinum opportunity with its Cross-Buy setup. Encompassing a range of tasks, from crafting to combat feats, it pushes players to explore every facet of the game thoroughly, rewarding them with a total of 36 trophies split across categories.
Rebellion’s Atomfall offers a vivid post-apocalyptic narrative grounded in historical disaster, enriched with intense survival strategies and dynamic player interaction. As it releases on March 27 for both PS4 and PS5, consider diving into the Atomfall universe with its Standard or Deluxe editions, each packed with additional content to enrich your journey. Will you navigate this challenging new world and unearth its secrets? With the Deluxe Edition, get a head start with early access, bundled supplies, and expanded story content—all crafted to deepen and extend the gripping experience Atomfall promises.
