Atomfall Massacre: I Snapped and Killed All

Embark on a thrilling journey through the eerie English countryside with Atomfall, the latest survival-action game from Sniper Elite developer, Rebellion. During a recent visit to a North London pub, I had the chance to dive into the game's hands-on demo over a pint. Atomfall's unique blend of open-ended mission design and an unsettling atmosphere left me both intrigued and slightly unhinged as I found myself attacking every NPC in sight, including an innocent old lady, with a cricket bat. Let me delve into why this game captured my attention so intensely.

In Atomfall, every NPC, from the lowliest grunt to crucial quest-givers, can be dispatched. Driven by curiosity, I set out to test this feature right from the start of the demo. My exploration of the digital Cumbria quickly turned chaotic when I accidentally triggered a tripwire alarm, forcing me to deal with three alerted guards using nothing but a cricket bat, which soon became my weapon of choice, baptized in blood.

Later, I acquired a bow and arrow, satisfying my love for archery in video games. With this new tool, I was ready for both close and distant encounters, allowing my cricket bat a much-needed break. Amidst my adventures, I encountered a towering wicker man, a chilling reminder of folk horror that underpins Atomfall's world. The game's segmented "open zones" create an atmosphere ripe with mystery, prompting me to unravel what catastrophe befell this now-irradiated corner of England.

My musings on the mystery were abruptly interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They became my targets for testing my bow's range, and I couldn't help but feel like Robin Hood amidst the chaos. The bow's mechanics felt satisfying, but what really piqued my interest was Atomfall's innovative approach to stamina, represented not by a traditional bar, but by a heart rate monitor. Engaging in strenuous activities like sprinting would raise your heart rate, affecting your aiming stability. I later discovered a Bow Mastery skill manual, which helped mitigate the impact of a high heart rate on archery, though Atomfall's skill tree seemed straightforward yet customizable enough to cater to various playstyles.

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With a trail of dead druids behind me, my overarching goal remained unclear. A note led me to pursue a herbalist named Mother Jago near an old mine. Along the way, environmental storytelling hinted at the broader narrative, with eerie phenomena like a shimmering, oily swirl over a power plant and a phone box delivering cryptic warnings. The game's environment was littered with subtle yet impactful details, such as an alarmed boathouse and ominous warnings, evoking a sense of unease akin to games like Stalker rather than the often-cited Fallout.

After another druid skirmish, I met Mother Jago, whose cryptic responses offered little clarity on my next steps. This interaction reminded me of classic point-and-click adventures, encouraging thorough exploration of dialogue for hints. Eventually, Jago tasked me with retrieving her herbalism book from the druids' fortified castle. Atomfall's freeform design allowed me to approach the castle from any angle, leading to a chaotic battle at an abandoned petrol station. The enemy AI, while not the most sophisticated, added to the fun of engaging them, though Atomfall's combat might not be its strongest suit.

Inside the castle, I encountered locked huts and map coordinates hinting at distant keys, reinforcing Atomfall's lack of hand-holding and reliance on player initiative. After a fruitless search for the book, I followed the coordinates to face a poison plant monster, using my Skyrim-honed skills to bypass it and retrieve the keys. However, my quest for the book remained unfulfilled as I explored the castle's depths, discovering new items and questlines but no sign of the elusive herbalism book.

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It was only after my play session that I learned the book had been right under my nose, lying on a table I had overlooked. Frustrated and immersed in my character's violent descent, I confronted Mother Jago, mistakenly believing the book was a ruse. In a moment of confusion, I ended her life, only to find a recipe on her body that would have aided against the poison swamp monster. This misstep underscored the game's complex, intertwined quest design.

Rebellion's developers hinted that completing Atomfall's story could take anywhere from four to 25 hours, with varied paths and mysteries awaiting players. My fellow demo player had a completely different experience, encountering killer robots and mutants in a new region. Atomfall's obfuscated quest design might be daunting for some, but it rewards those willing to immerse themselves in its mysteries. The blurred lines between side and main objectives create a thrilling sense of peril and personal narrative.

As my demo concluded, bloodied and bewildered, I embraced my full-British mode: cricket bat in hand, I headed back to the pub, ready to ponder my violent journey through Atomfall's haunting English countryside.