"Atomfall Massacre: I Snapped and Killed All"

Embark on a thrilling and violent journey through the English countryside with Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Sniper Elite developer, Rebellion. I recently spent 90 minutes with the game at a pub in North London, where I enjoyed a hands-on session and was captivated by Atomfall's open-ended mission design and its eerie atmosphere. In a moment of madness, I found myself attacking everyone in sight, including an innocent old lady, using nothing but a cricket bat. Let me share why this game left such a strong impression on me.

In Atomfall, every NPC can be killed, from the lowliest grunt to the most crucial quest-giver. As I started the demo, I set out to test this feature. Within minutes of exploring the digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire alarm, forcing me to take down three alerted guards with my trusty cricket bat. The bat, now baptized in blood, became my weapon of choice.

Later, I acquired a bow and arrow, which satisfied my love for archery in games. Equipped for both long and short-range combat, I let the cricket bat rest. As I explored, I encountered a towering wicker man, a clear nod to the folk horror themes that underpin this part of Atomfall's world. The game is divided into multiple "open zones," creating an unsettling atmosphere that enhances the mystery of what caused this sleepy, now irradiated, corner of England to fall into chaos.

My musings on the mystery were soon interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They became perfect targets for my new bow, and as they fell one by one, I couldn't help but think, "I'M ROBIN BLOODY HOOD." The bow felt satisfying to use, but what really piqued my interest was Atomfall's innovative stamina system. Instead of a traditional stamina bar, the game uses a heart rate monitor that increases with physically demanding actions. Sprinting, for example, can push your heart rate over 140 bpm, affecting your aiming precision. I later found a Bow Mastery skill manual that mitigates the impact of an elevated heart rate on drawing the bowstring, though Atomfall's skill tree doesn't seem overly complex. It's flexible enough, however, to allow you to tailor your character's skills to your preferred playstyle, whether you lean towards stealth or gunplay.

Atomfall Screenshots

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My goal in the game was initially unclear, but a note pointed me toward a herbalist named Mother Jago, who lived near an old mine. Along the way, I noticed signs of the larger story, like a shimmering, oily swirl over a power plant, hinting at the cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A ringing phone box and a creepy voice warning me to stay out of the woods added to the eerie atmosphere. The environment is filled with subtle story hints, such as an old boathouse rigged with an alarm system and a mound of skulls and bones nearby. Atomfall's tone and design remind me more of Stalker than Fallout, with its emphasis on exploration and mystery.

After another druid massacre and a quick herb-gathering session at their garden center home, I met Mother Jago at her quaint allotment retreat. She looked like Angela Lansbury if she had ventured into black magic aromatherapy. However, she provided only vague answers to my questions, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures where you must explore every conversation for clues. Eventually, Jago offered valuable information in exchange for her herbalism book, which was being held hostage at the druids' fortified castle. I set out to retrieve it.

Atomfall's freeform design allowed me to approach the castle from any angle. I chose a side attack, encountering a druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station. The ensuing "Battle of the Forecourt" was chaotic but fun, despite the enemy AI's lack of sophistication. After dealing with the patrol and some archers, I made my way inside the castle's outer walls. A locked hut with a note containing map coordinates hinted at a key to the southeast, but Atomfall doesn't use objective markers, encouraging players to use their own map markers. Instead, I headed to the central keep's front doors.

Inside, I found more druids to dispatch but no sign of the book. I searched the castle's dank hallways, crafting healing bandages from cloth and alcohol, but the book remained elusive. This reflects Atomfall's challenging mission design, where players aren't guided by obvious markers but must explore and deduce on their own.

Following the map coordinates, I encountered a poison plant monster that proved deadly. Using my Skyrim bunny-hopping skills, I managed to bypass it and collect the keys from one of its victims. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and some ammo, but no book. Frustrated, I delved deeper into the castle, killing the High Priestess and her followers, and found an SMG, a recipe for poison bombs, and an atomic battery that hinted at a new questline. Yet, the book was still missing.

After my session, I learned the book had been on a table I missed. Believing it was a ruse, I confronted Mother Jago and, in my confusion and descent into violence, killed her. Searching her body, I found a recipe that could help against the poison swamp monster, which was the information she promised in exchange for her book.

Atomfall's runtime is substantial, with developers estimating a 25-hour playthrough for most players. The game's world is filled with secrets and varied experiences, as evidenced by another player's completely different adventure involving a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Atomfall's obtuse quest design may be challenging, but it rewards thorough exploration and player ingenuity, allowing for unique stories and endings.

My time with Atomfall left me with bloodied hands and a warpath behind me. In true British fashion, I decided to take my cricket bat to the pub and wait for the chaos to subside.