Right now’s introduction calendar hails, in each setting and make, from the RPS homeland of the UK. Which implies, like most of RPS, it’ll in all probability spend Christmas predominantly unconscious, pushed right into a coma by a mixture of tiredness, pigs in blankets overreach, and acute publicity to King Charles. Greatest play it earlier than then, eh.
It’s Atomfall!
In hindsight I feel we, myself included, did Atomfall a disservice by pelting it with comparisons to different free roaming shooters. It does have free roaming, and taking pictures, however one among its most lovable qualities is that it nonetheless feels distinctive, even when it’s wrapping itself up in familiarities.
Jokes apart, the Lake District environment are part of that. There’s a pleasant, deeply British irony in framing Atomfall’s grim survivalism in opposition to the rolling hills and curtain-twitching parish villages of Sixties Cumbria. Its greatest trick, although, is revealing itself as a detective sport – and a very reasonably good one. Atomfall trusts you to dig up its secrets and techniques your self, with progress measured in mysteries solved reasonably than our bodies dropped. There’s common gunplay, of the gradual and ammo-scarce variety, and greater than slightly scavenging and crafting. However ruffians with misappropriated cricket bats are actually simply obstacles to be eliminated so you’ll be able to rifle via their issues, in the hunt for misplaced keys or scribbled notes which may clue you in on the place an investigation goes subsequent.
And also you’ll wish to know, as a result of Atomfall is equally expert at piquing your curiosity and throwing up its share of surprises. Half the inhabitants appear to cover horrible secrets and techniques, slips-of-the-tongue by bored neighbours being sufficient to set you on their path, and the opposite half are prepared to lie, scheme, and homicide their approach into the enigmatic (and presumably cursed) ruins of the Windscale energy plant. You’re free to belief who – if any – would possibly make good on their promise of reciprocal assist, a selection which will turn into simpler or tougher relying on how deeply you poke round.
Go in anticipating Fallout: Oop North, and Atomfall’s focus would possibly disappoint. Meet it by itself phrases, and it’s a likeably cerebral tackle first-person wandering.
Head over to the RPS Creation Calendar 2025 to open one other door!
