Atomic Heart Reviews
Atomic Heart is a fun game showing a fascinating, well-built, visually impressive alternate world that handles everything it needs to do well. The action passages are significant, the abilities, weapons, and their use are fun, the difficulty is balanced, and it has excellent optimization so you can enjoy it smoothly even on older machines; the Russian dub is delightful, the English dub a little less so but still good, and Mick Gordon's impeccable soundtrack gets your adrenaline pumping whenever you need it. It's just a great action FPS with RPG elements. On the other hand, some animations and models are weaker, the picture tutorials are annoying, and the story is cliché. It's the first Bioshock, almost one-to-one, just in a Russian setting. However, this is balanced out by the awe-inspiring world it takes place in, which makes it sufficiently novel and original.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Even as the story of "Atomic Heart" fails to keep you engaged, it's well worth playing only to see what strange concepts and areas await.
Atomic Heart is an ambitious game that has a lot going for it. Its unique world, stunning visuals, and exciting combat make it an experience worth playing.
While I struggled with defining Atomic Heart's identity, I think I can assume a few things about the game. Narratively, it wants to be comical even with its tragedy, but the main plot bets on the drama behind the main character's past and their personal relationships; as well as predictable and empty plot twists. Despite the comparisons with Bioshock, it doesn't step too close to the atmosphere or even the combat of the classic title. It tries to be itself, even though the inspirations are noticeable. Although I was enamored with the first trailers of Atomic Heart and dreamt of that "beyond Bioshock" title, with several websites reporting on development problems and the successive delays made me wary of it. In the end, I still enjoyed the game for what it offered, even after losing its charm due to its frustrations and disappointments.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Atomic Heart is a game that constantly takes one step back for every two it takes forward. Everything that does extremely well always comes with a “but” stuck in it. Visually it is incredibly beautiful, but the characters are ugly. The third-person shooter gameplay is extremely fun, but the arena design is frustrating. The world and the story are quite interesting, but there's one more twist that doesn't make sense and the protagonist is obnoxious. Still, it's an experience with more significant highs than lows, and one that fans of first-person shooters can take a lot of pleasure from.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Its plot is quite atrocious, and much of the exploration aspect feels tacked on without adding anything. The larger length than most games of its type doesn’t help it hold up, either. While the heart inside Atomic Heart beats, it’s more often than not with a very weak pulse.
Despite the technical issues, glitches and poor open area design, Atomic Heart delivered a unique experience with a distinct art direction, fun shooting system and puzzles, with great interior design.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Atomic Heart is a first person game that resembles all kinds of games. The humor is definitely not for everyone. It goes from crazy to crazy. With some minor flaws, but still solid gameplay, it's an entertaining game. Highly recommended for those who like it.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Despite some horrible misgivings for the plot and characters, I do sincerely see some of our favorite classic Shock-like formula, tried and true, if not with a few extra red stars on the cover. If you can poke past the horribly paced and presented story, tedious and sometimes painful character dialogue, and bad design ideas for the open-world aspect, I can sincerely say that there is some legitimate Shock-like qualities in the better parts of the gameplay and in the awe-striking art style, to say nothing of the incredible music. If you enjoyed any of Bioshock‘s selections, or Arkane’s 2016 Prey, consider giving this communist dystopia a chance to show how close it got to nailing that Shock-like formula, even if you wind up coming out hating the phrase “Crispy Critters” as much as I do.
I'd be hard-pressed to say Atomic Heart is an outright bad game, and despite featuring some awful elements, there's clear quality in its gameplay mechanics, art direction, and encounters that highlight Mundfish's talent. Stories from before release painted the development as largely directionless, causing them to have to fashion it into something playable and structured near the end, and this seems evident in the final product. Mundfish bit off more than it could chew, leading to a lot of half-baked ideas that should have been scrapped and reigned in. It makes the game's greatest moments ultimately bittersweet, as deep down there is potential for something excellent.
Atomic Heart’s narrative lacks the gall to tackle any of its ideas thoroughly, and is made worse by having to endure it through the eyes of a tremendously unlikeable protagonist. Its moment-to-moment gameplay is passable at best, and a chore the rest. Though visually the game is beautiful, it’s not enough to distract from an otherwise hollow experience.
Atomic Heart has delivered a world overflowing with creativity and artistic flair that is rivalled by the likes of Bioshock. The highly political story may not appeal to everyone but it is an incredibly interesting take on an alternative history that quickly absorbs you into the madness. The game falls short when it comes to the overall progression. The tacked-on open-world elements deliver more frustration than anything with infinitely respawning bots and very little of interest to see. Atomic Heart has the potential to be something incredible but is held back by a few, often frustrating gameplay elements.
The narrative can occasionally seem confusing, and some story beats take a little longer than I’d have liked to get going, but it all comes together in the end to form an addictive loop of shoot, loot, upgrade, repeat.
Despite its small issues, Atomic Heart is the first product of a small studio that still manages to be a positive highlight among big titles already available in 2023. With updates improving navigation and gameplay, I believe Mundfish can make the player experience much better as the year goes on.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Atomic Heart is a good action game with a few issues that make it harder to enjoy, especially on consoles. Nevertheless it's a strong debut showing for the developers at Mundfish.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
In the end, the game is enjoyable for those willing to be patient and accept the game for what it is and hopefully, with a few more updates the full potential of the game will be achieved. The game is available on the Microsoft Game Pass and is worth a look.
Atomic Heart stands out in its art, story and personality, but it is not up to par in other very important aspects of the immersive sim genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Atomic Heart depicts the perfect ideological image of the Soviet Union. Shadowed by many hyperbolising factors to furnish an electrifying FPS experience. You wouldn’t call it a masterpiece – but it is extremely close to being one.
Atomic Heart could have been a great game. All the pieces are here to form a beautiful picture but it feels like these have been run through a blender, set on fire and then Sellotaped together to form a grotesque Frankenstein’s monster. Almost every facet of this game is underwhelming or broken in some way; if you’re expecting the next Bioshock you’re going to be very disappointed. This is closer to We Happy Few or Duke Nukem Forever. What a shame.
Atomic Heart is an interesting approximation of better games that is slowed down by a tedious open world, messy writing, and jarring tonal shifts.