ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game

A full 3D CRPG in the style of fallout 1-2? sounds great. Unfortunately this game is so commited to be like fallout that does the same mistakes, the interface is as bad as in those old games, inventory management is a nightmare, no matter what you go for, you will always start underpowered, if you build your character at the start to be a gunslinger, tough luck, you are stuck with a brick as your first weapon, dialogues do not show you your chances to succeed in a conversation, is it a percentage, is it a hard skill check, you wish you knew. If the game is this aggresively obtuse at the start I don't wanna imagine how bad it's gonna be later, so I stopped after half an hour. It's ok to be inspired by another franchise, but you should look at them and ask yourselves "how can we make it better"

So really ,the game is trying to recreate the glory of older games like Fallout, as many people have mentioned. Problem is they didn't really accomplish their goal. It's kind of somewhere between a roguelike and an RPG. In the early game it's frustrating because you kinda suck, as you do at 2nd or 3rd level. Then you get jumped by 6 bandits. Time to reload. This time you gt jumped by 5 dudes burning books. Time to reload. This time you get to fight 2 rats. Ok, you can make it a little further into the wilderness. On the one hand, I like the inconsistency, on the other I do not. Take the bunker where you need to go gor your mission. Full of rats and ants, so a low level dungeon. Sure, but the only way in as a lower level toon is to talk to these 3 yokels who will absolutely murder you when you come out. Unless you give them all your stuff and you're back at square 1 again. So then go back at a higher level for a less satisfying but ultimately survivable experience. At least one clue was changed from the Russian to the English version of the game from a logic puzzle to something no one will ever guess or understand unless they look it up online. The game is full of inconsistencies like this. So far as the story is concerned, if you don't like old style RPGs where you should talk to absolutely everyone to get lots of fun ,or at least colorful quests you won't like the game. There are no quest indicators or trackers, which I don't mind, but lots of people will be disappointed. There is a lot to see and do in the game and there is a lot of cool story, you just gotta survive long enough to get some armor and decent weapons to get to it. Frustrating in the beginning, grindy in the middle... haven't gotten to the end yet. If you are persistent and don't mind dying a lot, it can be a fun game, if not... well, prepare to be disappointed

Are you a fan of both Fallout/Wasteland, and/or STALKER, turnbased CRPGS and/or post apocalyptic games in general? Then this is the game for you! Combat wise, it's not too different from Fallout, although you can't directly control party members, but in this you can issue vague orders to them, like be defensive, aggressive, avoid enemies, when to heal, focus on a target, etc (holding left click on them while in combat) The companion AI is dumber than dogs*** most of the time, your dudes will die more often than you do in a lot of cases, even if you give them the appropriate tactical advice. Speaking of dogs***, I can not count the number of times I had to quickload from the dog companion dying, because apparently everyone in the wasteland *really* hates dogs. Speaking of quickloads, in the famous words of Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, "Bind quicksave and quickload to the left and right mouse buttons". This game is kind of hard. Certainly harder than Fallout 1/2 or Wasteland 2/3. You will be quicksaving and quickloading. A lot. Even on normal. The small blessing is that you can quicksave in combat, and them RNGs will reroll, thankfully. There isn't a ton of companions... there are only 6, I ended up getting 3. I *would* have gotten a 4th, and had a full party, but of course the dude was locked behind a Personality (6) stat check. One of the companions are obscure to hire, and ends all other quests if you hire them, and the last one won't fight in battle, just a pack mule. So, better get that personality stat up to snuff if you want a full party. Unlike Wasteland 2, this game is actually fairly optimized, and doesn't run like dogs***. If you prefer a squad/turn based PA CRPG where you can fully control your party members, than I recommend Wasteland 2/3 or Fallout Tactics over this. If you don't mind not being able to control your companions directly, then still give this a shot, it's good when it's not being slightly unforgiving somewhat poorly balanced nonsense.

If you love the original Fallout games and want to play a modern equivalent to that style of gameplay. The base story isn't so original but it still has great characters and atmosphere and good enough to keep you interested.

First the engine is Awesome, really speaks to what in my opinion Fallout 3, N.Vegas & 4 should have been. The ability to pan, angle, move and zoom your camera is great really allows for you look around your environment easily and accurately. The graphics quality is good and doesn't look like stacks of blocks or blobby. Sound is also good quality and the music selections help to add to the ambience. The "Paper Doll" of the character is lacking in the Inventory screen (but you can see your character in the world) and the Inventory Slots on the character in comparison to modern games are a little low. More then what is in the original Fallout 1 & 2 if you have played them. The crafting portion is interesting and provides a way to get better equipment without having to steal from or murder everybody you come across. Kind of gives a reason to scavenge and adds to the environment when you can create your gear from the past civilizations remains. The economy is so-so there could be some better ways to sell your gear a little more quickly and reduce the "Grindiness" of killing some bandits then hoping to come across a Caravan that actually has stuff worth trading for or money. The Story, characters and your effect in the world as you play is really limited, you gain very little connection to the world as you adventure, the mission seems a little run of the mill and questionable. The characters you come across are very plain and uninspiring, I had no real desire to interact with them except that is what your supposed to do in the game and you want to sell stuff. Helping them or hurting them doesn't really matter in the process of the game. The combat is really one-sided in the beginning so you or you companion if you do pick one up will die over and over. Which isn't always bad just tedious right in the beginning of the game, especially due to a power imbalance versus superior tactics. Overall it worth the buy to encourage more, but it is middle of the road.