ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game

I've played Fallout 1 and 2 to death, and this game is clearly... let's say, heavily inspired by them. However, it feels like the developers were more concerned with creating a 1:1 reconstruction of classic Fallout mechanics than creating a game that can stand on its own merits. Nearly everything that isn't borrowed whole-cloth from the Interplay Productions RPGs has the air of an afterthought and is implemented in a clunky fashion. The crafting system appears to be largely for flavour, the hunger system is mildly annoying more than anything, the fishing system actually crashes the game now and then (to be fair, these were the only crashes I got)... the follower AI is also just as irritatingly stupid as in the classic Fallout games, so well done on nailing that detail. There's a distinct lack of the "fun" elements that Fallout had. Atom RPG takes itself seriously. Laser guns, Bloody Mess, handheld chainsaws and giant robots are not on the menu. There are no critical death animations, which I didn't realise I'd miss so much until they were gone. The translation isn't bad enough to be funny... but it's certainly imprecise enough to be lacking any wit the original Russian had, making reading the mountains of dialogue a chore, and it's sometimes simply confusing or misleading. The story has failed to capture my attention in my fifteen hours playing. I really, really tried to enjoy this game, but it just made me want to play Fallout 2 again. Two stars because I have absolutely played worse games. I would not recommend buying Atom RPG and I won't be finishing it.

Since I am on GOG -- and that's for a while now -- the only modern RPG games that caught my attention and manage to keep it have been Tyranny and now ATOM. This is coming from a guy that plays RPGs for decades (since Interplay's Lord of the Rings). This is probably one of the most natural post-apocalyptic immersive experiences for me, likely because I am a native of Eastern Europe and a Cyrillic reader. In the vein of Elder Scrolls games, the main story (which, for the moment, seems worth following) does not prevent you of exploring the expanse of the intriguing game-world. I find the characters and dialogues quirky, funny and reminiscent of Eastern European movies from the pre-Fall-of-the-Wall era. This is why it was hilarious to read the comments by native english speakers about the horrible translation and writing. Maybe they just cannot figure out the stuff which is immediately clear to us raised on the socialist ideals. I wonder how they feel moving through the world where all the signs are in a language they cannot read. Others have elaborated on combat system and other aspects of the mechanics. The only thing I would add here is that I advise against playing in permadeath mode since there is no way to prepare for (random) encounters in such way that you always have a decent chance of winning them (You do not have any info on your opponent relative strength, at least not in the beginning). The reason I am deducting two stars is the companion management. First of all, this games forces you to specialise. There is no way you are going to pick up all those skills. There are occasions in the game where you have to interact with the world using skills. Weirdly, it is impossible to get the assistance of your companions in many of these situations (any multiple-choice-interaction-with-object dialogue). I hope this behaviour is patched. Developers could also pay attention to companion AI in combat (especially with grenades).

ATOM is a proper RPG, with plenty to do and see, without falling into the trap of endless courier missions and the like as seen in some AAA titles. The graphics are good without being AAA first person and the playing space is comfortably large (I'm now maybe 30 hours in and barely entered the 2nd map area (there are at least 3, maybe more). The story is very interesting, spiced with unexpected details and funny moments, all linking nicelly within the game (for example, rumours might actually mention something unbelievable which later on does pop-up in game ... or they might just be made up stories or distorted storylines from pre-apocalypse films). Furthermore, the story links well (or at least it seems, in my eyes as non-Russian) with the real Russia of the 1980s and before and a certain way in which the World was seen back then and there, making it even more intriguing as it is a different spin to the post apocalyptic stories one often sees in cinema. At the price it sells, this game is very good value. Downsides: - No guidance whatsoever on builds, so you might just end up in post apocalyptic Russia with a character that doesn't do the most needed things right but does all the less important ones well. - It's way too easy to "go outside the reservation" by ignoring the main storyline and end up spending a significant portion of the game frustrated because of having delayed doing main mission elements that are supposed to give you the necessary weapons and resources to survive the rest more easilly. Because of this, the game might at first feel unfairly hard, if you're unlucky enough to go into it with an inappropriate build or put on hold a needed mission, either of which can easilly happen as there is zero upfront indication of what is important and what is not. That said, it is good fun, trully interesting and very much worth the buy.

While this game may have been created in the spirit of Fallout and Wasteland (I own both), it clearly stands along on its own merit. I bought the game after it was released and it sat in my queue for over two years. Recently, I finally started playing and greatly enjoy the loss of many, many hours as I immerse myself in the detailed gameplay and story. Having lived in Ukraine, it's eerie to see the Soviet equipment, attitudes, mindset that present so well and with such accuracy. Rusted weapons? Absolutely! Bread? Fish? Rodent? All too realistic...I'm only missing the borscht soup! I eagerly enjoy the family going to bed to allow me uninterrupted hours of gameplay! I will purchase Trudograd but only after it comes out of Development. This was an easy purchase and even easier recommendation to anyone who enjoyed Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Wasteland...this will remain in my play queue for many, many months.

As many other reviewers have said, if you liked Fallout 1 & 2 (and, in terms of the same spirit, Fallout 3 and New Vegas), you will love this game. That said, my particulars: To quote another review, by mudpie210, "At only 15 bucks this price is a steal for the amount of game that is provided by the developers." I have not completed the game yet (admittedly, I play slowly, intentionally), but I keep expecting it to end, yet I find more and more to experience. I feel I underpaid for this game (which I also why I just bought the new DLC sight unseen). Pros: + love the characters, love the dialogue, love the humor and meta talk + without a karma (or karma-type) system, it's much more on the player, and perhaps more meaningful, to truly role-play the game... you largely have to maintain your own conscience + graphics are, for this genre/style, remarkably good, and (personal thing) don't require a dedicated gaming rig to see pretty things; if you have a general purpose system like mine, a Lenovo e470, you won't be disappointed + (personal preference) while there is a crafting element, you don't have to use it if you don't want to (I'm not into craft-driven games). If you like crafting, it's here. If you don't, you can ignore it. Cons: - I find myself saving after every encounter, because crashes can be somewhat frequent at some points (until suddenly they don't) And now, ***spoiler alert*** This is mostly for the devs... I may have come to it later than intended, don't know, but after liberating a certain town of certain mutant creatures, and coming back to find it becoming populated by people I had met on previous sojourns, well, that was the best gaming moment I have had in years. It took me completely by surprise. I enjoyed the game until that point... but at that point, I found myself talking at my computer, saying, "just, wow, this is perfect."