Atomic Heart (Xbox One/SX)

Bioshock-Klon mit verwirrender, oft unbefriedigender Geschichte und vielen unfertig wirkenden Elementen. Wunderschöne Optik und gute Kämpfe sind aber für einen Durchgang fesselnd genug.

Atomic Heart ist optisch und designtechnisch ein Brett. Tolle, opulente Umgebungen, Gebäude und Ideen. Und auch das Gameplay hat durch viele Möglichkeiten des Kombinierens einiges zu bieten und kann sich von Seiten großen Vorbildern gut behaupten. Doch nerviges Sammeln, unfaire Schwärme an Gegnern und die nur solide Story können da am Gesamtbild kratzen.

On the one hand, Atomic Heart is a good game on its own merits. The fun and frantic gunplay, outstanding visual design, and intricate level of detail in its world amount to an experience worth your time. On the other hand, it could have been so much more. The story and characters simply don’t do justice to the game’s thought-provoking premise, and some better writing would have done wonders.

I admire the gusto with which Mundfish approached its debut game because it’s created one hell of a world to explore. But beyond its pristine setting and ass-kicking soundtrack, it’s largely forgettable. Maybe if the gameplay evolved beyond its basic beginnings or if the story was — I don’t know, good — I might be willing to give it another go.

Despite what is a promising combat formula as well as the supporting systems behind it when it comes to skills, crafting, and upgrades, there are also several equally frustrating aspects of it that hold the game back. The hope is that Mundfish is able to fix some of the more glaring issues post-launch, but right now, it feels less like a welcomed revolution and more like a nuclear disaster.

Atomic Heart lacks follow-through on its most interesting narrative concepts and plays it safe with its first-person shooter gameplay.