[Discussion] Atomfall Unveiled: First Look at Rebellion's Post-Nuclear Adventure

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Rebellion Unveils Gameplay Video for Anticipated Atomfall

Today, the esteemed creators of Sniper Elite, Rebellion, have shared a significant development update for their upcoming game, Atomfall, in the form of its first gameplay video. Even if short, the video is brimming with intriguing details that are destined to thrill aficionados of post-apocalyptic gaming scenarios.

Strikingly Authentic Representation of a Nuclear Nightfall

In contrast to the bleak futures encapsulated in the Fallout and Metro franchises, Atomfall is taking a leaf out of the STALKER series, inviting players to journey through a rendition of the early 1960s under the shadow of a fictive nuclear disaster. With the Windscale incident replacing the Chornobyl disaster, the game provides a twist on the familiar.

The Windscale event in 1957 marked one of the most devastating nuclear accidents in history when a fire engulfed the reactor core. Unlike Chornobyl, however, no official evacuation was mandated around the Windrush area. Atomfall takes this patchwork of history and brings it to life in a parallel 1962 universe where the area was quarantined following the catastrophe.

In this transformed world of Atomfall, players are plunged into a deceptively idyllic wasteland with one prime objective—to unearth the reality behind the disaster. As with any quest, anticipated simplicity soon twists into a complex journey as the quarantine zone shrouds numerous sinister secrets.

Under the Wing of the Protocol Force

In the aftermath of the mock disaster, the British Army swiftly deployed a unit to enforce law and order in the quarantined locale until the government was prepared to respond fully. Over five long years, the isolation of the Protocol Force has blurred the lines between being emergency responders and an occupying military entity.

Legitimacy aside, the Protocol troops serve as the solitary source of knowledge for the quarantined citizens. Their gear is distinctly post-war British Army, with a stark exception being the presence of formidable atompunk robot enforcers brandishing machine guns and flamethrowers.

These formidable enforcers are tasked with safeguarding the facilities of the British Atomic Research Division (also known as BARD), analogous to dungeons in Atomfall. Expect to undertake high-risk missions and gather valuable loot within these bunkers.

A Confluence of Intriguing Characters

Borrowing from the world-building elements seen in STALKER, the Atomfall universe presents underground facilities around the powerplant used for questionable experiments that have given birth to luminescent blue humanoid mutants, among other entities.

The mysterious blue aura attracted intrigued individuals, resulting in a rise in cults outside the laboratory confines. The distinctive attire of the cultists is a nod to mid-20th-century England, with cricket and fancy hat-tipping becoming parts of their twisted rituals.

Rebellion's gameplay teaser displays sequences involving stealth, but players will not be confined to one strategy. Atomfall encourages players to either cleverly avoid cultists and robots or confront them head-on.

Classic Survival in an Uncharted Reality

The survival mechanics in Atomfall pay homage to the classic shooters. The presented gameplay shows systems of looting and combat reminiscent of Metro Exodus, where ammunition and firearms can be scavenged only scarcely.

To tackle this scarcity, players can resort to traditional weapons such as cricket bats and bow-and-arrow sets. Additionally, weapons typical to post-war British Army, like the STEN submachine gun and SLR battle rifle, are available to players.

Reinvigorating Classic Tropes with Atomfall's Unique Twist

Even though Atomfall relies heavily on traditional mechanics and themes present in other apocalyptic survival shooters, it ingeniously remixes these elements to refresh the genre. Unlike the mod for Fallout 4, known as Fallout London, Atomfall’s unique take on post-nuclear England offers a renewed perspective on the genre.

Slated for a launch next year on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, and PC, the forthcoming Atomfall gives you ample time to prepare for the journey into its stunning radioactive universe.

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