Info about Atomic Heart:

Official game description:
Special Edition
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About the Game
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Welcome to a utopian world of wonders and perfection, in which humans live in harmony with their loyal and fervent robots.  
Well, that's how it used to be. With the launch of the latest robot-control system mere days away, only a tragic accident or a global conspiracy could disrupt it…  
The unstoppable course of technology along with secret experiments have brought rise to mutant creatures, terrifying machines and superpowered robots—all suddenly rebelling against their creators. Only you can stop them and find out what lies behind the idealized world.  
Using the combat abilities granted by your experimental power glove, your arsenal of blades and cutting-edge weaponry, fight for your life in explosive and frenetic encounters. Adapt your fighting style to each unique opponent. Combine your skills and resources, use the environment and upgrade your equipment to overcome challenges and fight for good.  
• An utopian world, both mad and sublime  
• Visceral, spectacular and unforgiving combat  
• Blast giant machines and mutants using your multiple skills and advanced weapons  
• Upgrade your arsenal and equipment

Release date: 20 Feb, 2023

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Real-time Combat, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Puzzle Solving, Open-World Exploration, Single-player Story, Environmental Storytelling


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging Combat & Gameplay (weight 0.86): Players consistently praise the game's dynamic, satisfying, and brutal combat system, which effectively blends melee, gunplay, and special abilities. The variety of enemies and challenging boss fights contribute to an intense and enjoyable experience, often compared to titles like BioShock and DOOM.
- Stunning Art & World Design (weight 0.77): The game receives overwhelming acclaim for its unique retro-futuristic Soviet aesthetic, exceptional graphics, and immersive world-building. Reviewers highlight the detailed environments, imaginative enemy designs, and overall visual spectacle that creates a memorable and distinct atmosphere.
- Unique Soviet Setting & Lore (weight 0.33): The alternate 1955 Soviet Union setting is a major draw, offering a fascinating blend of utopian ideals, advanced robotics, and dystopian undertones. Players appreciate the deep lore, environmental storytelling, and the game's ability to create an authentic yet fantastical 'atom-punk' world.
- Improved DLC Content (weight 0.2): The game's DLCs, particularly the third one, are noted for significantly improving upon the base game by addressing player feedback, reducing tedious puzzles, and offering tighter combat and engaging storylines. Many consider the DLCs to be high-quality expansions.
- Exceptional Soundtrack (weight 0.2): The game's music, including remixes of classic Soviet-era songs and original compositions (some by Mick Gordon), is consistently lauded as a highlight. The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing both combat and exploration.
- Compelling Story & Characters (weight 0.19): The narrative is described as engaging, full of unexpected twists, and well-developed, keeping players hooked from start to finish. Reviewers also appreciate the interesting characters and the overall depth of the plot.
- Accessible & Enjoyable Puzzles (weight 0.15): Puzzles are generally well-received, described as interesting, varied, and not overly frustrating. The option to skip puzzles and QTEs in the settings is a highly appreciated accessibility feature, allowing players to tailor their experience.
- Flexible Progression System (weight 0.15): The weapon and skill upgrade system is highly praised for its flexibility, allowing players to freely respec and experiment with different builds without penalty. This encourages diverse playstyles and enhances replayability.
- High-Quality Voice Acting (weight 0.11): The game's voice acting across multiple languages, including Chinese, German, Spanish, and Russian, is frequently commended for its quality, authenticity, and ability to enhance immersion and humor.
- Strong Replayability & Engagement (weight 0.08): Many players express a desire to replay the game, citing a deeper appreciation for the plot and mechanics on subsequent playthroughs. The game's ability to keep players engaged for extended periods is a recurring positive.

Common complaints:
- Unlikable Protagonist and Poor Dialogue (weight 0.96): The main character, P-3, is frequently described as annoying, unlikeable, overly aggressive, and constantly complaining, with cringeworthy and excessive dialogue. This negatively impacts player immersion and enjoyment of the story, with many wishing for a silent protagonist.
- Repetitive and Tedious Puzzles (weight 0.85): The game is criticized for an excessive number of puzzles, many of which are described as boring, repetitive, and poorly integrated into the gameplay flow. Players feel these puzzles artificially lengthen the game and interrupt the action, often lacking clear guidance or variety.
- Frustrating Open World Design (weight 0.83): The open world is widely panned for its constant and infinite enemy respawns, particularly repair bots that revive defeated enemies, making combat futile and exploration unrewarding. This design choice creates a tedious and restrictive experience, discouraging players from engaging with the environment.
- Clunky Combat and Movement (weight 0.78): Combat is often criticized for feeling clunky, slow, and lacking impact, with issues like imprecise dodging, slow animations, and enemies that frequently stun-lock the player. Movement, especially climbing and jumping, is also reported as stiff and inconsistent, leading to frustration.
- Numerous Bugs and Technical Issues (weight 0.72): Players consistently report a wide array of bugs, from minor visual glitches and unpickupable items to major game-breaking issues like frequent crashes, character soft-locks, and broken achievements. These technical problems significantly hinder progression and overall enjoyment, often requiring frustrating reloads.
- Weak and Predictable Story (weight 0.45): The game's story is generally considered average, predictable, and often confusing, with an abrupt ending and an overload of lore at the conclusion. Many players found it hard to connect with the narrative or characters, feeling it failed to live up to its initial premise.
- Disappointing and Flawed DLCs (weight 0.26): The DLCs, particularly 'Trapped in Limbo' (DLC2), are heavily criticized for terrible gameplay design, including frustrating parkour, repetitive mini-games, and a drastic departure from the main game's style. They are often described as short, unrewarding, and not worth their price.
- Misleading Genre and Unfulfilled Potential (weight 0.13): Many players feel the game's marketing was misleading, presenting it as an immersive sim or a shooter akin to Bioshock or Doom, while the actual gameplay falls short. The game is seen as a mix of mediocre elements that fail to realize its significant potential.
- Unsatisfying Weapon and Upgrade System (weight 0.13): Players find the weapon and upgrade system underwhelming, with many weapons feeling weak, lacking impact, and offering little variety or depth in customization. The difficulty balance is also inconsistent, making some upgrades feel pointless or combat too easy/hard at different stages.
- Repetitive Boss Fights (weight 0.1): Boss fights are often criticized for being repetitive, simplistic, and sometimes overly long, with many players finding easy exploits like melee spamming. Some bosses are also deemed unfairly difficult or require excessive healing, detracting from the challenge.
- Frustrating Save and Progression System (weight 0.09): The game's save system is problematic, with scarce auto-save points and the inability to save 'in place,' leading to significant progress loss after death or encountering bugs. Collectibles and achievements are also tied to a system that can be frustrating for completionists.
- Ineffective Stealth Mechanics (weight 0.08): Stealth is widely regarded as broken or non-existent, with enemies detecting players from far distances and a lack of meaningful stealth tools. This forces players into combat even when attempting to be stealthy, making the mechanic frustrating and unrewarding.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse Gameplay Mechanics (weight 0.24): The game offers a rich blend of puzzles, melee combat, ranged combat, and platforming. Puzzles are varied, often found in 'polygons' or testing grounds, and combat emphasizes dodging, parrying, and utilizing elemental abilities. This combination provides a dynamic and engaging experience.
- Multiple Endings & DLC Storylines (weight 0.16): The main game features two distinct endings based on player choices, which then lead into different DLC storylines. The DLCs expand the narrative, with some continuing the 'canon' ending and others exploring alternate timelines, adding significant lore and playtime.
- Robust Upgrade & Crafting Systems (weight 0.15): Players can extensively upgrade weapons, character abilities, and the neuro-glove using collected resources. The game features a skill tree, weapon modifications, and a free respec system, allowing for flexible playstyle customization and significant power progression.
- Semi-Open World Exploration (weight 0.11): The game features a semi-open world structure, blending linear narrative sections with larger explorable zones. These areas are filled with loot, terminals, and optional 'polygons' (challenge areas) for upgrades, though enemy respawns can make open-world traversal challenging.
- Difficulty & Accessibility Options (weight 0.08): The game offers multiple difficulty settings, from easy to 'Armageddon,' allowing players to tailor the challenge. It also includes accessibility options to auto-solve puzzles and QTEs, catering to different player preferences and skill levels.
- Influences from Other Games (weight 0.07): The game is frequently compared to titles like BioShock, Prey, Doom, and Dead Space due to its blend of FPS, RPG, and immersive sim elements, as well as its thematic and gameplay similarities.
- Mixed Reception on Gameplay Flow (weight 0.07): While generally considered good, some players found the gameplay clunky or too simple after upgrades, especially on lower difficulties. The balance between combat and puzzles also varied, with some feeling it was less combat-heavy than advertised.
- DLC Introduces New Mechanics (weight 0.05): The 'Trapped in Limbo' DLC specifically introduces unique gameplay elements, focusing on parkour, platforming, and new abilities like whip and fire. It also features new marine-themed enemies and a distinct, independent experience.
- Variable Game Length (weight 0.04): The main campaign length varies significantly among players, ranging from 10 to 30 hours, with full completion including all DLCs extending to 20-36 hours or more. Some players feel the game artificially prolongs playtime.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Game Optimization (weight 0.17): Many players report that the game is exceptionally well-optimized, running smoothly at high frame rates and resolutions (including 4K) even on mid-range to high-end hardware. This positive feedback highlights stable performance, good graphics, and a lack of significant frame drops or crashes for a large portion of the player base.
- Visual and Audio Quality (weight 0.02): The game is praised for its beautiful graphics, detailed environments, and overall great sound effects and music, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Miscellaneous Technical Feedback (weight 0.02): Other minor technical points include a large game size, lack of HDR support, dull face animations, and specific issues potentially related to AMD cards or Unreal Engine limitations. FSR support is noted as beneficial for stable performance.
- Ray Tracing Performance is Poor (weight 0.02): Ray Tracing, still in beta, significantly degrades game performance, causing FPS drops of 60% or more and making it largely unusable for many players. It is recommended to disable this feature for a smoother experience.
- Shader Compilation on Launch (weight 0.01): Players frequently report long shader compilation times every time the game is launched, which can take up to 10 minutes and disrupt the immediate gameplay experience.
- Game Fails to Launch (weight 0.01): A small but critical group of players report that the game fails to launch entirely, despite having capable hardware and attempting common troubleshooting steps like reinstallation and file verification.
- Steam Deck Performance is Smooth (weight 0.01): The game generally runs very smoothly on the Steam Deck, particularly in quality mode, offering a good portable experience.
- Demanding PC Requirements (weight 0.01): Some players note that the game has demanding PC requirements, suggesting that a powerful system is needed to fully enjoy the game's visuals and performance.
- Occasional Stuttering (weight 0.01): While many report smooth gameplay, some players experience occasional stutters, though this is not a universal issue.

Recommendations:
- Mixed Reception, Sale Recommended (weight 0.38): Player sentiment is highly divided, with many recommending the game only when purchased on sale due to perceived issues with full price value. Ratings vary widely, indicating a subjective experience.
- Strong Desire for Sequel (weight 0.19): Many players are eagerly anticipating a sequel, hoping it will address current game flaws and expand upon the unique world and story. There's a clear interest in the future of the franchise.
- Bioshock-like Experience (weight 0.16): The game is frequently compared to Bioshock and similar immersive shooters (Prey, System Shock, Metro), appealing to fans of these genres with its atmosphere, combat, and world-building.
- Gameplay & Difficulty Recommendations (weight 0.09): Players offer varied advice on how to approach the game, including difficulty settings (easy for exploration, hard for challenge), playing on PC, and focusing on a single playthrough.
- Promising Debut for Developer (weight 0.09): Despite its flaws, many players view the game as an excellent first project from the developer, expressing excitement for future titles and hoping for more polish with increased resources.
- DLCs Enhance Story, Mixed Reception (weight 0.05): DLCs are considered by some to be essential for the full story experience, with particular anticipation for DLC4. However, DLC2 ('Trapped in Limbo') is widely disliked and not recommended.
- Flawed but Enjoyable (weight 0.03): The game is often described as deeply flawed but still enjoyable, with players willing to overlook issues for its unique qualities. Some find it frustrating or a disappointment.
- Open World Needs Improvement (weight 0.02): The open-world aspect receives mixed feedback; some enjoyed it, while others found it lacking in value and hope for significant improvements in the sequel, particularly regarding activities and mechanics.

Other player notes:
- Unique Soviet Retro-Futuristic Setting (weight 0.15): The game's most praised aspect is its distinctive setting: an alternate 1950s Soviet Union with advanced technology and robots. This retro-futuristic, 'Sovietpunk' aesthetic, combined with its unique atmosphere and art style, is consistently highlighted as a major draw.
- Anticipation for Sequels & DLC (weight 0.14): Players show significant interest in future content, eagerly awaiting upcoming DLCs and a potential sequel. Many hope that a second installment will address the first game's flaws and further develop its unique universe.
- Voice Acting Quality Varies (weight 0.04): While the Russian and Chinese voice acting is highly praised for its authenticity and humor, the English voice acting is often criticized for being terrible or unintentionally funny, impacting immersion for some players.
- Memorable Robot Characters (weight 0.03): The game's robots, particularly the 'sexy robot twins' and the 'naughty fridge,' are frequently mentioned for their unique designs and memorable personalities. They contribute significantly to the game's peculiar charm and humor.
- Developer Effort & Support (weight 0.02): Players acknowledge the significant effort put in by the developers, expressing gratitude for their contribution to gaming and Soviet culture. Many purchased the game to support the development team, despite some questioning the long development time.
- Variable Playtime (weight 0.02): The game's playtime varies significantly depending on playstyle, with estimates ranging from 14-24 hours for the main story to over 60 hours for completionists. DLCs add additional hours to the overall experience.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.28): Players are highly satisfied with the game's overall quality, including its excellent graphics, unique art style, immersive atmosphere, and engaging story. Many appreciate the combat mechanics, diverse gameplay, and the value for money, often comparing it favorably to titles like Bioshock. The game's optimization, soundtrack, and character design also contribute significantly to player enjoyment.
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Frustration primarily stems from numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. Players are also annoyed by infinite enemy respawns, clunky controls, repetitive puzzles, and the protagonist's constant, often cringeworthy, dialogue. Difficult boss fights, poor open-world design, and issues with the save system further contribute to this negative emotion.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Disappointment arises from unfulfilled potential, with players feeling the game could have been a masterpiece but fell short due to various flaws. Common causes include a mediocre or confusing story, repetitive gameplay, uninteresting open-world sections, and poor design choices in certain DLCs. Technical issues, unpolished elements, and a perceived lack of innovation also contribute to players feeling let down.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): Excitement is driven by the game's unique setting, engaging plot twists, and high-quality visuals and music. Players express strong interest in the combat mechanics and overall immersive experience. A significant source of excitement is the anticipation for sequels and future DLCs, indicating a desire for more content within this unique world.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players find the game generally fun and engaging, appreciating its unique Soviet sci-fi worldview, humor, and dynamic combat. The overall gameplay experience, including graphics, story, and soundtrack, contributes to a positive and entertaining time. Specific elements like boss fights, weapon variety, and character interactions also enhance enjoyment.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is frequently caused by the protagonist's constant sarcastic remarks and the overly sexualized vending machine dialogue. Players are also irritated by repetitive lock-picking, excessive puzzles, and the persistent presence of respawning enemies and flying repair robots in the open world. Minor bugs and performance issues also contribute to this feeling.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed towards the game's exceptional art style, unique setting, and impressive world-building, particularly the detailed reconstruction of the Soviet Union. Players praise the developers' achievement for a debut game, highlighting the impeccable fluidity, optimization, and captivating nature of the experience, often calling it a masterpiece.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique personality, breathtaking visuals, and ambitious design, often noting its distinct identity in the market. The exquisite world-building, great soundtrack, and well-written lore are frequently mentioned. Good optimization, developer support, and the game's thematic execution also contribute to a sense of gratitude.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is expressed through strong positive language, with players loving the game's overall quality, fun gameplay, and beautiful graphics. The combat, music, and world contribute to an extremely enjoyable experience, often making players laugh and smile. The game's ability to evoke nostalgia and provide a memorable experience also brings joy.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is a strong negative emotion, often expressed with expletives, stemming from perceived poor design choices, particularly in the 'Trapped in Limbo' DLC. Game-breaking bugs, unachievable achievements, and the protagonist's irritating personality also provoke anger. Players feel their time and money are wasted due to frustrating mechanics and unaddressed issues.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the game's quirky humor, bizarre elements, and unexpected interactions, such as a talking fridge and ballerina robots. Humorous dialogue, funny bugs, and the protagonist's profanity also contribute to players finding the game entertaining and comical.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's depth, unexpected quality, and replayability, often exceeding initial expectations. Discovering open-world elements, complex combat, and good performance on older hardware also contributes to this feeling. The game's ability to overcome initial negative impressions and become enjoyable is a common source of surprise.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is primarily focused on future content, with players eagerly looking forward to sequels and upcoming DLCs. This indicates a strong desire for the game's world and story to continue, and a belief in the developers' ability to deliver more engaging experiences.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom is caused by repetitive puzzles, uninteresting gameplay, and a lack of challenge in the late game. Players find the game tedious due to monotonous stages, excessive lock-picking, and a story that fails to maintain interest over time. Waiting during elevator rides and meaningless fetch quests also contribute to this feeling.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from unclear motivations, fragmented narratives, and a lack of guidance in quests. Players are also confused by inconsistent game tone, unintuitive crafting systems, and unexplained technical issues like FPS drops or video memory overflow. The sexualized upgrade cabinet and the mixed qualities of the game also contribute to bewilderment.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is expressed through a desire for future improvements, particularly in a sequel, addressing current flaws like gunplay and unique weapons. Players wish for the development team's success and believe in the potential of the new IP to evolve and deliver an even better experience.
- Disgust (weight 0): Disgust is triggered by specific unsettling game content, such as the 'Ye Ya' enemies, the desecration of Soviet soldiers' remains, and sexually suggestive mannequins. Players also express revulsion towards certain puzzle designs, profanity, and the overall gameplay experience of some DLCs, likening it to 'eating fly shit with maggots'.
- Intrigue (weight 0): Intrigue is sparked by the game's provocative narrative, surreal and twisting plot, and philosophical questions about memory, control, and free will. Players are drawn to the unique and unsettling atmosphere, finding the Twin Ballerinas and other strange elements particularly fascinating.
- Awe (weight 0): Awe is inspired by the game's stunning art style, unique retro-futuristic setting, and breathtaking visuals. Players are impressed by the detailed locations, vibrant colors, and the successful implementation of mechanics by a new studio. The terrifying atmosphere and thematic depth also contribute to this sense of wonder.
- Engagement (weight 0): Players feel highly engaged by the game's visuals, sound, and story, finding it very addictive. The detailed breakdown of game systems, the plot keeping players on their toes, and the fascinating world contribute to a deep immersion. The interesting story and creative game proposal also hold players' attention.}