GAMERS DECIDE - Atomic Heart

[Guide] Atomic Heart All Enemy Types Ranked And How To Defeat Them

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:51:10 +0000

Atomic Heart is an action game with some of the most intense combat mechanisms. The game’s shooting and melee combat is bound to pump your heart up. But none of that would mean much without enemies.

Thankfully, the game gives you plenty of them to destroy. You’ll be taking on different types of robots, humanoid and otherwise. And along the way, you’ll also run into some other biological monstrosities!

But you’re not the only one who’ll be doing the killing. The enemies in Atomic Heart are deadly. If you don’t watch out, they will end you quickly.

And that’s why I’ve put together this guide. Not only do I rank the enemies according to how challenging I thought they were. I’ll also write about the most effective strategies to defeat them.

12. Dandelion Security CCTV Camera

This is the simplest one. It’s just a camera, and it won’t even shoot at you. You might even wonder why I’m putting it on this list.

Well, for one, you can destroy it. Little good that does, since it gets repaired soon. But at least it lets you sneak by.

More importantly. These things are enemies because the moment one sees you, the whole area will rush to you. And now you have to fight or flee, whatever your adrenaline tells you to.

Strategy

There’s not much you can do once you’re spotted. Destroying one is useless after that because everyone knows where you are.

So what you should try to do is avoid them. Easier said than done, I know, considering there are so many of them. You can disable them by using Shok or by throwing stuff at it.

11. Sprouts And Mother

There’s a reason why I’m grouping these two together. And you probably know why. Sprouts are these giant flower-things that fly around and try to hurt you. They can’t hurt you too much, but that’s not the real threat.

These things can bond with dead bodies and become a zombie-like creature called Mutant. This might remind you of Half-Life.

And the Mother? It’s this organic mass stuck to a wall which pops out these Sprouts. As long as one’s around, they will keep coming.

Strategy

The Sprouts are very easy to kill. If you dodge properly, you can kill them with one or two strikes. But that won’t do you a lot of good, because they will keep coming.

You need to find all the Mothers in the area and destroy them first. They too are easy to destroy, but finding them can sometimes be a little challenging. Use your Scan ability to reveal their locations.

10. Mutant

These things are disturbing… In the last entry, I compared them to the Half-Life zombies and I still stand by that. They’re both unsettling and very aggressive. And you just have to look at the picture to see what I mean. Horrendous!

They are pretty easy to kill, and don’t pose too much danger. But they can gang up on you. And their leap attack not only knocks you down, but also does a lot of damage.

Another thing to watch out for is the Large Mutant Variant. These things are, as the name suggests, large. They shoot out Sprouts from their backs and their attacks hurt a lot. They can also be damage sponges.

Strategy

As our ancestors discovered, fire is your friend. Being plant-based, you might have figured that out. So keep your cartridges handy. Energy weapons don’t do much, but projectiles do.

Since the regular Mutants are weaker, I recommend using the PM on them. This might be the only time I would say this. Save the valuable ammo for the powerful weapons for the bigger enemies.

Like the large mutant. This thing doesn’t have many weaknesses, so you’ll just have to keep shooting and hacking and burning it.

9. VOV-A6 Lab Tech

Lab techs are everywhere, and I don’t mean we have too many students of the Sciences. No, that’s the name of the most basic types of enemies. If you’ve already started the game, you run into a few moments after you get your weapons.

When you first meet these guys, they can be a little troublesome. But that’s because you’re still learning to play the game. Once you’ve upgraded your weapons and skills, they should give you no trouble.

But let’s look at the variants and how they can hurt you. The white are the basic versions that will try to punch you. They can dodge your attacks when you charge and will use power attacks.

The black Lab techs have more health and can shoot lasers out of their heads. They’re easy to dodge, but if you fail, you’ll take a lot of damage. And they hit harder as well.

And finally, the gray. There guys use Polymer Shields and an… energy baton? Their power attacks are much harder to dodge and can easily take you out.

Strategy

The white Techs are the easiest to deal with. You can pretty much use anything and kill them. The same can be said for the black ones, you just need to do it longer and avoid their attacks.

The gray ones are a little trickier. They’ll pull their shield up before you can do enough damage, so you need to get rid of that. It’s weakest at the center, so that’s where you have to shoot.

Having your own Polymer Shield is a great way of avoiding them. But even if you don’t have that, dodging can be effective assuming you have the right upgrades. Keep doing that and you should come out on top.

8. WSP-9 Pchela

You’d think these cute, flying drones wouldn’t do too much damage. In all honesty, you’d be right. But there’s a catch.

They come in three variants. One is a repair bot, another has a Dandelion camera attached and the last one shoots lasers. The last one will be the least of your worries, since you can easily dispatch them. It’s the other two you need to worry about.

If the camera bot sees you, it will set off the alarms and everything in the area will rush at you. Unless you’re very confident in your ability or playing with the easiest difficulty, I recommend running.

And the worst of the bunch is the repair bot. These things will pop out whenever you destroy something and literally fix them up. While these are around, you won’t be able to focus on the fight. Because if you don’t, you will be overwhelmed.

Strategy

The good news is that they have very low health. Just a single use of Shok is enough to bring one down. And with Chain Lightning, you’ll catch more than one. Anything else, I recommend shooting down with Electro.

You might also use Polymer Jet. The range shouldn’t be a problem, since they will come close to you.

These things come out of outlets and each one pops out five your way. One at a time. So you need to make sure you’re counting, and be patient as they come towards you.

7. RAF-9 Engineer

The Engineer, or Rafik, is interesting. Their purpose is to repair stuff and serve humans. And unlike the other guys here, they don’t actually stray.

On one hand, it’s a very powerful enemy. It has high damage attacks from both close and far. And it can take a beating.

On the other hand, they’re actually not hostile at all. You’ll run into a few of them, but they only attack after you’ve attacked them.

Strategy

Strategy 1 is to not attack them at all. Why poke the proverbial bear? But that means missing out on resources. So if you really want to kill one, here’s how.

The moment it becomes aggressive, it'll charge you or spit oil in your way. Telekinesis is going to be a huge asset for you as you can lift it up and gain some time. If you have it upgraded, you can even cause fall damage.

Besides that, Zvezdochka is a heavy hitter that is right for this. And the Shotgun. Never forget your shotgun.

6. Vatrushka

You’d think these things are harmless, and you’d be almost right. But that almost makes the difference between life and death in this game. These robots were made for taking measurements, and have a lot of different tools to hurt you with.

There are three variants, and the color will tell you what they do. They can either shoot at you, use a flamethrower or laser. The last one even has a knockdown effect.

On their own, they’re easy to take care of. They move fast but don’t have a lot of health. But they will almost always come with other types and easily overwhelm you.

Strategy

I prefer taking these things out first, because they can complicate the fights. Shok is almost always guaranteed to hit.

Freezing them is an option too, since they move around too much. That is, if you can use Frostbite before they move out of range.

Once deployed, they remain stationary while they prepare to fire. That’s when you can easily hit them. As for weapons, Electro is always a good bet.

5. MFU-68 Laborer

Atomic Heart keeps you trapped underground for quite some time. And when it finally lets you out into the open, you meet these guys.

As the name and design suggests, they were created to cut trees, among other things. These saws make them deadly opponents as they hack away at you. What makes things even more troublesome is that they will charge and close the distance.

Strategy

As dangerous as they are, they don’t have a lot of health. During the later game, they will only pose a threat if they gang up or sneak up on you.

Hitting them with Shok should do a lot of damage, especially if you have Chain Lightning and the following upgrades. After that, you can hack them up with a melee weapon easily. I find the Pashtet perfect for this job because of its incredible attack speed.

4. LUC-1 Owl

These are some fast flying drones that were meant to watch over fields. Unfortunately for us, they do a lot more than just watching. By that, I mean shooting missiles.

They’re pretty fast, and on top of that, they can easily swarm you with missiles. You’ll have to do a lot of dodging and somehow shoot them out of the air while you’re being shot at. You can see why these things can’t be taken lightly.

Strategy

Melee is out of the question, obviously. Same more or less applies for Polymer Jet and Frostbite. But there are several other ways.

Since they move around a lot, your best bet is the shotgun. The spread ensures that you will hit something. It’s the best you can hope for.

And if you’re lucky enough that they’re in moderate range, feel free to hit them with Shok.

3. MED-9 Doc

This thing might look like a cute ostrich strutting around, but don’t let that fool you. Though if you’ve read this far, you know better than to let anything fool you. They were created to help with medical operations. They’re kinda doing the opposite now, though.

These things can't take a lot of hits. But they will shoot projectiles at you. And if that wasn’t enough, they can also fire a laser. On top of that, they can rush at you, knock you down andkick you if you get too close.

Strategy

Despite the danger they pose, they are actually fairly easy to destroy. They have funky movements, so shooting them is difficult. But if you use the Shotgun or the Kalash, you should be able to get enough hits in.

Melee is also a good option, as I find them easier to hit that way. But if you’re trying that, you have to be quick. Because they’ll either kick you when you get close, or run away. Or both.

2. Plyush

This isn’t pretty to look at, is it? Looks more like a mass of tentacles made out of blood or guts rather than anything else. But as it stands, this thing is actually made out of Polymer. An attempt at making an exoskeleton.

These things are dangerous for a bunch of reasons. They’re resistant to almost every kind of attack. The only exception being their weaknesses - melee and fire.

They are fast and will attack aggressively. Getting too close might get you killed. But if you keep your distance, they will charge at you or extend their limbs and attack you.

Strategy

Since their only weaknesses are melee weapons and fire, you have very few options. Make sure you have fire cartridges on you and the necessary upgrade on your weapon. Also, having Character Skill Upgrades such as Sleazeball and Second Wind will help with dodging.

1. ARU-31/6 Rotorobot

Hello, everybody, and welcome to my nightmare. I wish I was kidding. But these machines are like the literal embodiment of death. They even have scythes!

Okay, I’m done being dramatic. This thing was designed for agriculture use, hence the scythes. There’s no justification for the sinister look, but it can’t be helped.

What makes these things so dangerous is their speed. Even though they have okay armor, they have a lot of health. And they more than make up for any lack by rushing at you. Their attacks do a lot of damage, and they attack you pretty fast as well.

Strategy

Since these enemies are very melee-focused, your best bet is using ranged weapons. Anything that has been upgraded to deal with robots will do. Keep dodging and shooting, and you should be fine.

And if you’re like me, you can try switching between the Pashtet and Electro. But it’s very risky, as the moment you get caught up in its blades, you’re done.

Frostbite is very useful if you’re going to do that. Or even without melee, it can give you some much needed breathing room. Especially if you’re surrounded.

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Knowing how to beat your enemies is the difference between life and death

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[Top 5] Atomic Heart Best Early Game Weapons

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:39:52 +0000

Atomic Heart is a challenging game that gives you a bunch of weapons and lets you fight enemy robots. But your time can be harder than it needs to be if you don’t know which weapons are the best. Especially during the early game, when you’re just figuring things out.

Selecting weapons is only complicated by the game’s inventory limit. So you can’t just lug around all your weapons like Doom or Wolfenstein. Until you get the upgrades (which are expensive!) you’ll have to be strategic.

Lucky for you, I have a list of the best 5 weapons you should use during the early game. Most of these weapons are handed to you throughout the Main Quest. And even then you might have to choose in your inventory. But with this guide, you’ll know what does what and can make the decisions right for you.

5. Swede

Swede Stats:

Damage - 3
Attack Speed - 4
Range - 5
Charge Damage - 4
Charge Speed - 4

You’ll probably forget about Swede by the time you play the next game. But that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with this one. It’s the first weapon you get, and it does its job well.

As far as melee weapons go, Swede sits right at the middle. It does an okay amount of damage, isn’t too fast or slow. And it hits the right range. It’s kind of all-purpose, at least until you get your hands on the better stuff.

It’s an ax, so obviously it’s used for hacking away. It’s very effective during the early game where you’ll be trying to conserve as much ammo as you can. It won’t do anything special, but it will keep you going until you get something better. And if you upgrade it, your journey will be easier.

You don’t have to find Swede, more like it finds you. P-3 pulls it out of the ground after the title screen. So you literally start the game with this.

4. Dominator

Dominator Stats:

Damage - 3
Rate of Fire - 8
Recoil Control - 2
Decreased Spread - 7
Ammunition Type - Energy

With a name like ‘Dominator’, we’d all be disappointed if it doesn’t hit hard. Fortunately for us, it’s a powerful energy weapon that is very useful in the game.

This isn’t the most powerful energy weapon, but it’s definitely formidable. It deals less damage than Electro and Railgun, but the rate of fire more than makes up for it. There are times when you just need something fast.

You’ll find the most use out of this when you’re surrounded by enemies. It can quickly take out the weaker ones and leave you with some breathing room. If you have the right upgrades, it can also deal significant damage to stronger robots.

To get the blueprint for this weapon, you have to finish a quest called ‘SDC-2 Volan Cheatsheet.’ Yeah, I know the name is a mouthful. It’s where you meet Granny Zina for the second time.

3. Pashtet

Pashtet Stats:

Damage - 5
Attack Speed - 8
Range - 5
Charge Damage - 6
Charge Speed - 7

This weapon here is basically a machete with teeth. What’s not to love, am I right? Besides the aesthetics, it also has some hefty stats which you can see up there. And it’s my personal favorite melee weapon from the game.

One look at the stats and you can see that it has the highest attack speed, which makes it very useful when fighting fast enemies. On top of that, the range and damage are actually pretty good too. When you think about that, you actually become a killing machine on the field.

And on top of that, Pashtet fills up your energy meter quite fast. Even without upgrading the weapon or your Energy Management tree, your meter will always be full. So it’s very useful whether you’re fighting robots or mutants.

Finding this is a little trickier. This one won’t be handed to you by anyone, you’ll have to find the blueprint out in the world. While the locations are randomized, some places have a better chance of having them than others. Check out the Algae Workshop Breakroom in the Vavilov Complex.

2. KS-23

KS-23 Stats:

Damage - 7
Rate of Fire - 1
Ergonomics - 6
Recoil Control - 6
Decreased Spread - 5
Magazine Capacity - 3

You can’t have a first-person shooter game without a shotgun. One simply does not do that! Atomic Heart doesn’t disappoint as it gives us this powerful guy. And it sure packs a punch.

Shotgun is the type of weapon which shoots powerful rounds but spreads a fair bit. This makes them very effective in close range combat, which is what a lot of Atomic Heart’s combat will be. At least, the regular fights.

The slower rate of fire is a problem, but you can get the right upgrades to reduce that. You can also reduce reload time, and then this thing becomes even more deadlier than before. Since most Mutants can be easily taken out by a melee weapon, I recommend using this for the more powerful enemies.

This one’s handed to you by a quest, so don’t worry about missing it. Once you enter the Vavilov Complex, you will find it when you open the first door. The player will automatically pick it up.

1. Electro

Electro Stats:

Damage - 4
Rate of Fire - 2
Recoil Control - 10
Decreased Spread - 6
Charge Damage - 1
Ammunition Type - Energy

Electro might not look like anything more than a toy guy. But this right here is one of the most powerful weapons in the game. Seriously, I’m not making this up. Definitely the most powerful energy weapon you’ll find.

The weapon has a high damage output even without any upgrades. Because it’s an energy weapon, it doesn’t need any ammo. Your energy bar regenerated by itself. This makes it the perfect weapon to take down smaller flying enemies.

On top of all of that, getting the Energy Vampire upgrade is a game-changer. With that, you can actually steal energy from your enemies and use it against them. Or even health from organic enemies! It’s an offer you can’t refuse.

You will find this weapon during one of the Main Quests inside the Vavilov Complex. During the quest ‘In Hot Pursuit’, you NORA will give you the blueprint when you’re picking up a Moon Canister. Don’t worry, it’s impossible to miss.

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The weapons you have on you define how well you play. Especially when you’ve started.

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[Top 10] Atomic Heart Best Cinematic Scenes

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:29:34 +0000

Like most games these days, Atomic Heart has many cinematic scenes. Around 27 actually. It’s only natural for some of the scenes to be better than others. So if you’re wondering which ones are the best, you’ve come to the right place.

But before we start, “you might be wondering what counts as a cinematic scene?” Well, the answer’s pretty simple. The word comes from cinema. So any scene where you don’t need to do anything is a cinematic scene.

There are many reasons why cinematic scenes are useful. Sometimes, they’re used to show some really cool things. Like an animated scene.

Other times, the game gives us lots of story info through these scenes. We don’t need to do anything other than watching and listening. So it’s nice that we don’t have to do anything else.

By the way, spoiler alert. There are scenes from the end of the game, so keep that in mind if you don’t want any of that.

10. Turbine Ride

As far as cinematics go, this one is pretty long. It’s a little over 10 minutes, which you could argue is too long. And that’s true. But the way this scene sets everything up really gets you ready for everything.

So let’s talk about what happens. The scene starts with you riding a car that’s flying over the clouds. We can see all the flying cities on our way to Facility 3826. The car then descends and we get a little tour of the Facility.

This goes on for several minutes until you get attacked very suddenly. The robots start attacking everyone. We get to see the title screen, and then you wake up.

Some interesting things to note are the radio chatter we hear at first. It’s subtle but if you’ve played the game, you’ll notice that it talks about the political situation of the world. The music also perfectly goes with the different parts of the scene.

9. Granny Zina’s Intro

Granny Zina is this side character who pops up several times. For most of the game we know nothing about her. And you get the picture the first time you meet her.

In this scene, you are about to get throttled by a robot when Zina attacks it with a pitchfork and saves you. After a short conversation, all hell breaks loose. Zina shows us she’s far from a helpless granny when she pulls out her big guns. And I do mean big guns!

While this scene doesn’t give us a lot of information, we get an idea of how bad things are. We see the robots working in huge swarms, so we know how dangerous they are. And of course, we get to wonder what the deal is with this gun-toting granny!

8. Nora

While gamers began SIMPing all over the Twins, those two show little interest in you. However, the robot which does pay attention to you is… Well, not what you might have expected. It’s a fridge.

Before the scene starts, you follow a creepy nursery lullaby. Turns out, the sound is coming from a fridge. And when you get close, it pops out robotic tendrils that tie you up and…

The fridge then begins to hit on you while preparing to cut you up. Yeah, I’m not making this up. Luckily, your glove comes in handy and you get out of this one.

I don’t know what the dev team were thinking by making the fridge so vocal, but I think it was the right choice. Scenes like this really help you see how weird this place is. And this is only scratching the surface of this game’s strangeness.

7. Baba Yaga’s Flying Hut

Up next, we have the second scene where Granny Zina shows up. And this time, she makes a stellar entry. While the video I linked is 10 minutes long, you only need to watch the first 90 seconds.

Once again, you’re ambushed by a killer robot and about to get ended. Just in the nick of time, Granny Zina shows up. And that too in a flying cottage. The thing lands right on top of the robot and literally melts it. Whew!

While this scene doesn’t show a lot, the hut itself is impressive. It also plays into the legend of Baba Yaga. You might remember her name from pop culture. She’s originally part of Slavik folklore and is supposed to have a house that walks on chicken legs.

6. The Train Ride

This is a pretty important scene, though you might not pick up on it early on. On the surface, it’s just another scene with a robot breaking something. But it’s the dialogues here that are important.

As the train begins to leave, you start talking to CHAR-les about something he brought up before. The death of Professor Chariton Zakharov. If you finished the game, you know who that is.

The conversation is cut short abruptly as Hedgie attacks you. It destroys the train, so there goes all our hopes to travel in style. We get a glimpse of Stockhausen running and falling. The scene ends with Stock leaving and you getting attacked by a robot.

As I said earlier, the dialogues are the most important part. CHAR-les brings up Zakharov in an earlier scene, and we can see that P-3 can’t stop thinking about him. He’s already beginning to get inside his head.

5. Twin Ballerinas

This scene is pretty much iconic for the game. You might remember seeing parts of it in the Gameplay Trailer of Atomic Heart. I don’t know about you, but the Twins doing their weird ritual is hard to forget about.

You wake up from Limbo to find that everyone around you is dead. Sechenov arrives with his Twin bodyguards, and that’s when things begin to get creepy.

First, they do their dance and bring out a strange device. But it only gets weirder. You can see a bathtub filled with red polymer, which then takes a human shape. And that thing literally consumes Molotov’s dead body.

The background music is one of the biggest factors in this scene, in my opinion. The Gameplay Trailer had the remixed version of Starry Summer playing, which made everything seem upbeat. Here, the creepy music literally makes your skin tingle.

4. Petrov Gets Dumped

Petrov and Filatova are presented as the enemies for almost half of the game. But we don’t get to know much about them till this point. And this scene gives us a better idea of who these two people are.

The scene begins with you confronting the engaged couple. But before you can do anything to them, you get captured. When you wake up, you’re tied to a table.

Petrov and Filatova get into an argument. Petrov wants you dead, but Filatova does not agree. This is when you tell her that Petrov is the one who hacked into the robots.

Turns out, Petrov lied to her! And she does not take it well. I mean, fair enough. I wouldn't want to be engaged to a mass murderer either. The scene ends with Filatova running away and Petrov following.

This scene shows us that they had the same goal but different methods and moral compasses. Also, I have to give huge props to the animators. The facial expressions on Filatova’s face are incredible. You can pretty much see how shocked and hurt she is!

3. Petrov Of Opera

As far as scenes go, it doesn’t get any more dramatic than this. While I could tell Petrov was unhinged, I didn’t see this coming. It’s basically the grand reveal of the game. Or at least that’s what Petrov believed.

The scene starts when you walk in on Petrov dancing madly on the stage. He tells you the truth behind combat mode. Apparently, Sechenov had it programmed in from the very beginning. Petrov only activated it.

You have a hard time believing the words he’s saying, but you can also see that there’s truth in it. It makes sense.

The scene ends in a shocking death as Petrov kills himself. Except, that’s when the recordings start. It’s Petrov’s voice, and he narrates the arrival of the next boss.

Dramatic, am I right? Using Tchaikovsky’s Black Swan as the background music only makes the scene seem more chilling. You can feel the tension as the song builds up, going hand in hand with Petrov’s madness.

2. Academy Of Consequences

Near the end of the game, we get three moments of truth. The last entry was one, and this is another. By the time we play this part, we understand most of what’s happening. At least, it tells us why Petrov and Filatova betrayed their governments.

You take an elevator under a lighthouse and find yourself in a huge prison. In this scene, Filatova explains that this is what Kollectiv actually does to people. To prove her point, she asks you to give orders. And the people blindly follow your orders.

Based on what Filatova tells us, these people are actually really happy. And this is what Kollectiv will do to everyone. We never find out what Sechenov plans to do by controlling everyone, but by this point we know that he needs to be stopped.

Many other players and critics have compared the game to the legendary Bioshock. This scene is pretty much a tribute to that game. The underwater facility. The themes of control. It’s all here.

1. Humanity’s Future

And now, we’re at the final scene. By this point, we think we’ve figured everything out. You might have thought that it’s time to finish the big bad. Or maybe you knew something was off. Either way, this is the last moment of truth.

The scene begins right at the end of the final boss battle. You shoot Sechenov and right at that moment, Zakharov shows his true colors. Apparently it wasn’t Sechenov who was making you kill people, but your glove!

After zapping the player, Zakharov comes out and merges with red polymer. We can see him killing Sechenov and then destroying the Alpha Connector. What happens after that is pretty much left to our interpretation.

I think this is the heaviest cutscene in the game. It’s not hard to see that Zakharov was pulling the strings all along. After all, everything we know comes from him. And he’s the one who makes you start questioning Sechenov.

It’s not possible to unpack all of this in this entry, but you can read about it in articles about the game’s Story or Ending. I’ll add links to both articles down below.

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Kick your legs up, relax, and watch a cinematic scene first!

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[Top 10] Atomic Heart Best Weapon Upgrades And How To Get Them

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:25:46 +0000

Atomic Heart is an action packed game with intense combat and difficult enemies. Luckily, the game not only gives you a variety of powerful weapons. You also have several ways to improve them.

If you’ve played the game for even a little while, you know how tough it can get. Trust me when I say this, you really need this. If you don’t upgrade your weapons, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Even on the lowest difficulty!

The way to do it is a little… tricky. Before you can upgrade your weapons, you must find the relevant blueprint. But you’re not done there. You need the right resources to buy the upgrades.

Luckily, the game is literally littered with resources. If you go around every room searching, you won’t run out of stuff.

On the other hand, finding the blueprints can be tricky. Some of them are in specific locations. Others are randomly spread out in the world. That being said, they are more likely to pop up in some places. So in this guide, I’ll highlight those spots.

10. Ergonomic Handle - Pashtet

I’m gonna be honest here. Pashtet is my favorite weapon in the whole game, so I might have a bias towards it. But can you blame me? It’s a fast swinging one-handed weapon that deals a lot of damage. And in Atomic Heart, both matter a lot.

There’s a big reason for choosing this upgrade. Energy is pretty important for using weapons like Electro, Dominator or Railgun. But it takes time to recharge.

Why Ergonomic Handle Is Awesome:

Speeds up the recovery of energy with every hit
Pashtet’s fast swing speed means the energy meter can be filled very fast.
It can be upgraded to increase attack speed even more

How to Get Ergonomic Handle:

Ergonomic Handle Details:

Attack Speed: +2
Charge Speed: +2
Killing an enemy can recharge health or energy

9. Reverse Shot - Zvezdochka

I don’t usually play games with two-handed weapons, but I’m happy to make an exception for this bad boy. Zvezdochka is a powerhouse of a weapon. Just one look at it is enough to make you shiver. Even the game doesn’t know what exactly is going on, but we’re happy it exists.

This weapon also has a great range. But you can often find ways to extend a range. And the way this weapon does it is by shooting flying saws!

Why Reverse Shot Is Awesome:

Zvezdochka shoots out circular saws towards enemies
The flying saws deal a lot of damage
The power attack costs energy, but that can be easily recovered by attacking

How to Get Reverse Shot:

Reverse Shot Details:

Charge Damage: +1
Enemies can’t knock you down when you’re attacking
Every kill restores your health

8. Electromagnetic Polarizer - Kalash

Every first person shooter has an AK-47, it’s almost a rule. And Atomic Heart was made in Russia. Of course the most powerful projectile weapon is Kalash!

Still, you can never have too much damage. And since this is one of the weapons you should be holding onto for Boss Battles, it should be dealing extra damage. That’s where this upgrade comes in.

Why Electromagnetic Polarizer Is Awesome:

Kalash deals 10% more damage to robots
Most of the powerful enemy types are robots, with one exception. This makes it the ideal upgrade for these encounters.

How to Get Electromagnetic Polarizer:

Electromagnetic Polarizer Details:

Damage: +2
Recoil Control: +1
Decreased Spread: +2
Reduced recoil
Increased accuracy

7. Electrokinetic Stock - Kalash

And here’s another entry for Kalash! This one obviously does something slightly different. And very essential.

You’ll see this in most games that have automatic weapons. The bullets spread a fair bit, so a lot of them end up missing. Especially when you’re far. This upgrade fixes that.

Why Electrokinetic Stock Is Awesome:

The upgrade stabilizes Kalash, reducing its spread
More of the bullets will actually land on the enemies
And as more bullets hit, you’ll deal more damage

How to Get Electrokinetic Stock:

Electrokinetic Stock Details:

Damage: +1
Ergonomics: +2
Recoil Control: +1
Decreased Spread: +2
Increased accuracy
Reduced recoil
You’ll do more damage if you shoot for longer

6. Damper-Polymeric Stock - KS-23

Who doesn’t love a shotgun? Atomic Heart throws a lot of enemies in your face, and you’ll find yourself pulling this weapon out to deal with crowds. It also helps that the shotgun is pretty powerful and you get it early on during the game.

You probably already know that the downside of any shotgun is their low firing rate. Well, that’s why you want this upgrade.

Why Damper-Polymeric Stock Is Awesome:

Increases reload speed
Makes it possible to fire more often during combat

How to Get Damper-Polymeric Stock:

Damper-Polymeric Stock Details:

Damage: +1
Rate Of Fire: +2
Ergonomics: +1
Recoil Control: +3
Decreased Spread: +2
Reduced recoil
You get more energy for killing enemies

5. Reflex Blade - Pashtet

I’ve already sung a lot of praise for this weapon. You already know that it swings fast and hits hard. What if I told you it could hit harder?

Hear me out. The organics are some of the most annoying enemy types in Atomic Heart. Most of them can be taken out easily, but they’re fast and viscous. And that’s why you need a fast weapon like Pashtet.

Why Reflex Blade Is Awesome:

Pashtet will deal extra damage to organic enemies
High swing speed means that organics can be dealt with quickly

How to Get Reflex Blade:

Reflex Blade Details:

Damage: +2
Speed: +2
Charge Damage: +1

4. Energy Vampire Module - Electro

When you first get Electro, you might underestimate it. I know I did. It basically looks like a gun with some fancy wires and tubes taped to it. More like a toy, if anything.

But this little guy has the highest damage output in the whole game. And because it’s an energy weapon, you don’t need ammo. Your energy meter fills up by itself. Or when you attack your enemies.

But what if you could recharge your energy bar with an energy weapon? Pretty crazy, but you can do it with Electro if you have this upgrade.

Why Energy Vampire Module Is Awesome:

Sucks up the enemy’s energy battery
Fills up your energy meter
Has a cool effect that makes it look like the enemy’s skin is being sucked up
Electro can be fired over and over as the meter can recharged using Energy Vampire
How to Get Energy Vampire Module: https://youtu.be/eLrc7yLbLXw (Start at 1:48)

Energy Vampire Module Details:

Increases the range of the special attack
You absorb more energy from robots
You absorb health from organic enemies

3. Revolver Loading Module - Fat Boy

With a name like Fat Boy, you know it’s going to be super powerful. It’s a rocket launcher so of course it’s powerful.

For context, the name’s actually a nod to real life history. At the end of World War II, the US dropped two Atomic bombs on Japan. They were called Fat Man and Little Boy. This weapon basically merges the two names.

That’s enough history lesson for today. Let’s talk about the upgrade, shall we? Rocket launchers are slow weapons because you can only load one ammo. But this upgrade fixes that!

Why Revolver Loading Module Is Awesome:

Load three missile projectiles in the Fat Boy
The rocket launcher can now shoots three missiles at the enemy

How to Get Revolver Loading Module:

Revolver Loading Module Details:

Extended magazine

2. Homing Projectiles - Fat Boy

This is another upgrade for the very overpowered Fat Boy. And this upgrade is part of what makes it so OP. The Fat Boy already deals a ton of damage. If you get the last entry, it’ll potentially do 3 times as before.

And with this, you won’t even miss. I’m sure you’ve figured it out from the name of the upgrade. It’s a pretty simple name.

Why Homing Projectiles Is Awesome:

The Fat Boy locks onto the enemy automatically
The missiles shot from the rocket launcher follow the enemy until it hits

How to Get Homing Projectiles:

Homing Projectiles Details:

Rockets target the enemies
Faster lock-on
Faster rockets
Better accuracy
You deal more damage from farther away

1. Cartridge Gun - All Weapons (Except Railgun and Fatboy)

You might be wondering, what is the cartridge gun? Well, it’s basically something you can attach to almost any weapon. By doing so, they will deal elemental damage.

Pretty handy, right? Personally, I consider this to be the best upgrade in the game. Other than the Railgun and the Fat Boy, every weapon can be upgraded to use this.

With this, you can make any weapon dish out elemental damage. And this is very useful when you think about the enemy’s weaknesses.

Using it can be a little tricky though. Yes, you can install the cartridge gun from the get go. But you need to find the blueprints for the three cartridges to use them. Luckily, you can find them pretty early in the game.

Why Cartridge Gun Is Awesome:

Weapons upgraded with this can attach a cartridge that deals elemental damage
It’s very easy to use. The cartridge slot can be found using the Weapon Wheel

How to Get Cartridge Gun:

Cartridge Gun Details:

Fire Cartridges deal fire damage and can burn enemies
Ice Cartridges deal ice damage and can freeze enemies
Electric Cartridges deal shock damage and can electrify enemies

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The only way to take on the hordes of robots is to become deadlier than them!

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[Top 10] Games Like Atomic Heart (Games Better Than Atomic Heart In Their Own Way)

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:08:43 +0000

So you just beat Atomic Heart. You feel the rush from finally getting to the end and defeating the bosses. But you also have a little bit of emptiness, because you just want more. Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered!

Atomic Heart has a lot of things going on. You have first person shooting, different types of enemies, guns and powers.

When making this list, I choose the ones that have similar features. At the same time, they all do their own things in their own ways.

They’re all awesome games in their own ways. And if you’ve enjoyed Atomic Heart, I’m sure you will enjoy the other games as well! Oh, and before we begin. I’ve ranked them by how similar they are to Atomic Heart.

10. SOMA (Windows, PS4, XBox One, macOS, Linux)

SOMA is a 2015 survival horror game which takes place in an underwater research facility. On the surface, it’s very different from Atomic Heart. It’s in first person, but there’s no shooting. Your goal is to explore, understand and survive.

But to see their similarities, you have to look a little deeper. And then they just start popping up!

Atomic Heart has tight and cramped sections inside bunkers that have low lighting and look very creepy. SOMA takes place entirely in places like that.
You start off in an area where everyone is hostile to you. You know very little of the ‘why’s and ‘what’s. As you go through the story, it all becomes clear.
A lot of background information is told through environmental cues alone.
Both games have sci-fi stories that are full of twists.
You will find core philosophical ideas that will make you think.
And both games are chill compared to other survival horror games out there.

We also have to talk about their differences. After all, SOMA is a fully-fledged survival horror game. So it’s bound to do a lot of things in its own way.

Since it focuses on horror, the execution of environments, lighting and atmosphere is much spookier.
There is no combat in SOMA. You are powerless against your enemies, so you have to avoid them at all cost!
Speaking of enemies, they are very creepy and dangerous.
The game doesn’t hold your hand at all. No map markers or HUD pointers. You have to figure everything out by yourself.
The plot is very well written, and makes way more sense when compared to Atomic Heart. The twists feel more natural.

If you didn’t know, SOMA is from the same developers as the horror franchise of Amnesia. So naturally, the game is designed to be scary. But the story is so well written, everyone should try it out at least once!

Fun Factor: 85/100

Yeah, things are definitely not fine down here.

9. System Shock Remake (Windows)

The remake might have come out this year, but the original System Shock is from 1994. That’s almost 30 years ago! Unlike other games that we might forget about, it’s different for System Shock. It’s so influential that you can see its effects on plenty of other games.

Games like the Bioshock series, Dishonored and Prey all owe it to his game. And yes, even Atomic Heart. So it’s not surprising that there are some similarities. In fact, Atomic Heart even makes a reference! Anyway, you can see how they’re similar in the list below.

You play as a guy stuck in a hostile environment full of things that want to kill you.
There’s several different kinds of enemies. And both games have robots, mutants and cyborgs.
Cameras are always watching you!
Both games have inventory management systems.
Beautiful and breathtaking environments that make use of lighting.
The main villains in both stories are AIs (kinda.)

But we can’t forget that System Shock is a game from a different time and place. And the remake is so faithful, it might just be the original game with some nice tweaks. So yeah, there’s a lot of things that System Shock does differently.

In System Shock, the main character doesn’t actually want to be in the station. He’s kind of being forced to do this and has no other option.
The game’s level design feels like a maze, so you will have a hard time navigating.
Speaking of navigation, the game also doesn’t have map markers. So you’ll have to figure everything out by yourself.
System Shock’s villain SHODAN is one of the most memorable AI characters of all time. She will try to kill you, and you will remember her for the rest of your life!

System Shock had a lot of trouble when it was being made. The developers apparently had to restart because they had moved too far from the original. I don’t know if that would have made it easier to play. But I’m quite glad modern players have a way to easily experience this wonderful game.

Fun Factor: 90/100

We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore!

8. Dying Light (Windows, PS4, XBox One, macOS, Linux)

Dying Light is a first-person action adventure game from 2015. You play as a government agent dropped into a city with a zombie outbreak. Without spoiling the plot, your initial goal is to find a rogue agent.

I’m sure you noticed some of the similarities in that first sentence. You’ll see a lot more as you play this game.

Similar settings where a soldier-like agent is dropped into a blocked area full of non-human enemies.
In both games, you’re ordered by someone who seems untrustworthy. As the game progresses, you lose your faith in them even more.
You start off weak, but your abilities grow as you invest in skills.
To upgrade your weapons, you need to find the relevant blueprints.
There’s a heavy emphasis on melee combat and dodging.
Both games are tough until you master the core mechanisms. After that, you will find ways to really make the most out of it.
Even though you get good at combat, you never become too overpowered.

Dying Light’s approach is different, though, which is understandable. At its core, it’s a parkour game. And you can see this in everything that the game does differently, and better.

Atomic Heart has a handful of platforming sections. Dying Light, on the other hand, is all about navigating the city through the fastest way.
The world of Dying Light has plenty of life in different pockets. You’ll see and help different groups of survivors while you carry out your mission.
The day-night cycle of Dying Light really changes things up. During the day, zombies are sluggish and not much of a threat.
Night-time is a different story. The streets are pitch black, and a group of zombies called Volatiles are everywhere. They are fast and can easily kill you.
You gain double the experience points at night though. So you might have to consider whether it’s worth the risk.
The game is full of side-quests and random events, which Atomic Heart lacks.

Dying Light is a little clunky at times. Despite that, the game is incredibly fun and does some things that you won’t find anywhere else. Seriously, where else will you find a zombie-killing parkour playground?

Fun Factor: 80/100

This is why you get vaxxed when you have a chance.

7. Metro 2033 Redux (Windows, PS4, XBox 360, macOS, Linux, Switch)

You might be getting a little confused here. There are three Metro games, so why am I choosing the first one? And the one that came out in 2010? Well, it’s simply because I think it’s the best of the bunch, with a strong story.

Both Metro and Atomic Heart are linear first person shooters. It’s only natural for them to be similar in some ways. If I tried to write them all down, we’d end up with a huge wall of boring text. So I will make it easy for all of us and summarize them all as bullet points!

Both games have a variety of weapons for you to use.
You can scavenge for parts and resources and craft or modify your weapons.
The linear spaces are very detailed and tell a lot about the world you’re exploring.
You will have to do everything it takes to survive.
Different types of enemies to kill!

With all that said, Metro 2033 leans more into the linear, survival angle. And because of that, it’s a slower-paced game. Quite different, but quite good as well!

The world of Metro has both hostile and friendly environments. It’s not just people surviving, you’ll see how everyday life is in this new world. Even though it’s a little on-the-rails, it’s nice.
Metro’s survival goes beyond the health bar. The air is toxic and you’ll need to wear gas masks, have enough filters on you. If your mask breaks, you’re out of luck!
This alternate reality is the opposite of Atomic Heart’s. The world isn’t doing so well at all, and Russia is practically unlivable. Except a desolate beauty instead of Atomic Heart’s stunning kind.
Since Metro’s approach is more grounded, there’s a bigger focus on realistic weapons rather than the sci-fi stuff.
Between missions, you get to meet the people who are living their lives. It’s very nice to see this world being brought to life.
The stealth feature is actually functional, unlike Atomic Heart’s. You can turn off lights to create more darkness and successfully sneak around your enemies.
There are no robots. But the world is full of scary, mutated beasts. They are quite the challenge!

When the game came out in 2010, everyone praised the story but criticized the mediocre gameplay. That being said, the game was re-released in 2014 titled ‘Metro 2033 Redux.’ That version fixes all the issues. Make sure you play that one!

Fun Factor: 85/100

Do you think you have what it takes to survive in this dead world?

6. Dishonored 2 (Windows, PS4, XBox One)

Dishonored 2 is one of the best games to come out of the last decade. It was released in 2016 and it’s pretty much unlike anything else. Except probably the first game. It’s a first person stealth/action game that gave life back to the genre.

The similarities between Atomic Heart and Dishonored 2 can be hard to spot at times. But don’t worry! I have listed them all down here for you.

Both games have stunning, aesthetic environments that make you want to stop and admire the view. If you’re like me, you might just do that between combat!
You can use melee, shooting and/or stealth to deal with your enemies.
There are several powers to choose from. You can also choose which one to upgrade.

Dishonored’s design, however, is very different. Anyone who has played the game loves it because of how well everything is implemented. And the devs took a lot of time to make everything work perfectly.

Atomic Heart is a linear game with open worlds in between. Dishonored’s levels are so open that you will always find new ways of approaching.
Dishonored’s stealth is way, way better! Atomic Heart’s feature is broken and only sometimes usable. Dishonored’s approach is to give you all the options and let you use your skills.
The melee combat in Dishonored is more like dueling. Atomic Heart’s version is hack-and-slash. Neither are necessarily better and I enjoyed both of them. That being said, Dishonored’s take is much more polished.
Shooting is not a big priority for Dishonored. The only weapon variety are guns and crossbows.
The powers of Dishonored are wildly different from Atomic Heart. They are rooted in something like witchcraft.
You get upgrades in Dishonored by collecting runes and bonecharms. Both of these objects are tied to the game’s magical lore.
All Boss fights are completely skippable. You can find an alternate way to anything without shedding blood. That is, if you want the non-lethal route.

Fans of the franchise are still hoping that one day we get a Dishonored 3. But until then, everyone should try this masterpiece and enjoy what it has to offer.

Fun Factor: 95/100

“Now the streets of Serkonos are burning in the sun…”

5. Bioshock (Windows, PS3, XBox 360, macOS)

Bioshock is one of those games that players think of as legendary. And rightfully so. This first person explorative shooter came out in 2007. And it blew our minds in every way! So much so that not a lot of games after that could come close!

I see most lists like this place this game at the top. But to me, Atomic Heart didn’t seem like it had that much in common in Bioshock. I’m not saying that Atomic Heart wasn’t influenced by it. I’m just saying that other games have more in common.

That being said… This entry is about Bioshock, not the other games. So here are the similarities!

Both games have you explore a foreign location which is beautiful, dangerous and memorable.
You get to use melee, powers and guns in both games.
Powers need resources to be upgraded, which can be found by killing enemies.
You can scan your enemies to learn their weaknesses.
The main story’s themes are somewhat similar. And they both have major twists.

You see what I mean? The similarities are undeniable, but they’re mostly on the surface. Still, Bioshock is one of the greatest games of all time. And the shared features means you will enjoy it. But you should also know how it differs.

Bioshock’s setting is unlike anything else. You will not find any other game that has a setting as unique and stunning as Bioshock’s Rapture.
While the gunplay isn’t the game’s strongest suit, the powers are very interesting. They’re unlike anything Atomic Heart has and plenty of fun to play around with.
Speaking of power and resources… Yeah, the only way to get extra resources is by killing children. Yep…
Bioshock doesn’t have any inventory management, leaving you to just the gunplay and powers.
The writing is very strong. It sticks to its core theme and reels you into the story. It’s complicated but the plot twists reveal everything when the time is right.

So the bottom line is that the two games are only similar on the surface. Even so, you can enjoy Bioshock for the same reason you liked Atomic Heart! On top of that, the game is very well written and will leave you thinking about it for days.

Fun Factor: 95/100

I think we can all agree that none of us want to be followed around by a thing that calls itself ‘Big Daddy.’

4. Doom Eternal (Windows, PS4, XBox One, Switch)

Doom Eternal came out in 2022 and had a tough job ahead. It had to live up to the awesome Doom 2016, which is tough. And yet, Eternal managed to do that with more enemy types, weapons and violence.

You already know that the two games have different settings. In one, you fight robots in a facility. In the other, you kill demons. But they're both fast-paced action games that share a lot of traits.

Both games take some time to flesh out the world. Facility 3826 is a stunning place of variety. And Eternal's version of hell has plenty of lore to keep it fresh.
You're always surrounded by challenging enemies, making the combat tough but rewarding.
And wow, the combat is so fast paced and full of adrenaline! Both games make you feel the stress of fighting your enemies!
They are both first person shooters with fun, shooting and dodging mechanisms.
There's resource management, although in different forms
You'll face many different types of enemies, each with their own visual designs and AI.
You can see your enemies become injured as you damage them.
There are plenty of weapon and skill upgrades. It keeps your combat experience fresh.
And we can't forget good ol' Mick Gordon. He's the composer for both games, and the combat feels ten times more intense because of that.

Doom skips a lot of the stuff that Atomic Heart tries to do. This difference of approach lets it focus on its core. The chaotic gunplay. And because of this, it’s one of the best shooters of all time.

Atomic Heart tries to create a facility that could exist. Doom, on the other hand, is creating Hell, and has no restrictions.
The worldbuilding and lore is mostly there as fluff. This lets the game focus on designing the areas as shooting arenas. Doom is a shooter all to the core, so this is for the best.
The guns of Doom feel way better. The way they handle… Their sounds and animations. They are superior in every possible way.
Doom has better enemies. They are more varied and their designs feel more clever. It’s a little unfair, as Doom has had years to develop these. But hey, it’s the truth!
Resource management is pretty different. You don’t just find stuff and pick them up. No, you get different things depending on how you kill the enemies. And you need to make this plan during combat!
Speaking of combat, Doom Eternal’s is just pure chaos. Nothing really compares to it. You will be confused by all the stuff that’s happening, but you will love every moment of it.

It’s not every day that we see a sequel surpass the original. But Doom Eternal delivers in every way. The game will make your blood pump as you’re surrounded by demons and you’re shooting and tearing them with your bare hands! This is power fantasy at its finest.

Fun Factor: 95/100

If it moves, you can definitely kill it.

3. Prey (Windows, PS4, XBox One)

Prey is an Immersive Sim from 2017. The Immersive Sim genre isn’t as popular as it used to be, so you might not know what that is. It’s a kind of game where things are more systematic than scripted.

While Atomic Heart and Prey play like different games, you are bound to see many similarities. At times, it almost feels like Prey might have inspired some things here and there! That’s just my hunch, by the way.

A stunning, alien environment with areas that have their own practical functions.
In both stories, something goes wrong and you’re trying to find out what and why.
You get lots of skills and powers to upgrade without being forced to choose anyone in particular (beyond the tutorials.)
Varied and interesting enemy types that pose a challenge to you. They are powerful and formidable, making you plan. Especially during the early game.
You have different types of weapons that use projectile and energy ammo.
There’s a weapon in Prey called ‘GLOO Cannon’ that acts almost in the same way as Atomic Heart’s Polymeric Jet.
Prey also has the same resource recycling system as Atomic Heart. You have to use Fabrication Stations, which are almost like NORA.
Exploration is always rewarded with extra resources or interesting environmental storytelling.

That’s a lot of similarities, right? But trust me when I say that Prey is a completely different game. The developers of the two games had some very different things in mind. That being said, the similarities are mostly on the surface unlike other games on this list.

Prey’s level design is very believable. The different sections, shortcuts and many ways of access make it seem like a place that could exist.
The levels are also open-ended, letting you approach objectives in multiple ways. If you are creative, you will feel rewarded.
Even though both stories are complicated, Prey’s story holds up better for the most part. It also presents it in a more interesting manner, so you’ll feel less lost.
You will have many different abilities to play around with. And they will drastically change how you play! You can literally have different builds that make the game feel different. It’s almost like a real RPG.
There are many interesting side quests in Prey that flesh out the space station and its inhabitants. It makes you want to understand what really happened.
The sound design is amazing. And I don’t mean the soundtrack. The sound effects are very creepy and alien.
The enemy types have different sound effects too. So if you pay attention, you will be able to tell them apart just from what you hear.
Resources you find will be limited in comparison to Atomic Heart. They’re placed sensibly, but they won’t give you too much stuff.

At the end of the day, Prey is the kind of game that you play over and over again. Because you know there’s something you’ve missed. Or something you could have done differently. The incredibly high replay value alone makes it worth checking out.

Fun Factor: 90/100

You are definitely the prey, and that's your cue to run!

2. Wolfenstein: The New Order (Windows, PS4, XBox One)

Wolfenstein: The New Order dropped in 2014 and we couldn’t be any happier. A lot of us FPS fans have played the older games in the franchise, so we were excited to have another entry. And wow, did this game deliver!

I’ve seen some reviews comparing Atomic Heart to Wolfenstein. And I must say that there are certain similarities. Strong ones, too.

For starters, they’re both first person shooters that take place in an alternate timeline.
Their intros immerse you into the new world, giving a taste of what things are like in this setting.
The environments are very well-crafted with lots of attention to details.
Both games offer a nice selection of weapons to choose from.
You get to kill some enemies without feeling bad for them.
Both have robots in one form or another.
The gunplay is deadly, fast faced and violent.
The stealth implementation of both games are similar. Not the best approach, but it can be sometimes used.

That’s where all the similarities end. Wolfenstein is a beast of its own, and it shouldn't be a surprise. The franchise was idSoft’s child.

Wolfenstein is closer to Metro than Atomic Heart. By that, I mean the level design focuses on smaller levels. And this is why these spaces seem so much more realistic.
Like Metro and unlike Atomic Heart, you'll spend downtime between levels chilling with your rebel friends.
Other than one or two weapons, all the guns are grounded in reality.
The guns are just hands down amazing. Everything I said about Doom actually applies here. Everything from the appearance, sound and feel of the guns are top-notch.
The gore and violence you see is insane. Seriously, if you’re not into that, then maybe stay away from this one.
The story is simpler and without ambition. But at the same time, it’s not convoluted like Atomic Heart’s.
There is a slight replay value as one early-game choice you make changes some of the paths you can take.

At its finest, Wolfenstein is another amazing power fantasy. Once you’re all geared up, you will be going on a Nazi-killing rampage. And seriously, who doesn’t love that?

Fun Factor: 90/100

Whether it be Nazi Humans or Nazi Robots, you’ll get to take them all down!

1. Bioshock Infinite (Windows, PS3, XBox 360, macOS, Linux)

Bioshock Infinite came out in 2013 and became an instant hit. The game’s amazing environment, fun gameplay and mind-bending story really helped make it a must-play.

When comparing it with Atomic Heart, there are a lot of things they both do similarly. You’ll see these on the surface, and even more when you dig deeper. There are so many of them that it’s almost uncanny!

A flying city for you to explore.
You have a companion in one way or another.
Very weird and wild lore.
Societies that are perfect looking on the surface but deeply flawed.
Intense gunplay with plenty of enemies and enemy-types.
Powers, upgrades, natural combos and synergies.

Of course, it would be boring if both games were exactly the same. And Bioshock Infinite does plenty of things differently for it to still be a new experience for you.

The game doesn’t use cinematics to take you out of control. The only times you can’t control the character is when they’re trapped or something like that.
Unlike Atomic Heart, the entire game takes place on the flying city. This means that it’s more fleshed out with plenty of diversity in the regions and the vibe you experience.
The way powers work is also slightly different in Bioshock Infinite. You get them all for free, but you have to upgrade them.
While some of the powers are similar to Atomic Heart’s, the others are different. Bioshock Infinite has a power that lets you summon crows to attack your enemies, and another that possesses machines.
The companions from the games couldn't get any different. Elizabeth isn't as good a conversation partner as CHAR-les, nor quite evil. But she can take a more active role in combat.

In some ways, this game might actually be the closest to Atomic Heart. They’re both stunning with their environments and presentation. And they both have plots full of twists and turns that don’t make a lot of logical sense.

Fun Factor: 85/100

Welcome to Columbia! A flying city ruled by magical racists!

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[Top 15] Atomic Heart Best Graphics Settings for PC

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 03:32:55 +0000

Atomic Heart is gorgeous. If you’ve seen the trailers or screenshots, you know what I’m talking about. The team did a great job in making the game look amazing. But when a game looks that good, you can’t help but wonder how well it will perform.

First and foremost, the game is no Crysis. By that, I don’t mean it looks bad. What I’m actually saying is that it’s very well optimized. It runs quite smoothly on higher end graphics cards. and even lower end hardware can make it run decently.

Of course, you’ll have to make a few sacrifices if your GPU has less horsepower. The settings menu might leave you a little confused. You might be wondering what’s the best graphics settings to tinker with. Well, read on ahead as I explain them all!

15. Resolution

Let’s start with the most familiar one. We all know about resolution, right? You hear about it every time a screen comes into question.

Resolution is the number of pixels that fit onto your screen. So a game’s resolution basically tells you how many pixels your GPU is going to draw. The higher this is, the better your game will look.

Ideally, you want your game’s resolution to be the same as your screen’s. Anything less and you’ll get blurry results. But if your system is at the lower end, you might suffer from performance loss. Especially if your screen is a huge 4K monitor.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: 1920×1080 (FHD)
Medium: 2560×1440
High end: 3840 x 2160 (4K)

14. Depth Of Field

This is an effect that blurs parts of the image. Kinda like how our eyes work when they’re focusing on something. Basically, it’s used to draw your attention to something.

Depth of Field depends on preference. Some people enjoy it, others don't. Atomic Heart doesn’t use a lot either. You only see it during the cutscenes. And even then, there’s 1 FPS difference.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: On
Medium: On
High end: On

13. Visual FX

The term Visual FX is a bit of an umbrella. It covers everything from the sparks you see on the screen to the powers you use.

On Low settings, some of them won’t even appear. And on Max, things will look quite pretty. I didn’t see a difference in performance. So there’s no reason to skimp out on this one. Go for it!

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Max
Medium: Max
High end: Max

12. Number of Objects

I’m sure you don’t need me to explain this. It’s just the setting to control how much stuff the game creates. Not enemies or resources though. Just clutter and bystanders.

There is a slight difference in performance. Around 2 frames. And it makes no difference in terms of gameplay. So you might just want to turn it down if you need to squeeze some performance out.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Low
Medium: Max
High end: Max

11. Textures

You probably already know this. A texture is an image that the game draws. Everything that you see on your screen uses these. So the different settings here means how big the texture is going to be.

Naturally, higher end computers will easily run the game at Max. But if your VRAM is 6 GB or less, you’re better off with something lower.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: High
Medium: Ultra
High end: Max

10. Texture Anisotropy

The name might confuse you a little, since I just talked about Textures in the last entry. This one’s slightly different. Anisotropy is a filtering technique. This basically makes sure that the images you see on the screen look nicer.

Usually this isn’t a demanding setting at all. Most computers should be able to use this without much of a hassle. At best, I saw a difference of 3/4 FPS.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: 8
Medium: 8
High end: 8

9. Volumetric Fog

When you hear Volumetric Fog, you might think of how thick the fog is. That’s usually true. In Atomic Heart, though, it’s a little different. This setting controls how nicely the fog moves.

It’s a very nice effect. Turning it off disables the fog, but keeping it on doesn’t eat up that much of your frames. That being said, the highest setting can be a little demanding.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Med
Medium: Ultra
High end: Max

8. 3D Model Quality

Model Quality controls how much detail the 3D objects have. Lower it too much and the game might look like candle wax. High model quality looks very nice, but it might consume your resources.

In Atomic Heart, the performance drop is pretty small. I saw a drop of 3 FPS at Max settings. So you can use that without any worry.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Med
Medium: Max
High end: Max

7. Ambient Occlusion

Ambient Occlusion is a shadowing technique. It makes things look more realistic on screen. And it does this by how much light should bounce off the surface off whatever object you’re seeing.

This makes a pretty big difference, actually. If you keep it on Low or Medium, things will look flat. But using High or Ultra will cost you a decent bit. Around 6 frames! Try using High, but turn it off if you really need that performance boost.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: High
Medium: High
High end: Ultra

6. Materials

You might get a little confused by the name. I don’t blame you, and I’m not sure why the team went with this name. It actually controls the animation of the swaying trees.

I personally don’t think it makes a huge visual difference. Trees swaying in the wind is nice, but it’s not something most people notice unless they pause. The FPS cost is around 6 frames as well.

For low end users, it’s best to keep this off. You can try turning it on if everything else is running smoothly.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Low
Medium: High
High end: Max

5. NVIDIA Reflex

This one is a new tech from NVIDIA, and it’s pretty cool. I’m actually dying to talk about it! But before I get into it, I need to explain what latency means.

When you press a button on your keyboard or mouse, it actually takes some time for the computer to process it. You might not notice it, but the computer has to tell the game that the button has been pressed. This time difference is latency, or input lag.

NVIDIA Reflex reduces this by 80%! And you should be excited about this. Because it means even if your FPS is low, the game will respond to you better.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: On
Medium: On
High end: On

4. DLSS/FSR/Anti-Aliasing

There are three different settings here, but I lumped them in together because of a good reason. First, they all have the same goal. That is, to make your game look more detailed.

Second, DLSS is only for NVIDIA cards and FSR for AMD. So you can only use one of them. And finally, using Anti-Aliasing with either DLSS or FSR can make the game look too sharp.

If you can’t use DLSS or FSR, go with High TAA in Anti Aliasing. There’s barely a performance hit.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: High TAA
Medium: Balanced
High end: Quality

3. Postprocessing

Postprocessing setting in Atomic Heart controls the reflections you see on surfaces. And I mean reflections of the whole room, or that kind of stuff. Not just lighting reflection as I explained earlier with Ambient Occlusion.

You might have already guessed this. It takes a fair bit of power to do this. In some areas, you can lose around 15 frames! So yeah, it’s one of the more taxing settings.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Low
Medium: High
High end: Max

2. Shadows

No matter what game you play, Shadows usually tend to hit your systems the hardest. In Atomic Heart, it comes in second place. So if you need a performance boost, you might want to look into this one.

In Max setting, the Shadows look very clear and defined. On the other hand, you’ll see that Low shadows look blurry. But the difference in FPS was around 18, so it’s a big price to pay.

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Low
Medium: Ultra
High end: Max

1. Vegetation Density

And finally, I have the most demanding setting of the game. Atomic Heart has beautiful looking grass, so it makes sense that it would take a lot of power. If you’re struggling, this is the first setting you want to mess around with.

To be precise, it controls both how much grass you see and how nice it looks. In terms of performance, the difference between Low to Max is around 25 FPS! That kind of number is insane, right?

Setting Recommendation

Low End: Low
Medium: High
High end: Max

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The breathtaking beauty of Facility 3826, in all available settings!

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All Atomic Heart Bosses Ranked Easiest To Hardest (And How To Defeat Them)

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 03:28:43 +0000

Atomic Heart is an action packed game with some of the most challenging enemies. And this difficulty increases when the game throws one of its many bosses on your way.

The point of a boss is to test your skill. And Atomic Heart excels in this regard. Because if you haven’t mastered the game, beating the bosses is nearly impossible. Except in the lowest difficulty.

But don’t let that discourage you. In this list, I not only rank the enemies according to their difficulty. I’ll also tell you where they’re weak. And I’ve put together strategies and tips that might help if you’re struggling.

9. VOV-A6/CH Lab Tech

VOV-A6/CH Lab Tech Details:

Resistance: Electric Damage
Weakness: Fire, Explosives

This boss is the first one you’ll encounter, so it makes sense for it to be easy. But that’s not the only reason why it’s down here. After the first fight, it just becomes another enemy variety.

Still, it counts as a boss because of the challenge it provides. This guy is tougher than the other variety of Lab Techs and can shoot lasers out of its face. And did I mention that you have to take it on before you get to upgrade your weapons?

Strategy:

The fight starts after a cutscene and you will be in a cramped room. This means there will be very little space for you to run to. Always keep the space around you in mind.
You can expect the usual attacks as the Lab Techs. So punches and power attacks will be there. There’s enough time to avoid its attacks using your dash ability.
Remember the lasers I was talking about? Every now and then, the boss will stop running and shoot those fearsome beams at you. They are pretty powerful, but also easy to avoid.
Your cue to dodge the lasers is when it stops moving. The face-plate will open right after that. You can easily dodge their beams if you watch out for that. And remember to dash sideways.
Keep dodging and hitting it with your Swede. Charge up the power attacks and make sure you get the hits in. You will take their health bar out.

Best Way To Beat VOV-A6/CH Lab Tech:

8. Large Mutant

Large Mutant Details:

Resistance: Electric Damage, Energy Weapons, Projectile Weapons, Melee Weapons
Weakness: Fire, Explosives

As far as boss designs go, this is one of the more messed up ones. It’s basically a huge zombie. By this point, you’ve already encountered enough Mutants to not be too creeped out by them. But it still poses a bit of a challenge.

Like the last entry, this one will also become a tough variant after the first encounter. That being said, it comes with all the theatrics of a boss fight. And the fight is pretty challenging, since you won’t just fight this boss. You’ll be surrounded by Mothers, Sprouts and other Mutants.

Strategy:

The fight takes place during a lockdown. So it’s you, this guy and all its allies.
Since you’re stuck in a cramped place, you need to keep moving. Otherwise you will be surrounded by the other Mutants and it’s game over.
The Mothers will be continuously spawning Sprouts. So you should take them down whenever you have a chance. Some of them will be high up on the walls, so you’ll have to shoot them down. You also won’t have time to scan for them.
The Large Mutant can spawn 4 sprouts at a time as well. So even with the Mothers down, they will still be around. But that should give you some breathing room.
The boss is resistant to most other types of weapons, with the exception of fire. Make sure you have Fire Cartridges handy, because now’s the time to use them.
The Shotgun with Fire Cartridges is the best way to go. That thing packs a punch and you can easily take out the large groups of enemies.
And that leaves the actual boss. This thing can spit at you, throw Sprouts and will charge at you. Always make sure to keep your distance, as it can easily knock you down.
Your best friend in this fight, and many others, is Mass Telekinesis. You can lift enemies up to interrupt their attack or give yourself some breathing room. You can also shoot them while they’re levitating.

Best Way To Beat Large Mutant:

7. NA-T256 Natasha

Natasha Details:

Resistance: Electric Damage, Projectile Weapons
Weakness: Explosives

Among the unique bosses, Natasha is the least threatening. Sure, its massive size is imposing. And if you do get hit, you’ll take a lot of damage. But there’s two reasons why it’s not that much of a challenge.

First, Natasha is quite slow. Other than one attack, almost everything else is easy to dodge. And even its tough attack can be dodged if you get your timing right.

The second reason is that you’ll probably be overpowered. This is a very late-game boss, so you’ll have access to a lot of powerful weapons and skill upgrades. Against those, it’s a lot easier compared to other challenges in the game.

Strategy:

Natasha appears after the very dramatic scene of Petrov’s… death. You’ll be stuck in a small stage with nowhere to go, so you’ll have to dodge inside a limited radius.
Its only weakness is explosives. That means that if you have the Fat Boy, this fight will be easy. I highly recommend getting it before jumping into this battle.
You can also combine melee weapons and energy weapons to deal some damage. It will be more effective than using your guns.
Natasha will mostly use its arms to attack you. It can stretch its arms to use it like a whip, so you’ll have to dodge in every direction.
After this attack, it remains in position for a few seconds. You should use this opportunity to attack your enemy.
Every now and then, the robot will shoot missiles at you. It’s pretty easy to spot as Natasha will stop moving when it does that. You can dodge this pretty easily when you spot it.
The next attack is something you have to watch out for. Natasha has a whip attack where it starts spinning. This is its only fast attack and can be hard to dodge. Luckily, you can see it happen when the whips start glowing. You just have to dodge in the opposite direction.
Right after the whip attack, Natasha will fall on the floor. This is the golden opportunity to attack the robot. You can deal a lot of damage while it stays down.
Despite being slow, it can use the rockets in its legs to jump and close the distance. Don’t underestimate it!

Best Way To Beat Natasha:

6. Plyusch

Plyusch Details:

Resistance: Electric Damage, Energy Weapons, Projectile Weapons
Weakness: Fire, Melee Weapons

The Plyusch is a monstrosity in its own class. It’s made out of a polymer goo that was supposed to be an exoskeleton. That’s why it has a human-ish shape.

On top of that, this thing has a dog’s brain. And it shows. When you fight it, it will attack you relentlessly like a feral dog.

A lot of gamers on the internet actually consider this the toughest boss. It’s not something I agree with, but it’s definitely not a walk in the park.

You just need to understand their weaknesses, attack patterns and how to counteract them. It still won’t be easy but you’ll come out of it fine.

Strategy:

This mini-boss fight can take place in multiple places. The most notable one is on the lower floor of VDNH. The good thing is that you have a lot of space to move around. The bad thing is that this guy is very tough.
Considering the weaknesses and resistances, your obvious choice of weapon should be a melee weapon. With Fire Cartridges. The problem is that the enemy boss is also a really powerful melee fighter.
I recommend either the Zvezdochka or the Pashtet. The first hits hard but take longer to swing. Pashtet is slightly weaker but is also very powerful and attacks very fast.
If you don’t have the right skill upgrades, now is the time to get them. Sleazeball will make you immune while dodging. Second Wind lets you dodge twice in a row. And Morning Exercise increases your overall movement speed.
The enemy has several types of melee attacks that you should be careful of. You will lose a lot of health, so your inventory should be full of health packs.
Plyusch has some deadly attacks, of which one is an insta-kill. If you see a giant circle appear, you must dodge immediately. Otherwise, it will try to pick you up and literally eat you. The only way out is through a lot of tough quick time events.
If you see one circle on either arms, that means it’s about to lunge at you. Dodge immediately! But if you fail, at least you won’t be insta-killed.
The good thing about Plyusch’s attacks is that it only attacks forward. So always dodge sideways.
Another thing to remember is that Shok actually does have a use. While it won’t do much damage, it will interrupt its attacks. Since it’s always equipped, there’s no reason to not use it.
You will have a chance to attack its weak back right after dodging. But don’t stay still too long. Always keep moving!

Best Way To Beat Plyusch:

5. HOG-7 Hedgie

Hedgie Details:

Resistance: Energy Weapons, Projectile Weapons, Melee Weapons, Fire, Frost Damage
Weakness: Explosives

Hedgie is the third boss you’ll fight in the game, and the first one that’s completely unique. And this guy is deadly.

It’s a big ball of armor which is invulnerable to almost anything you have. It also moves fast and hits hard. It can use melee and ranged attacks. And dodging it feels like playing a rhythm game.

You can see why I have it here. This one can be tough to beat and just shooting at it won’t cut it. It has some weak points that it usually doesn’t show. So you have to know how to make it get there.

Strategy:

The fight begins after you land and interact with a pedestal. Before you do that though, find the save station near the gate. You’ll also NORA there if you want to get upgrades.
This battle happens in a large area, so you’re not going to be cramped for space. Make sure to use all the room for dodging, because you’ll need it.
On the other hand, Hedgie is very fast. It moves fast and if you’re further away, it will roll towards you. Make sure to keep dodging backwards.
Hedgie has a few deadly attacks. The worst of the bunch is the ground slam. It will jump up in the sky and slam the ground, releasing circles of energy. Keep jumping and dodging, because that’s the only thing you can do.
It will also throw laser projectiles at you. They arc towards your direction, but they go wide and can easily miss.
Now and then, it will also throw in some other types of attacks. It can use its claws to strike you. When it does that, keep dodging back.
It can also use a Gravity Well to pull you towards it. It will do that while using ground slams, so your strategy is the same as before. Jump and dodge.
Unless you have the Fat Boy, shooting it will do nothing. Your only bet is to shoot the coils that it shows now and then. You can wait for that, or you can force it to bring it out.
The fight stage is full of art sculptures that you can bring out. Their pedestals will rise from the ground and you have to use Shok on these.
When Hedgie begins to roll at you, you need to activate the pedestals. Hedgie will roll in a circle or telegraph it in other ways. Keep the statue between you and Hedgie and it will crash into it.
After the crash, it will show the coils while it lies on the ground. This is what you have to shoot, and you can do a lot of damage. Keep doing this and you will have destroyed it.

Best Way To Beat Hedgie:

4. MA-9 Belyash

Belyash Details:

Resistance: Electric, Fire Damage, Projectile Weapons
Weakness: Ice Damage

As far as designs go, Belyash is interesting. It looks like a cross between the Big Daddies from Bioshock and a chimpanzee. Which is somewhere between deadly and goofy.

Everything about this thing looks disturbing. You might remember that these things almost kill you in two of the early game cutscenes. The boss battle definitely lives up to that promise.

One thing to note is that after the boss battle, Belyash becomes a regular enemy. That being said, the encounters will be very rare. And the enemies you’ll fight will be weaker versions of the boss.

Strategy:

This mini-boss shows itself right outside the Theater, guarding the entrance. The area is large enough for you to move without feeling cramped. That being said, the Belyash is also very agile and moves a lot.
Belyash is a deadly enemy whether you’re close or far. Close-up, it will hit you with powerful melee attacks. From a distance, it will pull out bits of the ground and throw them at you. And the projectile will explode into energy rings that you will have to dodge.
Your best bet is actually using a melee weapon. I recommend the Pashtet because of how quickly you can attack with it, since you’ll be hitting and dodging a lot.
Speaking of attacks, Belyash has an energy attack similar to Hedgie. It’ll slam the ground and release a circle of energy. Dodging is your only course.
The head should draw your attention, because that’s a weak spot. Hit it with a melee weapon to do extra damage. But this will cause the Belyash to strike back with a power attack. Remember to dodge that.
Frostbite won’t do any damage, but it’s useful. It slows down the Belyash.
Once you’ve taken out half of its health, the thing will catch fire. This is very bad for you, because now you’ll take fire damage if it hits you.
Watch out for when it lowers its head. It’s about to breathe fire. Stay out of its path to avoid damage.
Dodging is going to be difficult when the whole stage is burning. Luckily, you can use Polymer Jet to take care of those.
Polymer Shield is another great asset. Especially after halfway through the battle, when you can take a lot more damage from melee combat.
You just need to get a hang for the rhythm of its attacks. After that, keep dodging and hitting it until it crashes.

Best Way To Beat Belyash:

3. Dewdrop

Dewdrop Details:

Resistance: Energy Weapons, Explosives, Frost, Fire and Electric Damage
Weakness: None

This octopus-like thing makes quite the entrance. It’s a mining robot that tears its way out of a dead whale. After shaking off the blood, it is ready to fight you.

Dewdrop is more than it meets the eye. The outside might be a metal shell, but the inside is full of Polymer. This is especially bad because it will use it to attack you.

Dewdrop comes with a lot of traits that make it a difficult boss. It has a lot of health, making it a tough nut to crack. On top of that, it has a variety of melee and ranged attacks, some which can be hard to dodge.

On top of all of that, it has no weaknesses. That means your strategy isn’t to look for what’s best. Rather, what can hurt it at all.

Strategy:

The area isn’t cramped but it’s not spacious either. And because of the way Dewdrop moves, your space for dodging might be limited. You’ll have to make do with that.
The first half of the fight is fairly easy. It can get close to you and use one of the tentacles to hit you. Or it can shoot you with its laser eye.
The laser eye is fairly easy to dodge, despite having a wide range. More importantly, that is a weak point you should exploit. Classic video games, am I right? Dodge and then attack it with Kalash.
Once you’ve got the health down to half, things get complicated. The Polymer begins to ooze out of its shell and becomes more tentacles. It also expands its moveset.
The tentacles are swift and can hit you from a distance. Having the right skill upgrades is absolutely essential.
When the enemy uses its laser eye, it will try to trap you with the tentacles. Even though your room is tighter, you can still dodge its attacks if you time it right.
It can also spit out polymer bile at you.
The whale in the center is actually a great piece to this stage. You can use it to give yourself some breathing room. So keep it between you when you need to rest and recover.
Doesn’t matter what weapons you have on you, this is the time to unload everything.
Mass Telekinesis works very well on this boss. Make sure to have it upgraded and spam it as much as you can.

Best Way To Beat Dewdrop:

2. Left

Left Details:

Resistance: Projectile Weapons
Weakness: None

The twins from Atomic Heart are pretty much iconic for the game. Their designs have been used in every promotional material. So it’s only fitting that they pose the biggest challenge.

Before I get into it, I should clarify something. Focus Entertainment’s official website calls the other one Left. However, since the game calls this one Left and the other one Right, I’m sticking to that.

The fights take place in two stages, with you fighting Left first. And this section is dedicated to her. It begins when you enter the HQ, and a creepy animation plays as the ballerina prepares for battle.

Left is one of the deadliest and fastest enemies you will fight. She will easily close the distance and attack you with her deadly claws.

And when she’s far away, she’s even deadlier. Because like you, she has an energy source. Once that’s charged up, she will attack you with energy attacks. And those are very difficult to dodge.

Strategy:

The biggest threat she poses is her energy attack. But there’s a way to fight that. She can’t generate energy when you’re hitting her.
You need to keep closing the distance and hitting her with your melee weapon. Be prepared to dodge her attacks while you keep up the offensive.
She’s faster than you, so eventually she will get away from you. Since most of your ranged weapons are useless, you should go for the Fat Boy. She might not be weak to it, but it’ll do massive amounts of damage to her. And if you’ve maxed out the Homing Projectile upgrade, you are good to go.
You can’t stop her from filling up her meter, though. It’ll happen. She uses sweeping electric shock waves on the ground, and they’re very difficult to dodge. You can try jumping over them, but having Sleazeball is your best bet.
Keep attacking her with Fatboy and your melee weapon of choice, and you’ll tear down her health bar. Eventually.

Best Way To Beat Left:

1. The Twins

Right Details:

Resistance: Electric Damage
Weakness: None

And finally, we have the last battle of the game. I’ve heard some people say that they found other bosses harder, but I can only speak from my experience. And there are several reasons why I think this one deserves the top spot.

One of the twins by themselves is deadly, the last fight should have proved that. Both together doing their things is insane. It’s very difficult to track both of them at the same time.

And on top of that, Right is going to be flying around, making it difficult to hit her. They also have moves used in synergy that makes things tougher.

Strategy:

The first part of this fight is incredibly frustrating. You’ll have to play a quick time event to survive as Left tries to kick you to death. Once you get past that, the real fight begins.
You’re going to fight both Left and Right. Fortunately, you should be familiar with the former’s moveset. Unfortunately, the latter complicates the equation.
Right will be flying around. Her most common attack is throwing Polymer at you, similar to your ability. Make sure to avoid that.
When one of the Twins is low on health, the other will give them theirs. This will equalize the health bars but draw the fight out for longer.
Right can also shoot you with a laser beam. It’s easy to dodge, but also easy to forget about. So always keep an eye out.
Since they essentially share the health bar, your focus should be on attacking Left. You already know how to defeat her, so it’s a repeat of the last battle. Mostly.
Both of your enemies have energy bars, which means they will use power attacks against you. So you should hit both enemies to deplete their energy bars.
Right’s energy attack is similar to Left. She will slam into the ground and release a circle of electric energy.
Right will also pass a ball of Polymer to Left, which she will then slam to the ground. This has the same effect as a circular shockwave and should be dodged.
Halfway through, the twins will float into the air and perform a combined laser-polymer attack. The polymer reflects the laser into multiple parts of the ground. Make sure to dodge it all.
At the end of the fight, they will repeat the same laser attack. Dodge it, and you will have successfully beaten the Twins!

Best Way To Beat The Twins:

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Atomic Heart Best Endings - All Endings Explained

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 03:15:32 +0000

Usually, the ending of a game gives you all the answers. But that's not always the case. Some games leave you with more questions than answers.

This isn't to say that they're bad. In my opinion, Atomic Heart leaves a lot of breadcrumbs. And it wants the players to figure out the meaning. But it gives you a lot more than you need, so it can be a little confusing.

Now before I get into the explanations, let's talk about the number of endings. The game lets you pick between two. And they both go down completely different paths.

I'll be honest here. They both feel rushed and half-baked, and the devs probably didn’t get enough time to polish them. Still, there's plenty to interpret, and I'm here to answer whatever questions you might have.

2. The ‘Leave’ Ending

So let’s talk about the first of the two possible endings. This one is the shorter one, and easier to understand. You have the build-up to this point, where Granny Zina and CHAR-les are both imploring P-3 to kill Sechenov and put an end to all his evil.

What Happens

Except, P-3 doesn’t. Instead, he considers two lines of thought. The first is that Sechenov is a national hero and genius, so he decides to trust his judgment.

More importantly, he calls CHAR-les out on a bunch of things. For all the lies he told him, the ways he has manipulated him.

He even points out the biggest inconsistency in their argument. CHAR-les is telling him that Sechenov is sending him to Limbo and using his body to kill his enemies. Except, if he was doing that, why wasn’t he killing Granny Zina right now?

After pointing out the lies, P-3 decides that he has had enough. He ends it all by pulling CHAR-les out of his glove. The ending slide shows us that P-3 disappears. Sechenov doesn’t seem to make a big deal out of this, and we never find out what happens with Kollectiv 2.0.

The Meaning

The endings are where the game is closest to the original Bioshock. (Not counting the scene under the Lighthouse.) Thematically, both games play with themes of being controlled, and not too subtly.

P-3 has been manipulated the entire time. First with the false memories and the brain implant (Voskhod.) Then with the truth behind the robots and Kollectiv. And finally, all the information that CHAR-les has been feeding him.

In this ending, he finally sees through all of that. And decides that enough is enough. He is done being controlled. He breaks off the shackles and walks away.

Review

While this is technically the ‘good ending,’ I’m not a big fan of it. In the first place, P-3 being able to see through the lies seems difficult to believe. This guy has been manipulated his whole life and he’s quite malleable.

On top of that, it skips over the resolution. Granted, the other one doesn’t give us too much. But we get a glimpse of the truth that this ending denies us.

How To Get It:

This one’s easy. When Granny Zina asks you to kill Sechenov, you just have to select Option 1. Enjoy the cutscene!

1. The ‘Fight’ Ending

Now, we have the true ending. And I’m confident that this is canon. Regardless of how well it does its job, it tries to sum up everything. This branches off from the same place, except this time P-3 decides to kill Sechenov.

What Happens

A lot of it is gameplay and boss fights, so I’ll keep that part short. P-3 confronts Sechenov and he has to fight the twins. Two things to note here.

First, Sechenov claims that CHAR-les is the one manipulating P-3. Hard to believe for our hero as he doesn’t trust Sechenov anymore. P-3 is the first to escalate, and Sechenov orders the twins to protect him.

He does seem open to talk it out. But only if P-3 gets rid of CHAR-les first. And to be fair, he doesn’t make it easy to trust him.

The second is the voice of Katya. P-3 keeps hearing her when he’s fighting the twins. She asks him to set her free, and then find her afterwards. Cryptic, but it’s definitely setting something up.

After the fight, P-3 shoots Sechenov and that’s when the truth comes out. CHAR-les zaps P-3 and merges with the data bank, becoming a polymer monster. He kills Sechenov, destroys the alpha connector and delivers his villain monologue.

And he does this while… petting a weird cat? The screen fades out and we see a slide explaining what happens afterwards. Seems like CHAR-les absorbed Sechenov’s body before disappearing. There are no other mentions, so we don’t exactly know what he is doing now.

P-3 isn’t mentioned either, but we actually have a good idea. The next scene gives us quite the hint.

The final scene shows us that P-3 is in Limbo. He hears the voice of Katya, his wife. And when he looks up, he sees two wedding rings, and one of the twins floating towards him. They reach towards each other, and the game ends after they grasp one another’s hand.

The Meaning

There is a lot to unpack here! Buckle up, as I’m about to explain my take on everything. Most of it is supported by in-game material. The cases where it isn’t, I’ll tell you that it’s my interpretation.

It’s obvious that CHAR-les is the real big-bad of this game. From the start, he has been feeding information to P-3. You might remember different conversations where he hints that P-3 should question what he’s been told.

His goals still aren’t clear, but they’re definitely diabolical. This part is completely my take. It seems like CHAR-les believes the next phase of humanity’s evolution is as a collective organism. With him leading the way.

He calls himself the next phase of human evolution, and his plans involve using Kollectiv 2.0. The game has already told us that it can send other people to Limbo and control their bodies.

The neuro-polymer form that CHAR-les takes is one that stores data. And after consuming Sechenov, he has access to all his knowledge. And he destroyed the alpha collector, meaning no one will be able to change the settings anymore.

And what about the white fluffy thing? We’ve seen these before, but only when P-3 is in Limbo. He has to follow one, and he himself is one (based on how his arms look). And, well, there’s this really weird video from the early concept days… So, here’s my interpretation.

The fluffy creature represents human minds when they’re trapped. Kinda cute and playful. Cat-like. CHAR-les is petting this creature because to him, we’re all just childlike. Fluffy. Dumb animals that need his guidance to move forward.

The final scene seems to imply that Katya’s consciousness was indeed saved. Somehow. Seems like destroying the twins allowed her consciousness to merge.

The twins are named Left and Right. While there are many interpretations, I think the one that’s most accurate is in terms of brain hemispheres. And we do know that they were imprinted with the different sides of Katya’s brain, the only thing they could save.

Review

This is a very bleak ending where everything goes bad. The guy lying wins. Sechenov explains things but only after it’s too late. And P-3 is trapped in Limbo.

But that’s why I think this is the best ending. The game is about P-3 being controlled and manipulated, and it seems fitting that it ends like that as well.

And let’s not forget that it’s not all bad. In the end, we see P-3 is reunited with his wife. And since they’re both in Limbo we know they’re alive, in a way.

Another thing to note is P-3’s arms. Until the final scene, his hands are fluffy. But when he grasps Katya’s hand, it’s his own hand. This might signify that he’s actually beginning to break free from the chains of control.

So we have two main characters. And somewhere in the waters, there are two beta connectors… It’s pretty obviously a setup for a sequel, one which I’d be excited to play. Seeing what CHAR-les does with Kollectiv and how the main characters get out of Limbo. Or how they fail.

How To Get It:

The first step is the same as last time. Select Option 2 when you’re asked to kill Sechenov.
You’ll have to go through two boss battles. First, you’ll have to beat Left.
After you beat her, you’ll have to take on both Twins!
Once they’re both defeated, the ending cutscene will play. Don’t forget to watch all of it!

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Atomic Heart Story Explained (Quick Version)

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:58:37 +0000

If you've played Atomic Heart, then you know that the story is more than a little complicated. You can finish the whole game and still have a hard time following everything. And that’s not your fault.

Almost everyone is lying to you. And on top of that, there’s so much happening behind the scenes. It’s easy to miss out on these subtle details because of all the carnage.

Well, don't worry! I've written down every important bit here. And it’s all in chronological order, so you should have no issue in seeing the big picture!

Polymer

Let's start at the very beginning. That's the best way to understand the story.

The game's story takes place in an alternating universe. It diverges from our world in 1937. This is the year when Professor Dmitry Sergeyevich Sechenov discovered Polymer.

This wonderful, miraculous substance is a storage device that changed science forever. It serves to create the power source for all robots. It also makes your glove work, and makes it possible to have a flying city like Chemoley.

But there’s a creepier side. There’s another kind of polymer. You've already seen this during the game. It can eat up a person's body and store whatever's in their head.

The Kollectiv System

Now, let's talk about The Kollectiv System. This is a computer network with all robots in it. Thanks to this, human labor has been replaced with robots everywhere. Quite the opposite of what we have today, but oh well.

So the obvious next step is an update, right? This is where Kollectiv 2.0 comes in. With this, humans are able to connect to the network. Why would anyone want that?

Two reasons. First, it lets people control robots with just their thoughts. Handy, right?

And second, the system is supposed to be equal. No one has more authority than another person.

Except, that’s a lie. Because Sechenov pulled a Sauron and made the Alpha Connector. Basically, he has more control than anyone else. And that’s not the only problem.

In case you didn’t catch it, The Kollectiv is actually a not-so subtle metaphor for Communism. The way it’s named, the way it works… It can’t be anything else.

Atomic Heart

Before getting any further, we need to understand what the Atomic Heart Project is. This isn't actually the most important story beat. But it helps explain why every single robot is armed to the teeth.

Basically, Atomic Heart is a project by the USSR to overthrow America. First, they'll ship these robots to the US as tools. Once they're everywhere, they will activate combat mode. The aggressive robots will destabilize the country and the Soviets will step in to instill communism.

Limbo

So far, no one in the Soviet Union has a problem with this. The conflict comes in because of Kollectiv 2.0. You see, all the humans who have connected to Kollectiv have become crazy.

Their minds are stuck in Limbo, a world of hallucination. In the real world, their bodies act senile and childlike. And that’s not the worst of it. They can be controlled by whoever has the Alpha Connector.

Basically, Sechenov can use Kollectiv to control whoever he wants.

Chariton Zakharov

Somewhere during this time, Professor Chariton Zakharov began working with Sechenov. Two brilliant scientists are better than one, right? Sadly, Zakharov died.

Now we never actually find out for sure if Zakharov's death was actually accidental. Or if Sechenov killed him. Larissa calls him a ‘misanthrope’ at one point, and another note suggests that he was more interested in polymers than humans. Either way, we know what the result was.

After getting polymerized, Sechenov stuffed him in a glove. Then he assigns Zakharov to guide the player and pretend to be an AI.

Zakharov's plans are different, though. You see, he's the main big bad of this game. And despite being polymer goo, he's the one pulling the strings.

He's a master manipulator who has some other plans for Kollectiv. We never find out what those plans are. But he feeds the protagonist information and makes him doubt Sechenov.

In fact, most of the information we have is from him. So we don't even know how much of it is true!

Petrov and Filatova

Zakharov wasn’t the only one with other plans. Two other scientists, Petrov and Filatova, were unhappy with how Kollectiv affects people. So they planned to sabotage the whole thing before it went up.

The best way to do that would be to expose the Atomic Heart Project. Except, Petrov had a (not so) bright idea. He hacked into all the robots and activated combat mode!

It works in one sense. Now everyone can see that the robots are deadly. On the other hand, the guy single-handedly kills a lot of people! And that's how our protagonist comes into the play.

P-3

P-3, or Major Sergey Alekseyevich Nechayev, is the main character. He’s a war veteran who had a severe brain injury during a mission. His wife also died during the same incident, leaving him with PTSD.

Sechenov treated him and used a brain implant to stabilize him. It replaced the memories of his wife with false ones. And as a bonus, it can throw him into Limbo with a signal.

Unlike most of the other people, P-3 is deadly when he's there. While he sees a colorful wonderland, outside he kills anyone in front of him. But he doesn't know that, he only thinks he's having black outs.

The Twins

Just another note before moving forward. Remember P-3's wife? She didn't make it but Sechenov actually managed to recover her brain imprint.

And he did a creepy thing by making his personal bodyguards with them. His metallic twins. This isn't very important, but we'll come back to this at the very end.

The Present Day

So now we're ready to make sense of the events of the game. P-3 starts off in a massive parade. It's a celebration for the launch of Kollectiv 2.0.

But he's not here to celebrate. He is sent to Facility 3826 where Petrov is causing a data breach. By the time P-3 lands, Petrov has already hacked the robots and things are very chaotic.

Facility 3826

A lot of things happen in Facility 3826, but they're not really very relevant. He tries to find a way to shut down the robots but there's always one complication or another.

And all through this time, Zakharov guides him as CHAR-les. As the player, you yourself might have found yourself being swayed by his words. He basically paints Sechenov as the big villain who's lying to P-3.

Eventually, P-3 confronts Petrov and finds out about Atomic Heart. By this point, P-3 isn't sure who to trust anymore. He thinks everyone has been manipulating him.

Academy of Consequences

If that wasn’t bad enough, it gets worse. The last straw breaks when Filatova tells him what Kollectiv does to people. And his own backstory.

Obviously he doesn't want to believe it at first. But by the end of it, he's ready to fight Sechenov.

Final Confrontation

Finally, P-3 confronts Sechenov. The scientist tries to tell him that Zakharov is manipulating him. But P-3 doesn't trust him anymore.

After P-3 defeats the metallic twins, he shoots Sechenov. And that’s when Zakharov shows his true colors. He zaps P-3, pops out of his glove. Then he merges with more red polymer and takes on a human shape.

Then, Zakharov destroys the Alpha Connector, but we don’t know if he made any changes. Afterwards, he absorbs Sechenov’s body and disappears.

The game never clarifies what Zakharov’s true plans are. He hints at plans for humanity but he never clarifies what they are.

The game doesn't mention P-3, but we know for sure that he's alive. The final scene of the game shows him back in Limbo, reaching for one of the twins.

Remember how I said we'd get back to the twins? Well, this scene seems to imply that P-3 and his wife are finally reunited.

It's impossible to say if we'll ever get any more answers. That depends on if Mundfish makes a sequel. The Beta Connectors were never actually destroyed, so there’s that. But there you have it, the story of Atomic Heart!

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A key to unlock the answers of the story

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Is Atomic Heart Good?

euhedral — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:44:03 +0000

Atomic Heart is a pretty new game. So it’s not surprising if you’re still on the fence about trying it out. After all, you need to know if a game is worth playing before you spend your hard-earned money on it.

You might have heard some mixed things about this game. I’ve seen some people absolutely loving the game’s weird fun. Others have criticized shortcomings that could have been done better. And the controversy definitely doesn’t help at all.

But that’s why I’m here. In this article, I’ll give you 10 unbiased reasons and try to convince you that Atomic Heart is good. But I’ll keep my arguments as objective as I can, so you can decide for yourself.

Before we jump in, I’ll tell you one thing. The game isn’t perfect and the criticisms about its flaws are valid. But for all its shortcomings, it gets a bunch of other things right. With that said, let’s see what those things are!

10. A Story That Subverts Your Expectations

Like everything in the game, Atomic Heart’s story is weird. The setting itself is very foreign from the world we’re living in. So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the story is written to surprise you.

Now, twists and surprises aren’t inherently good or bad. Anyone can write a plot-twist by shoving something random into the story. What makes them enjoyable is the execution. If a subversion makes you think “Oh! I should have seen it coming,” that’s probably good.

Even though the story gets a little convoluted, it pulls off the twists effectively. All the information the main character gets is from people with their own goals and motivations. People who want to manipulate him. And you don’t realize it until the very end.

9. Incredible Graphics And Performance

No matter how you look at it, Atomic Heart is a looker! The intro scene is enough to show you how beautiful this game is. Whether you’re flying over Facility 3826 or crawling through a Testing Ground, the visuals are stunning.

If you play a lot of games like me, then you already know this. Games that look the best are the ones that fully commit to their visual styles. Atomic Heart goes for the realistic look and you can see it in the textures, lightning and shadows. Everything in the game was made with great care.

And on top of that, the game performs great! My computer is far from a potato, but I’ve played other AAA titles that made me struggle a bit. Not Atomic Heart. The team really optimized the performance and it’s impressive how well it runs.

8. The Game Puts Realism First

Before I jump into this one, I have to explain what I mean by the word ‘realism.’ It’s not the graphics, even though that’s incredible. What I’m talking about is consistency.

Let me give you some examples so get a better idea. The game has a lot of weird things going on, but you always get in-world explanations for why they are that way. And the best part is that the lore feeds the gameplay.

You’re exploring a facility full of cameras and drones, so of course you’ll be seen by them easily. And since there are robots that carry objects, it only makes sense that they will bring in reinforcements. It’s easy to see that this is how things would be if this world was actually real.

7. Less Hand Holding That Invites Exploration

Atomic Heart isn’t one of those games that just shows you everything it has to offer. It teaches you the basics through tutorials. But there are a lot of other features and game mechanisms that it never mentions. You have to explore and experiment to find them.

You’ll have a map marker telling you where the Main Quest is. But you’ll need to figure out where all the side content is by looking at the map and exploring. The game will give you a weapon and teach you how to use the crafting system, but it’s up to you to find the other blueprints and play around with them.

Similarly, Atomic Heart will teach you how to use 1 power and how to upgrade it. But you’re the one who will have to experiment with the other powers and see what works best. Or you could just ignore them all and play with the basics. It’s all viable.

6. Intense, Challenging Combat

Anyone can make a game with robots to shoot and kill. But for it to be fun, you need a challenge. And Atomic Heart delivers heaps of it.

This point kinda bounces off one of the last reasons, but only a little. You see, the robots you fight are very tough. And that’s because they’re built to be durable. There’s also a reason for why they have such a powerful arsenal. But I’d be spoiling things if I said more.

The encounters become even more challenging because of enemy reinforcements. Sometimes you might actually have to just run away. Especially during the early game. This sense of difficulty makes you feel more accomplished when you actually beat the enemy.

5. Enemy Robots with Believable Designs

If you’ve seen trailers and images of Atomic Heart, you might have noticed the funky design of the enemy robots. This isn’t because they were designed to look weird. You see, the robots in the game all have different roles.

You can see this design principle in two parts. First is their obvious appearance. Like the Lab Techs just look like dudes. And they have lasers, because science. Laborers have saws and Ballerinas have feminine figures.

The second part is the gameplay, which is why we’re all here. Their jobs basically affect how they fight you. It’s very believable when a lumberjack robot tries to hack you down with a chainsaw.

4. Resource Management That Ups The Stakes

Atomic Heart isn’t the kind of FPS where you go around lugging 20 different weapons. The game starts you off with a small inventory. Whatever you carry has to fit into it. More Resident Evil than Wolfenstein.

Resource management never fails to up the ante. Since you can’t carry all your weapons, you have to be strategic. Ask yourself which weapons work best for you. And I haven’t even mentioned all the other stuff you need to carry around. Like medkits.

But it’s not all about restricting you. You can actually take whatever you want, the excess just goes automatically to your storage. The wonders of technology, am I right?

3. Different Types of Weapons To Experiment With

The game gives you many guns to play around with. But not all of them are clear winners. Sure, your regular pistol and the first ax you get are weaker than most of the late-game weapons. But even those starter weapons can be upgraded to be useful.

Among the powerful weapons, the decision isn’t easy. How you play will affect what works best for you. Like, I prefer the Pashtet (a machete) and the Shotgun but there’s many different ways to go. The only way to find out is by trying them all out.

And remember the weapon upgrades I mentioned earlier? Well, there are different ways to upgrade your weapons as well. The gun upgrades kinda look the same. But the power attacks for melee weapons are wildly different from one another.

2. Many Fun, Optional Testing Grounds With Great Loot

The story of the game will take you through the major confrontations and facilities. But we all know that the real fun is in the side quests. Come on, I know you put off the Main Quest for the last when you’re playing an RPG!

While Atomic Heart doesn’t have side quests, it has plenty of content. These come in the form Testing Ground. The game basically takes place inside an experimental facility, and these Testing Grounds are labs for funky science stuff.

While there are no active quests telling you to beat these, there’s a lot of incentive to do so. They are dotted around the map and not so much out of your way. But most importantly, finishing these is how you get blueprints for new weapons and weapon upgrades. The loot is where it’s truly at.

1. Skills Have A Synergistic Effect When Used Together

This is another one of those things the game doesn’t explicitly tell you. But you can see it in action in the wild. And this is mainly true for the Polymer Jet skill.

This power basically shoots out clumps of polymer. And this thing takes on the property of whatever it touches. Fire, frost, electricity? You got it. You can set these elements on them by yourself, or it can even happen accidentally. Watch the first minute of the video to see a demo.

And you’re not the only one who will be using it, by the way. One of the bosses has the ability to do the same. On the other hand, you can use the synergistic effects against some of the other enemy’s default elements.

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Atomic Heart gives you all the things you need to have a good time

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