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With each new game, you get the chance to play, whether it's your intention or not, it's natural to instinctively search for connections to other games, which inevitably triggers memories of those past gaming experiences. Upon watching the first trailer of Atlas Fallen, I couldn't help but be reminded of the less renowned 2008 Prince of Persia, a personal favourite of mine and an underrated gem. The initial images from Atlas Fallen sparked a sense of nostalgia akin to the memorable elements found in Prince of Persia.
Despite belonging to different genres, Atlas Fallen bears such a striking resemblance to Prince of Persia that making comparisons is unavoidable. From the desert setting to the epic battle between good and evil deities, along with its distinct combat mechanics, sand wraiths, and the presence of the gauntlet, there are numerous resemblances that you simply cannot ignore, even if you want.
On the other hand, the combat mechanics and character development, as well as the quest and research systems in Atlas Fallen, undeniably bring to mind the recent game Hogwarts Legacy. Furthermore, the overall atmosphere and RPG elements evoke memories of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
It's evident that Atlas Fallen draws inspiration from some truly outstanding titles, and the best part is that it successfully combines their strengths. Let's explore step by step what this RPG action adventure has to offer and determine whether it truly justifies your investment of both money and time.
Story
The story in Atlas Fallen is undeniably its weakest aspect. It follows a straightforward and predictable path, lacking depth and surprise. From the very beginning of the game, it becomes apparent that the plot unfolds predictably, leaving little room for unexpected twists or turns. Regrettably, the story of Atlas Fallen comes across as a missed opportunity.
The story centres around a character created in classic RPG style, allowing players to choose between a male or female protagonist. This character belongs to the marginalised lower class known as the Unnamed, who hold no significance in society and are denied even the right to their own name.
After a massive storm, the protagonist stumbles upon a magical gauntlet, becoming the focal point of the gameplay. Unbeknownst to them, the gauntlet houses the essence of the god of chaos or freedom, Nyaal. Together, the hero and the gauntlet embark on a war against the followers of the sun god Thelos, who have turned the entire earth into a desert by extracting its precious essence for their own secretive motives.
The story in Atlas Fallen follows the age-old theme of an epic struggle between good and evil, involving the overthrow of an evil god and his followers. While this premise could have potential, the real issue lies in its lack of originality and extreme predictability. The quests throughout the game are disappointingly formulaic, mostly revolving around simple tasks of fetching items for NPCs in exchange for rewards and lacking any creative depth.
The characters in the game are predominantly superficial and forgettable, failing to leave any lasting impact on the player. Consequently, the player's emotional connection to them is weak, making it difficult to care about their fates. Even in quests where players have to deliver the sad news of a loved one's death to NPCs, the execution comes across as oddly comedic due to the superficial portrayal.
While the voice acting in Atlas Fallen is passable, especially with certain NPCs, it fails to shine due to the overall shallowness of the story and the lack of creativity in both the main and side missions. The voice acting for the main character, in my case, a male character, did not leave a significant impression, and the performance of the companion Nyaal also fell short of expectations.
Gameplay
While Atlas Fallen may have fallen short in terms of its story, it undeniably deserves praise for its captivating gameplay. To be clear, it may not be the most enjoyable game ever, but I must admit that sliding on the sand, leaping and dashing through the air, and engaging in combat with various creatures is incredibly intriguing. The combat system is one of the most interesting and engaging I've encountered, not just in the RPG genre but in gaming as a whole.
The traversal system in Atlas Fallen is worth highlighting as it adds a thrilling element to the gameplay. The game's fast-paced nature makes moving around the open world incredibly satisfying. As you upgrade your character's gauntlet and acquire abilities like double jump and triple dash, the possibilities for exploration become limitless. Navigating the vast open world never becomes tedious, and the excitement of traversing never fades throughout the entire gaming experience.
Sliding on the sand in Atlas Fallen is a particularly gratifying experience, especially when you unlock the perk that allows for even greater acceleration. The sensation it provides is truly remarkable and adds to the overall thrill of the gameplay.
The combat system in Atlas Fallen is genuinely distinctive, offering a powerful and empowering feeling whenever you engage in a fight. Your main weapon is the gauntlet, which can be equipped with two different variations: an axe as the primary weapon and a whip sword as the secondary weapon. Later in the game, you gain access to a third heavy weapon option that can also be attached as a secondary choice.
The unique aspect of combat in Atlas Fallen lies not solely in the weapons, but in the concept of "momentum" that evolves as the battle unfolds. Each strike adds to your momentum, intensifying the potency of your attacks, but it also heightens the damage you receive.
Moreover, momentum is tied to special attacks that become accessible only when the momentum reaches a certain level, elevating the depth and creativity of the combat. Additionally, you can utilise momentum for devastating smash attacks that inflict massive damage but also reset your momentum, necessitating strategic planning on how to leverage momentum effectively during battles.
Special attacks in Atlas Fallen are closely tied to "essence stones," the primary resource in the game that offers players various options to shape their gameplay style. The game boasts an extensive collection of these essence stones, which may even be deemed excessive as the player amasses over fifty of them throughout the gameplay and potentially more.
On top of that, there are different types of armour, perks unlocked through armour upgrades, and special gauntlet upgrades, contributing to a complex gameplay experience. This abundance of choices can easily overwhelm and confuse players, leaving them lost in the sea of overwhelming options available to them.
It is worth noting that getting accustomed to the gameplay mechanics in Atlas Fallen will require some time and effort. However, I must commend the developers for providing the review code promptly and allowing ample time to thoroughly explore all the possibilities that Atlas Fallen has to offer.
When it comes to exploration and collecting collectables, Atlas Fallen truly excels. Each of the four maps provides a comprehensive list of items to collect, and the game mostly guides you to the necessary locations. However, it leaves room for some general exploration, allowing you to find things on your own. The process is fun and intuitive and not overly challenging, making it a positive aspect of the game.
A relatively minor issue with the gameplay pertains to the simplicity of the enemies, all of which are Wraiths modelled after animals. The absence of proper boss fights stands out as a major drawback. While some enemies may be tougher than others, there is a lack of adversaries that truly require tactical approaches.
Instead of traditional bosses, Atlas Fallen features "Elite Foes," which are a form of collectable, and defeating them is necessary for completing the game 100 per cent. However, in my experience, these foes are not significantly more challenging than regular enemies, and even the main boss did not offer a particularly thrilling or formidable challenge.
The game does offer three levels of difficulty, so for those seeking a challenge, playing on a higher difficulty setting is an option. However, even on harder levels, there remains little distinction between regular enemies and the so-called Elite Foes. The overall gameplay will be more challenging, but the difference in difficulty between regular enemies and elites might not be as pronounced as expected.
In addition to the single-player mode, Atlas Fallen offers the option for cooperative play. However, I couldn't personally experience co-op gameplay since it's limited to playing with friends on the same platform. As I played the game through a review code on PlayStation 5, none of my friends had the game, preventing me from trying it out. Hence, this aspect won't impact the rating of the game. Maybe I'll even update this review in the future once I have the chance to try out co-op gameplay.
Graphics and Sounds
Graphically, Atlas Fallen left me with a mixed impression. Initially, I was quite disappointed with the visuals, as they felt reminiscent of PlayStation 3-era graphics, featuring outdated character models and unattractive environments. However, my perception changed as I ventured into the first portion of the open world, where the game's visuals improved significantly. The depiction of the clear sky and desert atmosphere is truly beautiful, and the effects of the desert storm when The Watcher first captures you in its gaze are genuinely breathtaking.
While the majority of the game is set in desert areas, there are certain sections with more vegetation that offer pleasant moments, including stunning sunsets and beautiful vistas. Overall, Atlas Fallen has a visually appealing presentation, but it doesn't introduce anything groundbreaking or remarkably different from what we've seen in older games.
On PlayStation 5, Atlas Fallen provides players with two graphic modes: Quality and Performance. The Quality mode targets 30 FPS and delivers a sharper image quality with enhanced details, but sadly, it lacks ray tracing. On the other hand, the Performance mode aims for 60 FPS, providing a smoother gameplay experience, albeit with slightly reduced visual fidelity.
In terms of level design, Atlas Fallen encompasses four maps that share a similar layout. As an open-world game, the levels are intended for exploration within the game's world. While certain views are undeniably breathtaking, there are instances where the scenery can be misleading, giving the impression of significant content at a specific location, only to find it to be a mere visual addition without substantial gameplay elements. As a result, some parts of the gameplay might feel repetitive and lack diversity.
Regarding the sound design, there is neither praise nor significant criticism to be made. The soundtrack is unremarkable, lacking memorable elements that would leave a lasting impression. When a soundtrack is exceptional, it tends to stay with you, but in this case, it's quite forgettable.
In terms of overall sound design, the battle clashes in Atlas Fallen are truly impressive. Once the fight commences, the intensity is palpable, with everything exploding into action. The sounds of the weapons, the eerie screams of the wraiths, and the haunting howling of the sand are exceptionally well-crafted, delivering an awesome and immersive experience.
Conclusion
Although Atlas Fallen offers fast-paced gameplay, it may take some time to fully grasp its mechanics. My advice is to be patient and give it the necessary time to become familiar with its intricacies, as the investment will pay off, at least in terms of entertainment value.
On the other hand, while certain games can overcome weak storytelling and graphics, Atlas Fallen falls into the category where the story should have been more serious and profound. If your primary focus in games is enjoyable gameplay and endless fun with less emphasis on the story, then Atlas Fallen is undoubtedly the game for you, but if you are aiming for a full-package experience, then Atlas Fallen, apart from devilishly entertaining gameplay, has little else to offer.
The Good
A very entertaining and unique combat system- A wide selection of essence stones for a unique gameplay style
- Very satisfying traversal system
- Depiction of the desert, sand storms, and some other visual effects
- The battle sounds
- Finding collectibles is very interesting
The Bad
Very weak and predictable story- Shallow characters
- An overall graphic presentation
- Undifferentiated level design
