Reviews are in, and they aren't great

[Crusader765]

Not the worst game ever by any means, sitting at about 70 percent at Metacritic

[BR B-263-54]

Diposting pertama kali oleh ^..^ | ViralOmega:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Mecharion:

No - wo do not want political agendas in our games. Get lost!

You do realize you live on a planet with other humans and every creative thing ever made is based on reality. The most successful AAA games all have politics, agendas, or factions. Fallout series is just one.

The original Fallout games didn't rely on any political agenda, this was confirmed by Tim Cain.

Having overt political messaging in gaming is something relatively modern - even the original Deus Ex wasn't overtly political.

I'll grant you that System Shock 2 has a anti-communist vibe about it whilst at the same time criticising so much hyper individuality in the form of Shodan.

[Captain Blud]

The review from Rock Paper Shotgun makes me interested enough to sign up for a month of gamepass to try it out.

[Anticitizen 1]

Diposting pertama kali oleh HTS MrHumphries:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Anticitizen 1:

The legacy shill media critics are corrupt to the core. The best criticism at this stage is the Steam Aggregate and even that's thoroughly flawed. To make a good decision you have to watch let's plays and see Steam Aggregate as well as read the "helpful reviews".

Your point doesn't hold water when you consider the "shill media critics" that contribute to Metascores appear to have come to the same conclusion as steam reviews.
The top 20 rated games on Steam are all highly rated on Metacritic!

Besides that, Steam reviews are corrupted by childish fanboyism and review bombing because of trivial issues such as characters being black, ♥♥♥ etc. Not the most reliable source for critiquing games.

Watching a let's play doesn't work at all if the 'player' is simply playing the game, as many do.
If there's some detailed opinion on the games qualities whilst playing, it has some value but even then it's only one guys/gals opinion. You would need to watch 50 or more of these videos to get a similar spectrum of opinions as you would from Metacritic.
And to be honest, I'm not willing to watch a single one of these video let alone 50 of them because I would like some mystery left to the game I'm thinking of buying.

Metacritic scores of some "notable" recent trash games:

Starfield: 83%
Avowed: 80%
Veilguard: 82%

Shill media has no shame or integrity.

[Nate Mc Bow]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Anticitizen 1:

Diposting pertama kali oleh HTS MrHumphries:

Your point doesn't hold water when you consider the "shill media critics" that contribute to Metascores appear to have come to the same conclusion as steam reviews.
The top 20 rated games on Steam are all highly rated on Metacritic!

Besides that, Steam reviews are corrupted by childish fanboyism and review bombing because of trivial issues such as characters being black, ♥♥♥ etc. Not the most reliable source for critiquing games.

Watching a let's play doesn't work at all if the 'player' is simply playing the game, as many do.
If there's some detailed opinion on the games qualities whilst playing, it has some value but even then it's only one guys/gals opinion. You would need to watch 50 or more of these videos to get a similar spectrum of opinions as you would from Metacritic.
And to be honest, I'm not willing to watch a single one of these video let alone 50 of them because I would like some mystery left to the game I'm thinking of buying.

Metacritic scores of some "notable" recent trash games:

Starfield: 83%
Avowed: 80%
Veilguard: 82%

Shill media has no shame or integrity.

Yeah... Don´t ever take the reviews at face value... The second making a review became a business to some, integrity went straight out the window.

[Liam]

The word woke is so overused now, every time I see someone use it, I just think of uneducated burger flipper.

[crimsonfancy]

I asked GROK:

"Reviews for the upcoming PC game Atomfall, set to release on March 27, 2025, offer a range of perspectives based on early impressions and review builds. Developed by Rebellion, known for the Sniper Elite series, Atomfall is a single-player survival-action game set in a fictional quarantine zone in Northern England, five years after the real-world 1957 Windscale nuclear disaster. Here’s a summary of what critics are saying, drawing from available reviews as of March 23, 2025:
Positive Feedback

Unique Setting and Atmosphere: Critics widely praise Atomfall’s lush, green post-apocalyptic British countryside, contrasting sharply with the typical barren wastelands of games like Fallout. PC Gamer notes its “pleasant post-apocalypse” with tea, bakeries, and verdant hills, making it an inviting world despite its dangers (PC Gamer, March 21, 2025). IGN describes it as “endearingly British,” with quirky characters and items like Cornish pasties adding charm (IGN, March 21, 2025).
Player Freedom and Exploration: The game’s emphasis on player-driven exploration and choice is a standout feature. Windows Central calls it a game that “rewards player autonomy,” allowing diverse approaches to its narrative and objectives (Windows Central, March 21, 2025). Rock Paper Shotgun highlights its “sheer openness and barrels of on-tap intrigue,” with a leads-based system that encourages investigation over traditional quest markers (Rock Paper Shotgun, March 21, 2025).
Narrative Depth: IGN labels Atomfall a “compelling, post-apocalyptic survival story” that adapts to player choices, drawing comparisons to Fallout: New Vegas for its moral ambiguity (IGN, March 21, 2025). GamesRadar+ appreciates its “tightly designed world” and lack of hand-holding, likening it to “X-Files in the Cold War Lake District” (GamesRadar+, March 21, 2025).
Accessibility: The inclusion of customizable difficulty and accessibility options is well-received, allowing players to tailor combat, resource scarcity, and navigation to their preferences (GamesRadar+, March 21, 2025; Stevivor, March 22, 2025).

Mixed or Critical Feedback

Combat and Mechanics: Combat is a frequent point of criticism. PC Gamer finds it “functional but uninspired,” with scarce ammo and clunky melee mechanics that lack dodge or block options (PC Gamer, March 21, 2025). Eurogamer echoes this, noting that fights can feel repetitive and shallow, often avoided due to their simplicity (Eurogamer, March 21, 2025). Tom’s Guide calls it “mundane” and a weak pillar compared to exploration (Tom’s Guide, March 21, 2025).
Identity and Depth: Some reviewers feel Atomfall struggles to carve out a distinct identity. PC Gamer suggests it “needs to take a gap year to find itself,” pointing to a lack of focus amidst its mix of Fallout, Stalker, and survival elements (PC Gamer, March 21, 2025). Game Rant notes that while visually stunning, its great ideas are “overshadowed by frustrating game design and mechanical roadblocks” (Game Rant, March 21, 2025).
Technical Issues: Stevivor mentions endgame bugs in its review build, expressing hope for a pre-launch patch, though it still finds the game immersive overall (Stevivor, March 22, 2025). This suggests potential polish issues that might affect the final experience.

Overall Reception

Scores and Sentiment: Early scores vary. IGN gives it an 8/10, praising its fresh take on survival-action (IGN, March 21, 2025), while Windows Central’s 8/10 lauds its autonomy (Windows Central, March 21, 2025). PC Gamer is less enthusiastic, suggesting it’s a “fun diversion” but not a standout (PC Gamer, March 21, 2025). OpenCritic aggregates a 75/100 with 64% critic recommendation, placing it in the “Strong” category but not at the top tier (OpenCritic, March 21, 2025). Metacritic lists a 70/100 for the PC version, indicating “mixed or average” reviews (Metacritic, March 26, 2025).
Comparisons: While often compared to Fallout, reviewers like GamesRadar+ argue it’s “something much better than that,” leaning into its detective-survival hybrid nature (GamesRadar+, March 21, 2025). Others see influences from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Elden Ring in its challenging, hands-off approach (IGN, March 21, 2025).

Conclusion
Atomfall is shaping up as an ambitious title with a captivating world and innovative exploration mechanics, appealing to players who enjoy freedom and mystery in their games. However, its combat and occasional lack of polish or direction may temper enthusiasm for some. As it launches day-one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, it’s positioned as an accessible option for players to try, with potential to shine if technical kinks are ironed out by release. Critics agree it’s worth a look for its unique British flair and player-driven narrative, even if it doesn’t fully reinvent the survival genre."

[crimsonfancy]

As for being woke (which will in turn not gain any playtime or purchase from me,) I again asked GROK if there was evidence of such:

"The question of whether Atomfall contains "woke" elements—typically understood as progressive social or political messaging—has surfaced in some discussions, though definitive evidence from reviews and available content is limited and subjective. As of March 23, 2025, with the game’s release still four days away (March 27, 2025), most insights come from early previews, review builds, and critic impressions rather than widespread player feedback or a full analysis of the final product. Here’s what can be gleaned:
Evidence from Reviews and Pre-Release Content

Lack of Explicit Mention in Major Reviews: Major outlets like IGN, PC Gamer, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, and Rock Paper Shotgun, which reviewed the game based on pre-release builds (dated March 21-22, 2025), do not explicitly flag "woke" themes such as overt identity politics, forced diversity, or anti-traditional messaging. Instead, they focus on gameplay mechanics, narrative freedom, and the British setting. For instance, IGN praises its "compelling, post-apocalyptic survival story" with morally ambiguous choices (IGN, March 21, 2025), while GamesRadar+ calls it "something much better than British Fallout" without noting ideological leanings (GamesRadar+, March 21, 2025).
Narrative Themes: The game’s story, inspired by the 1957 Windscale nuclear disaster, revolves around an amnesiac protagonist navigating a quarantine zone filled with factions like the military, druids, and outlaws. Reviews highlight a focus on player-driven mystery and choice (e.g., aligning with or betraying factions), drawing comparisons to Fallout: New Vegas for its ethical ambiguity rather than pushing a specific social agenda (Windows Central, March 21, 2025). There’s no mention of nationalism being demonized or race-mixing being promoted, as some might associate with "woke" narratives.
Character Representation: Descriptions of characters—such as an eccentric Major-like figure from Fawlty Towers, a Queen Elizabeth II lookalike (IGN, March 21, 2025), or a guitar-playing loner (The Gamer, August 25, 2024)—lean into British eccentricity rather than diversity quotas or progressive archetypes. The setting is a homogenous, rural Northern England, and no reviews note an emphasis on race, gender, or identity politics beyond what’s typical for a survival narrative.

Sentiment from X Posts

Some X users have raised concerns about "woke" elements in games generally, and a few posts specifically mention Atomfall. For example, one user claimed there are "side quests / storylines that demonize nationalism and promote race-mixing" (X, March 22, 2025). However, these claims lack substantiation from primary sources like gameplay footage or detailed breakdowns, and no major review corroborates them. Given the game’s pre-release status, such assertions may reflect speculation or early impressions rather than evidence from the full game. X posts are not conclusive and often reflect individual biases rather than verified content.

Developer Context and Design Choices

Rebellion Developments, known for Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, hasn’t publicly positioned Atomfall as a platform for social commentary. Pre-release interviews (e.g., PC Gamer, March 7, 2025) emphasize its experimental gameplay—like the leads-based system over traditional quests—and its alt-history British vibe, not ideological goals. The inclusion of accessibility options and player freedom (GamesRadar+, March 21, 2025) aligns with modern design trends but isn’t inherently "woke."
The game’s content warnings on Steam (March 21, 2025) note violence, blood, and an ambiguous suicide scene, but nothing suggests progressive messaging like DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) themes that critics often label as "woke."

Conclusion
As of now, there’s no concrete evidence from credible reviews or ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ materials that Atomfall contains overt "woke" elements like demonizing nationalism or promoting race-mixing, as claimed in isolated X posts. Its narrative and design appear focused on survival, exploration, and mystery within a distinctly British context, not social preaching. However, since the game isn’t fully released, these assessments are based on incomplete data. Post-launch player feedback and deeper story analysis might reveal more, but current indications suggest such accusations are unsubstantiated or exaggerated. If this topic matters to you, waiting for broader player reviews after March 27, 2025, could clarify things further."

[En9a9e]

Diposting pertama kali oleh crimsonfancy:

There’s no mention of nationalism being demonized or race-mixing being promoted, as some might associate with "woke" narratives.

Nobody apart from far right (and even some, ironically, far left) supporters is against "race mixing". It's a ridiculous term anyway because there is only one race.

What anti-agenda gamers are against is weird "race swapping" for DEI check boxes. E.g. Where note able characters of a certain ethnicity have their ethnicity changed, are oddly used in disproportionate ways, or are stuffed into a game in historically inaccurate ways, to appease leftist social engineering agendas.

[Kool Kendall]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Blackcompany:

A melee heavy game with no dodge and no block? There's a term for that: Early Access.

Seriously, if you are going to have combat in your games, it needs to be good. Just removed this from my wishlist. I will keep an eye on it and see if it ever becomes a truly finished, polished game. But for now, it is a hard pass.

No block is ok but no dodge is lazy and doesn't make much since but i still bought it and will hopefully enjoy it till this weekend.

[crimsonfancy]

Diposting pertama kali oleh En9a9e:

Diposting pertama kali oleh crimsonfancy:

There’s no mention of nationalism being demonized or race-mixing being promoted, as some might associate with "woke" narratives.

What anti-agenda gamers are against is weird "race swapping" for DEI check boxes. E.g. Where note able characters of a certain ethnicity have their ethnicity changed, are oddly used in disproportionate ways, or are stuffed into a game in historically inaccurate ways, to appease leftist social engineering agendas.

Exactly. e.g. : Altering understood history in many cases to fit a progressive narrative or ideal.

I copied directly from my GROK query so terminology such as "race-mixing" comes from elsewhere : "Some mention the game being "woke." Is there evidence of such?"

[]|[-Gaben-]|[]

Diposting pertama kali oleh crimsonfancy:

Diposting pertama kali oleh En9a9e:

What anti-agenda gamers are against is weird "race swapping" for DEI check boxes. E.g. Where note able characters of a certain ethnicity have their ethnicity changed, are oddly used in disproportionate ways, or are stuffed into a game in historically inaccurate ways, to appease leftist social engineering agendas.

Exactly. e.g. : Altering understood history in many cases to fit a progressive narrative or ideal.

I copied directly from my GROK query so terminology such as "race-mixing" comes from elsewhere : "Some mention the game being "woke." Is there evidence of such?"

I don’t think so.
It might have millennial writing in some places but who knows until the general public plays it.

As for race swapping, the demographics for this location today and of the date it’s set hasn’t changed much its majority English like 98% or something.

And the gameplay trailers and footage seem to reflect that realistically.

[HTS MrHumphries]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Anticitizen 1:

Diposting pertama kali oleh HTS MrHumphries:

Your point doesn't hold water when you consider the "shill media critics" that contribute to Metascores appear to have come to the same conclusion as steam reviews.
The top 20 rated games on Steam are all highly rated on Metacritic!

Besides that, Steam reviews are corrupted by childish fanboyism and review bombing because of trivial issues such as characters being black, ♥♥♥ etc. Not the most reliable source for critiquing games.

Watching a let's play doesn't work at all if the 'player' is simply playing the game, as many do.
If there's some detailed opinion on the games qualities whilst playing, it has some value but even then it's only one guys/gals opinion. You would need to watch 50 or more of these videos to get a similar spectrum of opinions as you would from Metacritic.
And to be honest, I'm not willing to watch a single one of these video let alone 50 of them because I would like some mystery left to the game I'm thinking of buying.

Metacritic scores of some "notable" recent trash games:

Starfield: 83%
Avowed: 80%
Veilguard: 82%

Shill media has no shame or integrity.

Strange manipulation of scoring to back up a lame conspiracy theory.

Veilguard actually has an average of 76% on Metacritic and only 60% are positive reviews, while the Steam reviews are 69% positive.
Avowed has a Metacritic 77% average and 75% positive while Steam reviews are 79% positive.
Starfield Metacritic score 85% and positive 89% while Steam reviews have a 59% positive

So, the Steam community actually rate 2 out of 3 of these games higher than the 'shill' media!
Oh, perhaps the Steam community are shills too?
Perhaps we should go down another tin hat road of fake steam reviews?
Go on, you know you want to.

[Smile`]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Milkdust:

Metacritic scores are pay to win. Exhibit A: Dragon Age Veilguard.

Just because this studio doesn't have the marketing budget to buy a bunch of fake review scores from the fake journalists who work at Metacritic's fake ("trusted") websites doesn't mean the game is bad.

Most gaming journalism. I don't trust any source.

[Smile`]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Liam:

The word woke is so overused now, every time I see someone use it, I just think of uneducated burger flipper.

Agreed, woke is for burger flippers.

[Gom3R]

The problem I found is that the game are holding your hand always. Almost like playing an american made game.