Polymer leapfrogged humanity forward several decades in terms of technology, so Atomic Heart also has the 1950s retro-futurism made famous by Bioshock.

In this reality, Russia won World War 2 when Sechenov developed the Polymer, a kind of all-purpose, might-as-well-be-magic technology used for pretty much any plot inconvenience you stumble across. It’s hardly subtle, and the atmosphere is undeniably familiar.Ĭhelomey is one of many floating cities designed by Russian visionary, Doctor Sechenov. It’s all so twee that you just know everyone you see will eventually end up skull-humped by the scores of robots walking among them. The opening hammers this home particularly strongly in a protracted cutscene where your American-accented Russian agent Sergey Nechayev, or P-3, enjoys a leisurely boat ride along the canals of Chelomey, a Columbia-esque city in the sky. It looks good on the outside, fits in with the upmarket crowd, will almost certainly turn a few heads, but beneath the well-dressed veneer, it’s an inelegant monstrosity that can’t keep its knuckles off the floor for long.ĭeveloper Mundfish wears its inspirations on its sleeves here, and at least at surface level Atomic Heart is equal parts Bioshock: Infinite and Fallout 4. The best way to describe Atomic Heart is to liken it to a thug in a pinstripe suit.

Atomic heart pc review