Atomic Heart has, for the past year or two, been one of the most highly-anticipated new first-person-shooter games to come out of the indie sphere. Developed and published by Mundfish, Atomic Heart is set “in the Soviet Union of the future, in 1955, [where] science reigns supreme. The world is on the verge of the greatest event. You are Agent Major P-3, and you will have to find out what is really lying behind the utopian dream.” Players familiar with franchises like Bioshock, or Wolfenstein: The New Order, will likely find themselves comfortably at home here as well, as the new Atomic Heart trailer infers.

A New Look at the Dystopian Motherland

Early today, as part of the daily Gamescom showcase, a new Atomic Heart trailer was shown, providing new gameplay, story teases, and the release date. Heavy emphasis was placed on the game’s elaborate combat systems and the wide array of enemies you’ll face off against. Various melee weapons, side arms, primary weapons, and special abilities were prominently displayed. Dispersing the frequent bouts of captivating violence were awkwardly comedic sexual moments, such as the player bending a robot over their knee in order to ram several cords up its rear. The implications of instances like these raise questions likely best left unanswered.

The Bigger the Gun, The Greater the Fun…

Atomic Heart promises to deliver “gorgeous, hyper-realistic graphics in a retro-futuristic style,” paired with a “unique combined combat system with elements of Souls-Like games,” one that revolves around dual-wield combat. Players will, on one hand, don a glove from which they will conduct various powerful abilities. on the other, wield some pretty big and beefy guns and powerful melee weapons. Weapon crafting and weapon modification will also allow you “to apply a wide variety of upgrades and mods to your arsenal.” Levels are designed with gameplay diversity in mind. Players can expect them to be “filled with puzzles, traps, and other obstacles.”

Solving puzzles and progressing through the story will only be part of the fun, however. No FPS could stand on its own two feet without a wide cast of unique enemies for the player to pit themselves against. Enemies in Atomic Heart will feature “varied behaviors, designs, and features that will put your skills to the test.”

Atomic Heart is currently slated for a Q4 2022 release date window.