Atlas Fallen: The new RPG from the Lords of the Fallen creators

Apparently, Kratos has no monopoly on killing gods. Atlas Fallen, an action RPG created by the studio behind Lords of the Fallen and The Surge series, sends you on a mission to fight divine beings. Let’s get a closer look at the game.

• Release date
• Story
• Gameplay
• Customizable hero
• Weapons

Release date

The game’s developer, Deck13, and its publisher, Focus Entertainment, officially announced Atlas Fallen at Gamescom in 2022. They initially planned to release it in May 2023 but postponed the premiere to give developers more time to polish the game. Ultimately, the Atlas Fallen release date was set for August 10, 2023. The game is available on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Story

The game takes us to a world called Atlas. It’s a sand-covered land inhabited by foul creatures and corrupted gods. Those divine beings were noble in the past, but their vanity has led them astray. The main villain is Thelos, the Sun God, whose pursuit of magical power called Essence almost burned the once flourishing land of Atlas to the ground and made people outcasts. Players assume the role of unnamed heroes who find an ancient gauntlet, a powerful artifact that lets them challenge the gods.

Gameplay

Previous Deck13 releases, Lords of the Fallen, The Surge, and The Surge 2, are Souls-like games. Therefore, many players assumed that Atlas Fallen would also walk this path. However, the Frankfurt-based studio has decided to go in another direction. As a result, Atlas Fallen is an action role-playing game inspired more by the latest installment in the God of War franchise than Dark Souls or Elden Ring. It’s also worth mentioning that Atlas Fallen offers three difficulty levels. Hence, players seeking more challenging combat may enjoy the game by picking the highest one. Furthermore, the whole story campaign can be completed alone or in a 2-player cooperative mode.

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Atlas Fallen emphasizes dynamic and fast combat; however, fighting with bosses requires identifying and targeting their weak spots. Consequently, mindless button-mashing may not be the most efficient strategy against them. A distinctive feature of the Atlas Fallen combat system is the momentum gained by attacking enemies. Filling the momentum gauge gives you access to devastating hits. Unfortunately, there is a catch: the more the gauge is filled, the more health you lose with every opponent’s attack. Therefore, it’s crucial to decide when to start gathering momentum.

Customizable hero

Players who like personalizing their hero and gameplay should appreciate Atlas Fallen. Although you will follow the story of a nameless hero, you can customize the protagonist’s looks and skills. You can equip your avatar with over 150 different Essence Stones, thus enhancing the character’s abilities or gaining new ones. As a result, you may alter the gameplay entirely by providing your hero with deadly projectile attacks, upgrading close-range blows, or using Essence Stones suitable for defensive strategies. There are many ways to get new Essence Stones, including crafting, killing enemies, finding them during exploration, and completing quests.

Weapons

The gauntlet the protagonist wields lets you form three shape-shifting weapons: the Knuckledust, the Dunecleaver, and the Sandwhip. You may use two of them at a time. Each comes with unique attacks.

• The Knuckledust. Thanks to its fast-hitting ability and satisfying amount of damage, it’s the best choice when fighting a single opponent.
• The Dunecleaver. It’s a powerful weapon that can form a hammer or an axe. It allows you to deal with area damage; thus, it’s a wise choice when you’re facing a group of enemies.
• The Sandwhip. This is a good choice for players who appreciate quick attacks. It also lets you efficiently control the distance between you and your enemies.