Why Atomfall's Protagonist Has Amnesia

Rebellion's upcoming survival-action game Atomfall heavily emphasizes player freedom and character interaction. The game sees an unnamed protagonist suffering from memory loss, trying to unravel the mystery surrounding events in an alternate version of Great Britain in which the real-life Windscale nuclear disaster of 1957 had grave consequences for nearby residents.

The Best War Games spoke with Rebellion head of design Ben Fisher who explained some of the reasons behind the decision to have Atomfall's protagonist suffer from amnesia, discussing how it aligns with Atomfall's core principles and mechanics. Fisher also touched on how this amnesia would affect the player's relationships with other characters encountered within the game.

Atomfall Hands-on Preview: Taking a Wrong Turn at a Crashed Helicopter

The Best War Games spends a little time lost in Atomfall's world, where developer Rebellion pushes freedom and exploration to the fore.

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By Joshua Duckworth

Atomfall's Amnesiac Protagonist isn't a New Concept

A video game with an amnesiac protagonist isn't exactly a new concept at this point. It's become a cliché within certain genres, popping up with alarming regularity. That being said, in choice-driven, dialogue-heavy games, it's undeniable that taking this route allows for a huge degree of player freedom. Depending on the respective game's depth, a protagonist with no memory allows the player to decide exactly who they want to be within this world. Regarding how Atomfall taps into this, Fisher explained,

''As players will discover, there are many mysteries to solve inside Atomfall’s quarantine zone, and the player’s identity is the first mystery you encounter. However, we frame this as a moral question– “what sort of person are you?” – because it touches on one of our narrative themes: it doesn’t matter who you say you are, it matters what you do.''

Atomfall's Residents Have Trust Issues

Given the circumstances surrounding Atomfall's narrative, the residents of the game's quarantine zone are already understandably on edge and aren't exactly the most trusting when it comes to strangers. This puts even more emphasis on the player to ensure they are choosing how they want to be perceived through their actions and dialogue with NPCs. Fisher continued,

''This setup also puts the player in a unique position in the game world – an uneasy balance has established itself in the Quarantine Zone, and, as an outsider, people treat you a little differently while they figure out who you are and whether they can trust you, which means that perhaps you can tip the balance in one direction or another...''

Atomfall has drawn comparisons with games like Fallout, even being called the 'British Fallout' by some. That being said, it's clear to see that Rebellion has carved out a fresh identity from interesting concepts like 50s and 60s pop culture and folk horror. This, combined with varied mechanics and dialogue options, should make Atomfall an intriguing prospect for fans.

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