Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 835 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand Game Cover
With exploration enhanced by fun traversal, a progression system that doesn't tie you to levels, and combat that never gets boring with flashy abilities and fast-paced movement - Atlas Fallen is definitely worth your time.
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"Atlas Fallen" is an action-adventure game set in a timeless land, where you play as a warrior fighting against a corrupted god to liberate mankind. The game features spectacular combat with shape-shifting weapons, sand-powered abilities, and the option for solo or cooperative play. Explore a vast world filled with secrets, dangers, and legendary creatures, while harnessing the power of your enemies to create a custom playstyle.

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Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 835 reviews
story113 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Engaging combat mechanics that allow for diverse builds and playstyles.
  • Beautiful graphics and enjoyable traversal mechanics, especially sand surfing.
  • Decent story and world-building that keeps players interested.
  • Clunky controls and camera issues that can hinder combat experience.
  • Repetitive enemy encounters and lack of variety in weapons and armor.
  • Performance issues, including crashes and frame rate drops, especially on lower-end systems.
  • story462 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and lacking depth, often describing it as bland or forgettable. While some appreciate the world-building and smaller character-driven narratives, others criticize the main plot for being predictable and poorly executed, particularly noting a disappointing ending. Overall, the gameplay is often highlighted as more engaging than the story itself, which serves primarily as a backdrop for combat and exploration.

    • “The story is interesting, worldbuilding is amazing and you really feel you are in an alien post-apocalyptic world.”
    • “The storyline was simple, but to the point and fun; the bond between Nyaal and the gauntlet bearer was a fun, wholesome, and entertaining one.”
    • “The story is compelling and interesting.”
    • “The story fell flat in most places, especially the ending.”
    • “The story is completely forgettable; the first hour I played introduced nothing to me or why I should care to continue playing.”
    • “The story is generic and lacks depth, with characters that are basically cardboard.”
  • gameplay190 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its combat mechanics, particularly the unique "momentum" system that rewards aggressive play, and enjoyable traversal mechanics like sand surfing. However, some players find the mechanics overly complex and the game bogged down by frequent tutorials and a lack of direction, leading to frustration. Overall, while the combat can be engaging and visually appealing, issues such as camera control, pacing, and a perceived lack of content detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The big combat mechanic is the 'momentum' mechanic where attacking builds a meter; the higher the meter, the more damage you deal, but the more damage you take.”
    • “Fun moment-to-moment movement and combat, unique double-edged combat mechanics, and tons of build options make for an engaging experience.”
    • “The gameplay is engrossing, and sandsurfing makes for super fun action.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, Atlas Fallen offers nothing but frustration.”
    • “The gameplay is constantly halted to learn a new minor mechanic; it feels like you're just fighting against the game to even play.”
    • “The combat mechanics are too complex, making it difficult to engage with the game effectively.”
  • graphics117 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals and stylized art style, while others criticize the performance issues and dated textures. Some players report excellent performance on high-end systems, but others experience significant frame rate drops and graphical bugs, particularly on lower-end hardware like the Steam Deck. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they are not universally acclaimed, with some reviewers noting that they fall short of modern standards.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and the game ran perfectly for me.”
    • “Stunning visuals, fun gameplay, and the story is really good.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and runs perfectly!”
    • “The graphics are shockingly outdated, making it feel like a relic from the early 2000s.”
    • “What I got was a game that has visuals which seem like a 10-year-old game to the extent Monster Hunter World beats it graphically, even with today's technology this game just... looks and feels awful.”
    • “Graphics from early PS3 era and just awful voice acting.”
  • optimization62 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates on powerful systems, while others experience significant stuttering, low FPS, and poor performance overall. Many users noted improvements after patches, but issues like inconsistent frame rates and camera problems persist for some, leading to a divided opinion on the game's optimization quality. Overall, while some players find the performance satisfactory, others are frustrated by ongoing optimization issues.

    • “Haven't had any performance issues or disconnects in co-op at all.”
    • “Performance seems very good to me; 4070ti very high settings, no DLSS or FSR, 120+ fps at 1440p. Also, on Steam Deck, it runs really smooth at 30-40 fps with very good implementation of FSR 2. Even in low settings, the game looks gorgeous without any blocky or blurry visuals.”
    • “Also, after several updates, the game runs smoothly and looks great as well, at least on my system with a GeForce 4070, 32GB RAM, and a 7800X3D processor.”
    • “Very poorly optimized and the combat feels unresponsive.”
    • “Turns out that the game is not able to distinguish e-cores from p-cores resulting in bad performance in mid-gameplay, cutscenes, menus, etc.”
    • “Old performance problems are not really fixed; it started getting worse again pretty quickly, so unfortunately I have to rate this negative for now because of significant performance issues.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its epic quality and smooth transitions, particularly during combat and cinematics, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, some players noted issues with audio bugs and overlapping dialogues, which detracted from the experience. While the soundtrack is considered good, there are calls for more memorable melodies to enhance its impact.

    • “The music is quite good and flows smoothly when going in and out of combat.”
    • “I knew when I was headed into a fight because the music changed.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, world building, atmosphere, and music.”
    • “The plot, music, pacing, and dialog are just so bad.”
    • “Only complaints I have so far is the music is way too subdued; I feel like more memorable melodies would fit it better, and the enemies all being sand golems make them visually samey despite feeling very different to fight and parry.”
    • “The audio and dialogues of this game were not great; I experienced overlapping dialogues over and over again, and the combat sound and music felt out of place and weird.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and audio glitches, while others report smooth gameplay without crashes. Common complaints include bugs related to the camera, multiplayer functionality, and occasional crashes, particularly when using third-party overlays. Despite these issues, many players still find the game enjoyable and are willing to overlook the bugs for the overall experience.

    • “I've had no issues with the game crashing or running slow; in fact, it runs great on my PC and the graphics are decent.”
    • “Runs great.”
    • “So far the only negative thing I can say about the game is that there are a few audio glitches when Nyaal speaks that are very jarring.”
    • “There are big performance problems with the game for me. Menus drop down to 10 fps, in-game cutscenes become a buggy mess. The game runs sometimes at 60 fps, but out of the blue something happens and the fps drops to between 10-15 fps and 40-60 with big stutters. Hopefully, the devs are fixing this; otherwise, I have to refund the game unfortunately.”
    • “I quit the game after over 19 hours of playing. I'm done with glitches, and now I lost all my save with my friend; over 5 hours of progress is gone. I'm done!”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as beautiful and immersive, with stunning graphics and world-building that invite exploration. However, opinions are divided; while some appreciate the atmospheric depth and storytelling, others find it lacking, citing blandness and excessive dialogue as detractors. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a key element that develops over time, rather than being immediately impactful.

    • “The hand-built world is beautiful, atmospheric, and invites exploration.”
    • “I love the open atmosphere, the storyline is beautiful, and the gameplay is amazing.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, world building, atmosphere, and music.”
    • “The gameplay itself is serviceable, and I thought it would be a good co-op experience, but my fighting counterpart has already given up on this game due to the bland atmosphere and insufferable writing.”
    • “Then of course there's people complaining about it having no atmosphere and bad writing, and then they proceed to complain about how there's 'too much' dialogue between the protagonist and other NPCs.”
    • “A lot of people here seem to think that the atmosphere is just going to be there the second you play the game, when clearly it has to build up as you progress further.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience, with some players finding the storyline simple yet enjoyable, particularly appreciating the bond between characters. However, others felt the game lacked depth and emotional impact, citing issues like slow gameplay and a cumbersome user interface that detracted from the overall experience. The emotional resonance of the music was noted, but it did not reach the heights of other gothic series.

    • “The storyline was simple, but to the point and fun; the bond between Nyaal and the gauntlet bearer was a fun, wholesome, and entertaining one.”
    • “I cried.”
    • “It has co-op; do you think your partner is going to wait for you to finish another emotional story?”
    • “Boring story, slow gameplay, non-user-friendly UI, and a bloated perks system that isn't worth the asking price.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for relying heavily on advertisements, which detracts from the overall experience and adds unnecessary playtime. While there are no microtransactions, the presence of ads, especially during elite/boss encounters, has led to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, the monetization approach has left players feeling disappointed and bored.

    • “No microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
    • “The game offers a complete experience without the need for additional purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no paywalls or hidden costs, making it accessible for everyone.”
    • “Garbage cash grab”
    • “A huge disappointment under a shiny veil of advertisements.”
    • “Ads probably add an extra 3 to 4 hours.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the grinding aspect of the game can be somewhat tedious, it is not overly demanding, and many players appreciate the upgrade system despite its grindy nature. Newcomers to RPGs may find the need for grinding overwhelming, but it is often seen as a necessary part of the experience. Overall, opinions on grinding vary, with some players feeling it enhances the game while others find it frustrating.

    • “Souls-like games can be incredibly tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “If you're new to RPGs, this game may throw you into an ocean of unanswered questions that can only be overcome with some grinding.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as unintentional and often cringe-worthy, particularly in the dialogue and voice acting, which can be both amusing and awkward. Players find humor in the game's design flaws and unexpected elements, leading to a mix of laughter and disbelief rather than intentional comedic writing. Overall, while the humor may not be well-crafted, it adds a unique charm to the experience.

    • “Dialogue is awful, and it is hilarious that this is the result of redoing it.”
    • “Also, a funny comparison I noticed is that this game came out the same year Forspoken was released.”
    • “You see, the funny thing is I thought this was going to be another melodrama.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is seen as promising due to build variety and the potential for new game plus (NG+) modes, which could enhance the experience. However, some players express concerns about limited replay value after completing the main content, particularly if playing solo. Co-op play may offer additional replay incentives for those seeking more engagement.

    • “The build variety feels good; New Game Plus could provide fun replayability.”
    • “As for replayability, I think I read something about New Game Plus, so hopefully there's enough content to get my money's worth.”
    • “As for replayability, I think I read something about NG+ so hopefully there's enough content to get my money's worth.”
    • “Cons: - not much replayability once you finish it, unless you have a partner for co-op.”
    • “I'm unsure about replayability once I beat it, but that's to be discovered.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its solid system and engaging design, complemented by impressive voice acting and emotional depth in NPC interactions. While the character models and armor designs are well-received, some players express a desire for more variety in creature spawns during exploration.

    • “The level design and character development system (build) are very good.”
    • “Character design is fine, as are the sound effects, voice acting, dialogues, power surge/hitting/sliding visual effects, and the emotions of all NPCs.”
    • “The creature designs are cool, and the epic armor models are impressive. The character design is decent, and the lip syncing is quite good.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

Buy Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand

Play time

17hMedian play time
2791hAverage play time
8-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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