How low can you go?
Trapped in Limbo, the DLC for Atomic Heart, is vibrant and visually appealing, yet my experience with it was thoroughly unpleasant. The expansion, inspired by mobile games, proved to be repetitive, frustrating, and felt like a tedious task to finish. Despite my appreciation for Atomic Heart and its previous DLC, I find myself genuinely perplexed by my strong aversion to playing Trapped in Limbo again.
While the initial DLC, Annihilation Instinct, delves into the aftermath of one of the main game’s endings, Trapped in Limbo continues the story from the other concluding option. The approach of respecting and expanding on both endings is intriguing and praiseworthy, but the DLC’s narrative structure, with chapters alternating between endings before reaching resolution, feels akin to reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book from start to finish.
In this concluding chapter, P-3 finds himself in limbo, a dream world for the subconscious that he previously visited during the main campaign. During those earlier visits, limbo was used effectively in brief bursts, creating a creepy and quirky atmosphere. However, in Trapped in Limbo, the prolonged focus on just a couple of repetitive gameplay mechanics overstays its welcome, leading to a somewhat nauseating experience. Despite its short duration, the levels become less enjoyable, making it feel like unnecessary padding that could have been condensed into a brief prologue illustrating P-3’s return to the real world.
The most challenging aspect of Trapped in Limbo’s DLC is the sliding levels, reminiscent of Counter-Strike’s « surfing » mod scene. These levels are finicky, requiring trial and error, and they seem never-ending. The « percentage complete » bar at the top of the screen serves as a reassurance that there is an eventual end to the challenging sections, provided one can endure through them.
The mechanics of the sliding levels feel off, making it difficult to consistently achieve the right amount of air at the end of each slide segment. Jumping is not a factor, as it is not allowed, and success depends on mastering the angle, which is often hindered by large spiky obstacles. Navigating these levels feels akin to playing Tony Hawk with a malfunctioning ollie button, and the half-pipe is laden with mines. The completion of these sliding levels doesn’t bring satisfaction but rather relief that the ordeal is over, not a sentiment typically associated with an enjoyable experience.
The DLC includes two climbing levels, featuring first-person platforming with intermittent sliding sections. These levels align more closely with the first-person puzzle-platforming elements found in the main game but are relatively more straightforward. Despite being forgiving in certain aspects, such as landing on small cubes and identifying climbing opportunities, there were still moments of frustration due to imprecise jumping on timing-based traps. Instances of reloading saves after unintentional falls into seemingly inaccessible areas added to the overall dissatisfaction. Similar to the sliding levels, the climbing sections don’t entice a desire for replay.
Combat in the DLC is limited, featuring only a few arenas with enemies that are essentially reskinned versions of those from the main game. Despite the availability of sugar-coated candy cannons, the combat lacks the impact and chaotic destruction found in the main campaign, resulting in a rather bland experience. The dreamland setting of Trapped in Limbo doesn’t capture the same intensity or excitement as the original campaign. The fifth and final level introduces an unexpected twist—a segment resembling an endless runner. While the level does have an endpoint, its extended duration diminishes the overall satisfaction, deviating from the expectations set by the main game’s unique elements. The inclusion of an endless runner in the Atomic Heart DLC may be seen as an unexpected departure, akin to a favorite band ending an encore with a nursery rhyme—an unconventional choice that might not resonate positively with the audience.
Conclusion
Atomic Heart: Trapped in Limbo offers a visually eccentric experience, but the gameplay falls short of expectations, leading to a substantial letdown. The DLC commences with a candy-coated interpretation of Counter-Strike’s surfing, only to conclude with an exhausting Temple Run imitation. The expansion struggles to evolve its initial concepts, resulting in a confined set of levels that lose their enjoyment over time. While the ambition to delve into both main campaign endings is commendable, the execution leaves much to be desired. In retrospect, if this is the outcome, perhaps it would have been better to reconsider the DLC’s development altogether.
