(Note: this review may contain spoilers, although we have done our best to keep it as spoiler-free as possible.)

The depths beckon. Atomic Heart, the first-person shooter that plunged players into a retro-futuristic Soviet Union gone awry, takes a dive with its third DLC, Enchantment Under The Sea, This aquatic adventure promises to unveil a hidden chapter in the story, exploring a submerged research facility brimming with secrets and dangers. But will this deep-sea descent be a refreshing plunge into new territory, or will it merely tread the same familiar ground, leaving players feeling like they’ve been dragged down by the undertow?

The Siren’s Song

The narrative seamlessly picks up from “Trapped in Limbo,” with Major P-3 and the Twins’ consciousness venturing into the depths to unravel the mysteries of the Neptune Research Center. This underwater facility, a marvel of Soviet-era engineering, presents a stark contrast to the surface world, offering a unique and visually striking environment to explore.

The story delves deeper into the overarching themes of hope, despair, and the potential for both salvation and destruction, echoing the core narrative of the base game while introducing new plot points and intriguing characters.

Gameplay is a pleasing mix of fast-paced navigation, combat and evasion and, of course, puzzle-solving. Navigation feels fluid and just right, with P-3’s abilities allowing him to traverse the environment effortlessly. As he now has more enhancements, the environment now becomes navigable not only around you, but also above you. This is thanks to one of two new abilities / glove skills: Whip (the other is Blaze). Whip allows you to grapple off of items high above you, pulling P-3 high up into the air to reach certain points. Blaze, as the name implies, sends a blast of fire which deals AOE (area of effect) damage from afar. Neither of these two new abilities feels like filler; instead, they fit in extremely well with P-3’s existing glove-based arsenal and only enhance the entire gameplay experience.

Alongside the new abilities, you’ll face a whole host of enemies, both familiar and brand new. The new guys are seriously impressive – they look incredible, sound terrifying, and fit perfectly into this underwater world. Some of them are real tough nuts to crack, while others just swarm you, making for some intense battles. It’s a great mix of enemies that keeps things exciting in true Atomic Heart fashion.

A Deep-Sea Arsenal

Enchantment Under The Sea introduces a pair of formidable new weapons to augment the player’s arsenal. The Thunderclap, a powerful hammer that amplifies damage with electrical current, provides a satisfyingly brutal melee option, while the KM-4 Kuzmich, a versatile shotgun with customisable bullet spread, offers flexibility in combat encounters. These new additions, combined with the existing arsenal, provide players with a diverse range of tools to tackle the challenging underwater threats.

The Thunderclap, despite looking and feeling awesome to use, feels incredibly overpowered against weaker enemies in the early stages of Enchantment Under the Sea. It takes just a single, basic attack to literally reduce any humanoid robots to their component parts, leaving a separated pile of limbs, a torso and a head. However, this apparently overpowered attack is reined back in by the introduction of much tougher enemies who won’t succumb so easily soon after.

In addition to the new weapons are the two new glove skills that I mentioned earlier – Whip and Blaze – and these new additions when used in conjunction with the new weapons make for an incredibly fun experience. Given the underwater setting for Enchantment Under The Sea, the comparisons to BioShock become even more pronounced.

The Abyss Beckons

The Neptune Research Center itself is a meticulously crafted environment, filled with intricate corridors, sprawling laboratories, and hidden chambers, and it’s clear to see just how much work has gone into making said environment look and feel truly alive. The developers have masterfully brought this underwater world to life, with vibrant coral reefs, bioluminescent creatures, and intricate machinery creating a truly immersive and visually stunning experience.

Sights and Sounds of Sea and Suffering

Enchantment Under The Sea is a true visual feast. The underwater world is rendered with stunning detail and exudes strong BioShock vibes, from the shimmering scales of aquatic creatures to the intricate details of the research facility. The lighting effects are particularly impressive, with sunlight filtering through the water and illuminating the environment in a captivating manner.

The sound design is equally impressive, with the ambient sounds of the deep sea creating a truly immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack is both highly incredible and highly enjoyable, featuring gentle rhythms to heavy metal, based on the scenario you find yourself in. Regardless of what you are experiencing however, the soundtrack is always spot on and, at times, I even found myself singing along to the music in my head as I battled my way through foes.

The Lure of the Unknown

While the DLC offers a moderate amount of replayability, it primarily focuses on a linear narrative experience. The challenging combat encounters and intricate puzzles provide a satisfying test of skill and exploration, and these can be adjusted further by changing the difficulty setting. However, the lack of significant open-world exploration or branching narratives may limit replayability for some players which is a slight shame because the world is absolutely stunning and it’s hard not to want to explore it in as much detail as possible.

Conclusion

Enchantment Under The Sea is a solid addition to the Atomic Heart experience. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it delivers a compelling narrative, engaging combat, and a visually stunning underwater world that expands upon the core gameplay experience. The linear narrative is perhaps the only notable criticism of Enchantment Under The Sea, which otherwise offers a compelling and engaging experience. Enchantment Under The Sea effectively capitalises on the foundation laid by the base game, introducing innovative elements that elevate the overall experience and solidify its place as a compelling addition to the series.

Grade: 9/10