Atomic City

Midplayz
Dec 5, 2024
2 min read

Oppenheimer

If you’ve ever wanted to play the role of humanity’s last hope armed with just a mouse and a dream, Atomic City is calling your name. This fast-paced, mouse-only bullet hell serves up frantic, one-minute waves of survival that somehow feel both exhilarating and soul-crushing. It’s simple to pick up, impossible to put down, and even harder to master.

About This Game

Storyline

The story? It's the apocalypse, and you’re the only thing standing between your city and total annihilation. Bombs, missiles, and hypersonic fighters are raining from the sky, courtesy of “you know who.” Spoiler alert: it’s less about uncovering why this is happening and more about surviving it.

Gameplay Mechanics

The genius of Atomic City lies in its simplicity. You’ve got your trusty mouse—left click for one weapon, right click for the other, and middle click to swap between the limited-use power-ups you collect. Basic weapons have infinite ammo, but don’t expect them to save the day against the escalating chaos.

Each wave is a one-minute pressure cooker. Supplies parachute down mid-battle, offering sweet relief in the form of new weapons or health—but there’s a twist. Shoot the supplies before they land for gold, or let them touch down to claim the gear. Either way, you’ll need to multitask, aiming at both enemies and their payloads while managing your ammo.

The shop between rounds dangles tantalizing upgrades—lasers, shields, extra lives—but earning enough in-game currency to afford them? That’s a whole different battle. And no, you can’t “beat” the game. The goal is pure survival and leaderboard dominance.

Visuals & Audio

The graphics? They’re simple, but in a charming, nostalgic way that complements the game’s arcade vibe. Explosions are flashy, and the battlefield feels appropriately chaotic. The sound design is top-notch, with satisfying weapon effects and that oh-so-dreadful noise when something hits your city. It all works together to keep your adrenaline pumping.

Pros

Mouse-only controls: Perfect for casual sessions or one-handed gaming snacks.
Quick, intense gameplay: Each wave is a bite-sized chunk of chaos.
Rewarding challenge: You’ll feel like a sharpshooting legend when you nail those hypersonic fighters.
Leaderboards: For bragging rights and crushing defeats.
Great value: It’s a budget-friendly arcade experience.

Cons

Steep difficulty curve: The challenge escalates fast, leaving some players (like me) stuck at like wave three-four.
Shop prices: A bit punishing, making upgrades feel out of reach for less-skilled players.
Settings hiccups: Fullscreen mode resets every time you restart probably because they didn’t bother saving the mode value.
Text readability: The in-game text could use a facelift for clarity.

Conclusion

Atomic City delivers a compact, chaotic arcade shooter that’s as fun as it is unforgiving. Its mouse-only simplicity makes it super accessible, but don’t let that fool you—it’ll test your reflexes and patience in equal measure. While some balancing tweaks (or difficulty settings) would make it more welcoming, the core gameplay is undeniably engaging.

If you’re up for a challenge, enjoy nostalgic arcade vibes, and don’t mind losing to hypersonic fighters for the umpteenth time, give Atomic City a shot. Just remember: aim ahead, don’t panic, and maybe pray a little.

Rating: 8/10

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds…”