Atomfall made a solid first attempt at story expansion DLC with The Wicked Isle, adding a whole new island, a fresh chunk of story with an alternate ending, and extras like weapons, skills, and enemies. Rebellion clearly knows how to expand the game’s world without making drastic changes, and that’s useful, as the second story expansion, The Red Strain, has just landed.
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But, has the formula evolved since The Wicked Isle, and have lessons been learned about excessive backtracking?
Finding Red
First up is finding the new area. Like before, the DLC is tucked away from the main game world. This time, you’ll need to head to the mines near the start of the game and locate a previously sealed lift shaft that’s now open.
This leads to a new, self-contained zone within the Quarantine Zone called Scafell Crag, a compact version of the main world. At its centre is a top-secret B.A.R.D. research station, Test Site Moriah, built on an old missile testing facility.
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The site was sealed off to contain a deadly virus known as the Red Strain. Unfortunately, it’s now leaking into the surrounding area via a network of tunnels, labs, and bunkers.
Your mission is to trace the virus’s origin and stop it spreading. You’ll need to collect a series of “Futurama”-style objectives in jars to unlock new sections of the lab. Most of the story is delivered through notes and journals, which build the lore and explain what happened in the area.
Lab Work
The lab acts as the DLC’s hub, but getting inside can be frustrating. You’ll need to use the leads system to figure out how to gain access, which is often too vague and leads to plenty of dead ends.
Backtracking remains a sore point. Without a fast travel system, even just between hubs, it can get tedious retracing your steps.
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That said, once inside Moriah, the game returns to form. That is to tngaging environments, fresh enemies, and a well-sized, well-designed space that doesn’t constantly send you back and forth.
You’ll also get new gear to play with. SMGs and electric grenades help against drones and infected packs, while the flamethrower and heavy machine gun deal with tougher foes. Suppressed weapons offer a stealthier approach if preferred.
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You can hack turrets and bots to fight alongside you, thanks to an upgraded signal redirector. A few new skills are included too, not revolutionary, but in line with those from The Wicked Isle.
It would’ve been nice to see a general game update alongside the DLC, especially as the inventory system feels clunkier than ever. You’ll often need to drop, sell, or leave gear behind. And I feel that a more streamlined system would have helped tackle this issue.
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There are more storage pods in the new area than in the base game, which suggests someone on the dev team understands the struggle.
Red Over Wicked
The Red Strain is a step up from The Wicked Isle. It’s a slow start, but once it gets going, it’s Atomfall at its best.
With new weapons, enemies, and two fresh endings, though you’ll need a mid-game save or a full replay to access them, it’s a worthwhile addition for fans looking to extend their second or third playthrough.
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