Calling all Undertale fans! Atlas Wept is a quirky pixel art RPG about empathy and robot dogs

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SHOULD I PLAY ATLAS WEPT?

If you’re a fan of EarthBound, Undertale, and other quirky turn-based RPGs, this is definitely a title you should take a look at. Atlas Wept is a pixelated RPG with strong retro vibes. The story alternates between two distinct casts of characters as they embark on a strange adventure. The groups haven’t crossed paths quite yet in my playthrough, but I suspect they’ll run into each other eventually. There’s a free demo available on Steam, so if this game has sparked your curiosity, you should definitely give it a try.

TIME PLAYED

I spent a little over six hours playing Atlas Wept, which gave me a good taste of both of its storylines. I’m not sure how long the game is, but a lot has happened during my playthrough, and if I had to guess, I’d say I’m close to halfway through its narrative. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far, and I’m eager to see how its two separate stories come together.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT ATLAS WEPT?

• Engaging turn-based combat. Atlas Wept’s battle system consistently managed to keep me on my toes. Similar to Undertale, enemy attacks are accompanied by bullet hell minigames that allow players to potentially avoid taking damage. No two enemies attack in the same way, so I had to learn a wide range of attack patterns to keep my party members in good health.

Atlas Wept also includes Super Mario RPG-style timed attacks, along with a few other interesting battle strategies. Every enemy has a stun meter that fills up over time. Maxing out the stun meter can temporarily disable enemies and leave them vulnerable to certain attacks. Battles always required my full attention, and that made them a lot more interesting.

• Lots of opportunities for character customization. As I explored the world of Atlas Wept, I occasionally discovered stamps. These stamps could be used to boost the stats of one of my party members, giving them upgrades like increased health or a more powerful attack. I really liked the way this system allowed me to customize my party and give boosts to whoever needed it the most.

• Charming writing and intriguing themes. Atlas Wept has plenty of goofy, quirky writing, but it also explores some genuinely compelling concepts, like toxic positivity and the importance of experiencing negative emotions. I really enjoyed the mix of silly and serious, and the tonal shifts lead to a few emotional moments that caught me off guard.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT ATLAS WEPT?

• Battles take forever. Atlas Wept has an awesome combat system, but some fights go on for way too long. The turn-based combat is already on the slower side, and the minigames drag things on for even longer. Since there are no random encounters, the long fights are tolerable, but I frequently found myself wishing that the game would pick up the pace a bit.

• It could use more banter. Atlas Wept has a character-driven narrative, but its characters don’t actually talk that much. The game’s dialogue is enjoyable, but I never felt like there was enough of it. I didn’t feel like I had a great sense of how characters felt about each other, which is a shame.

PLATFORM TESTED

PC via Steam.