Atomic Heart’s first DLC, Annihilation Instinct, takes an interesting approach by putting one of the game’s quirkiest side characters, NORA, in the spotlight. NORA, the sex-mad Soviet AI found in the lewd and lustful upgrade machines of Facility 3826, has gone rogue, and it’s up to the player to stop her. However, while the main campaign was filled with memorable moments, Annihilation Instinct falls short in comparison. It offers a linear and forgettable experience, lacking the opportunity to stand out with a variety of weapons and power-ups.
Although Annihilation Instinct delves into the backstory of NORA’s infatuation with the protagonist, P-3, it feels unnecessary. This DLC only continues from one of the main game’s endings, which can be confusing for players who have only completed the game once. Additionally, it introduces a slight inconsistency in the storytelling, as players may know more about certain characters than P-3 himself. At times, Annihilation Instinct also becomes bogged down in techno-babble, losing the interest of players with its excessive explanations.
Featuring the Mendeleev Complex as a new location, Annihilation Instinct impresses with its visual design, boasting environments that rival the original game’s atompunk-inspired labs and facilities. However, the DLC limits exploration potential by guiding players through a linear series of encounters. The addition of two new robot types adds some variety, but overall, the enemy design falls short in quantity. The humanoid robots, though creepy, only consist of a few encounters, while the inflatable BEA-Ds, which can combine to form stronger foes, only offer two scripted boss fights.
Despite the lackluster enemy variety, the scarcity of new weapons in Annihilation Instinct is another disappointment. Only two new weapons are introduced, a melee weapon and a light machine gun, and they don’t offer the firepower expected of them. The option to upgrade these weapons feels unnecessary given the limited gameplay space. Additionally, the rare appearance of a hugely explosive power-up adds some excitement but fails to make up for the lack of available weapons and abilities.
The new ability to slow down time within a bubble is a highlight, but it’s puzzling why other powers from Atomic Heart, like ice and telekinesis, are absent in the DLC. Combined with the limited selection of weapons that carry over from the main game, Annihilation Instinct feels more like a demo than substantial post-release DLC.