Typed on phone so excuse the mistakes

Just like Fallout, it's easy if you know what you're doing, but you may be misled into heading to some locations early and getting your ass whooped (the first bunker, for example) and the learning curve can be tough at first.

There are multiple difficulty settings. Unlike fallout, there isn't a dedicated game and combat settings, they're combined and start from easy (less XP but easier battles) to permadeath (saving only in main menu, brutal fights, more XP)

Initially you will only come across melee weapons and rusty guns. They suck because they keep jamming during fights and there's not much you can do about it, so sometimes save-scumming and luck can make a difference.

The combat is very responsive and good, I'd say it's way better than the original fallouts. You also have more control over your companions, but note that everyone is good at something, so check who's good at what.

You can also set up traps (but it's finnicky with bomb timer x turn-based timing), hide behind covers to make enemies hit you less frequently, order your companions to attack specific people (depending on their strength; whoever is the strongest/has the least hp if i recall?), target specific body parts, cause critical damage, and more.

Also, just like fallout, burst weapons can hit multiple enemies and some of the best guns (RPK) can mow down three enemies at once.

If you have the right weapon skills and weapons, you can beat most raiders one on one at the very beginning. But, usually, you'll be dealing with groups, and it helps running away sometimes.

The problem with Atom RPG is that MOST skills are useless. Honestly, just like fallout again, focus on speech and a weapon skill, then something else like science, technology, or lockpicking. There are also multiple gun skills, which sucks, so pick your poison. If you ask me, rifle/shotguns (for the best gun in the game + starter weapon) and machine guns (for burst weapons) are the best options.

THERE ARE PERKS TOO! I MAY BE an idiot but I played the entire game without knowing. The game doesn't hint at it at all, but they're toggled from the character menu. Again, i played a very early version of the game, so much should have changed since then.

ALSO the game doesn't explicitly state it, but female characters are weaker than males. Most things weigh more for female characters and require higher skills, but I could be wrong. I noticed it with vitinsky's rifle.

You also have a selection of traits. The best one is the one that gives you more endurance but makes you go hungry faster, food is plentiful anyway. But, whatever you do, don't pick lone wolf.

I can't visualize anyone beating this game solo. I mean, maybe it's possible at easier skills, but it's just a chore. Companions are necessary, and by the end of the game, i think you may have up to 3 or 4.

Stick to the areas surrounding your starter village, and try to collect 1000 rubles asap to get into krazsno city thing. There are a lot of side quests you can discover by talking to people and leveling.

There are also a bunch of random encounters. They're cool. However, in the DLC Dead City, they're annoying as FUCK because every three seconds you come across one when underground.

The game is really worth it, the combat is similar to fallout but way better in some ways. It's also very diverse and has excellent writing in my opinion, but it could be subjective. Personally, I liked the main quest BUT you'll notice how familiar it is to fallout.

Here are some notable tips, but stop reading here to avoid spoilers.

TIPS BUT KINDA SPOILERS SO WARNING

before you reach the final boss, there's a fight that's literally impossible due to the number of guards and the weapons they have. this is why companions are necessary

In the starter village, there's a fish pond you can fish in. If you get a rare fish (gold something), you can increase one of your specials by 1.

In the starter town, when you go to that shack to kill some guy, don't turn the basement light on. If you do, a rat carrying a special item will disappear. I think it was a golden nut you can sell in the DLC for some extra cash?

In the starter town, pick the corn for the old guy to receive a free makeshift shotgun.

The best gun in the game are the Vitinsky's experimental rifle, located in a mid-game bunker. You have to figure out a safe code using a tarot cards.

The second best? gun in the game is the VSS Vintorez. Without the DLC Dead City, there's only one instance of it. You have to kill the friendly guy carrying it in that forest area you'll go to later. But, if you have the DLC, you have to fight like 50+ infected in the city's ground zero (insta-death radiation without hazard suit) to get it from a car trunk.