falloutttt: Hey, very welcome friend. Glad you found the game interesting. :)
I can't tell for sure, since I only played the ATOM game in Russian. But I hear, that indeed the English translation isn't very good. At least in comparison. But devs are very nice people, maybe, just guessing here, they may invest in better translation once they made enough money.
Not sure what you mean about fungus. Or maybe me being born in Russia, I don't see what you see and therefor don't understand what you mean. :)
greyhat: Sorry I should have clarified. There is the Mycelium, or Mushroom, Cult in Krasnoznamenny.
Maybe it has a different meaning in Russian?
I recall seeing greater references to mushrooms in other Russian literature, though not as prevalent as is in Atom, but could be mis remembering. I just thought there might be some greater cultural and historical relevance behind the use of the reference.
I am trying to remember if Road Side Picnic and STALKER (both film and game) have some of those references.
I am probably reading too much into it. But in Atom it is a integral part of the story. Maybe it is a improper translation and they are referring to Mushroom cloud from a nuclear holocaust but translated it to mycellium. :P
https://atom-rpg.fandom.com/wiki/Mycelium Wouldn't that be funny if my little obsession with this was all based on poor Russian to English translations of these games, films, and literature. :D
Interesting observation!
I honestly don't remember alot about the game, it's been almost 2 years since the last time played. But as I remember, I don't think I paid as much attention to the mushrooms. But that doesn't mean you may not be into something there in your way of thinking.
But there's one thing to it tho, whatever you may find unusual, I may find completely and totally normal, as in being from Russia and used the whole idea. And so there's it that.
Also, the fact that you know Road Side Picnic and the STALKER movie, that says quite a lot. And I salute you for that, friend!
Stalker was the most unique movie ever made, in Russia. It is quite a weird one even today. Another one in similar fashion, that you may not know of, but may just be interested in, I think, called "Kin-Dza-Dza".
There was time in Russia, where we had minds capable of thinking outside the box (outside of "ordinary thinking"). Those times are sort of over, at least it seems so, for the time being. But eventually, we'll get back to it... I just know. :)