I Am Alive

For other uses, see I Am Alive (disambiguation).

I Am Alive
Developer(s)	Darkworks (2008–2010) Ubisoft Shanghai (2010–2011)
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Engine	LEAD (engine used in Splinter Cell: Conviction)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 (PSN) Xbox 360 (XBLA)
Release date(s)	PlayStation Network Q2/Q3 2012 Xbox Live Arcade March 7, 2012
Genre(s)	Survival
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ACB: MA 15+ ESRB: M PEGI: 18
Media/distribution	Download

I Am Alive is an action video game developed by Ubisoft Shanghai and published by Ubisoft. It was released for Xbox Live Arcade on March 7, 2012 and will be released on the PlayStation Network in the spring. The developers released the official release date for the Xbox 360 version via Facebook as March 7, 2012.

The game takes place in the fictional American city of Haventon, one year after the Event, a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped out most of the human civilization and left the world in ruins and barely habitable, with the ground now covered by a toxic cloud of dust and ash. I Am Alive focuses on facing the permanent insecurity of a now decaying and hazardous world, and humanity's darkest inclinations.

Originally under development by Darkworks from 2008 until 2010, Ubisoft Shanghai has since worked on the title.

Plot

One year after the Event, a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped most of the human civilization, an unnamed man struggles for survival in a desolated city as he tries to reunite with his long lost wife and daughter.

Gameplay

The player controls the main character from a third person perspective during navigation, the camera switches to first-person when aiming and shooting.

During encounters with other survivors, the player can use various tactics to stay alive, including using bluff and intimidation e.g. pointing an empty gun at hostile non-playable characters, sneaking to surprise enemies with a machete quick kill, or performing stealth kills with a bow.

The game has an emphasis on climbing and exploration. The player will scale wrecked buildings and navigate hazardous areas. Every effort has a cost and, when engaging in physically demanding activities, such as climbing or jumping, it is critical to manage the main character's stamina for him to survive. By managing stamina skillfully players are rewarded by accessing hidden paths, resources and other survivors.

Gameplay also involves collecting hidden resources and supplies scattered throughout the city: water, food, gas, medicine, cigarettes, tools, climbing gear, weapons, and ammunition. Anything that the player can salvage from the destroyed city can be used to keep the main characters strong and healthy, or prove helpful in his quest by allowing him to rescue victims.

Retries can be collected throughout the game by helping or rescuing victims, with optional side quests to complete.

Development

The game was first rumored to be in development in July 2008, when it was told that Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond was working on a new game, which was announced at E3 2008, along with a trailer. It was later revealed that Raymond was not working on the game. Development of the game experienced various delays. The original developers, Darkworks, announced that it would not be working on it any longer due to a "mutual decision" and that the studio had other obligations, and that the game would instead be finished at Ubisoft Shanghai's studio. On August 2009, various screenshots of an old build of the game were leaked onto the Internet. An announcement from Ubisoft initially indicated a release window of between Q2 April 2010- Q2 March 2011. These dates have since passed with no new information released on the status of the game until June 2011 when a notification was published at the Australian classification website which indicated a possible release in the late summer of 2011.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said at the start of 2010 that the studio was "totally re-engineering the product." Elias Toufexis is reported to have a major role in the game, playing a character known as Henry. In August 2011, an unreleased gameplay trailer was leaked online. In May 2011, Ubisoft recently cancelled a number of games, but it was revealed that I Am Alive and another Ubisoft title Beyond Good & Evil 2 were not among them, with Ubisoft simply stating that the cancelled games were unannounced games. On September 29, 2011, a new announcement trailer was released for the game with a release date of "this winter" at the end. On January 23, 2012, the developers announced on Facebook that the game would be available for Xbox 360 on March 7, 2012.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	74.50%
Metacritic	73
Review scores
Publication	Score
GameSpot	8
IGN	4.5

I Am Alive has received mixed reviews. GameSpot gave it an 8. Eurogamer gave it an 8, commenting "What I Am Alive lacks in originality, though, it makes up for in execution.", praising the tone and gameplay. IGN were less positive, giving it a 4.5, citing outdated graphics and poor story.

External links

• Official website