VIDEO GAME REVIEW: 'I Am Alive' survives in crowded post-apocalyptic genre
There isn’t a shortage of post-apocalyptic video games out there.
From "Fallout" to "Rage," the savage waste lands of post-something-really-bad Earth have been flushed out in a number of different ways.
At first glance, "I Am Alive" doesn’t do a whole lot to set itself apart, but the game manages to bring a level of humanity to the genre that is refreshing and, at times, frightening.
The few survivors of the "Event" left in Haventon have barely managed to stay alive, and most of them have become brutal. While players will encounter groups of friendly survivors, the majority wish to kill and take everything they own for themselves.
Unlike most post-apocalyptic games, there are no mutants or zombies in "I Am Alive;" the only monsters found here are human. This actually makes for a more frightening experience.
Wandering through the dusty streets, dark sewers and abandoned hotels of Haventon, players will come across evidence of the evil humanity is capable of when pushed past desperation. Murder is common, cannibalism is on the rise and no one can be trusted.
Adam isn’t any better off than his foes, and that makes combat just as much a mental game as a physical one. Often times, Adam is facing down multiple enemies, keeping them at bay by threatening them with his empty handgun. This only works for a short time before his assailants get brave and call his bluff.
Combat is about threats, trickery and positioning. A single round from Adam's handgun will drop any enemy he faces, but don't expect to have more than a round or two.
Some enemies have guns for themselves, and players find themselves saving ammo as often as possible to take them out first. The nature of combat and the dark atmosphere combined with the lack of supplies make "I Am Alive" intense in a way most games can’t hope to match.
In addition to exploring and combat, the game is also broken up with climbing segments. Even in these segments, however, the tension remains. Climbing drains a stamina meter, and when stamina runs out, players lose their grip and fall.
This system manages to make players cautious of their movements and to keep the pressure up; however, planning their route carefully will allow them to make it from rest point to rest point without making them feel like the system is unfair.
"I Am Alive" explores the dark parts of humanity in ways few games dare to do. The combat is interesting and well-developed, requiring players to think as they approach situations.
"I Am Alive" toys with the line between survival horror and action adventure, and the result is a post-apocalyptic experience similar to the "The Road" that both adventure and horror fans can enjoy.
