I Am Alive is a video game in the action genre with a rather complicated fate. The first information about the project appeared back in 2008 when the development of I Am Alive was managed by the studio Darkworks. The release was initially planned for 2010, but then problems began. First, the developing studio changed – the game was taken under the wing of Ubisoft Shanghai. Second, the game’s release was first postponed to the end of 2011, and later delayed entirely for unclear reasons. Third, there were certain difficulties regarding publishing. Thus, the promising action game set in a post-apocalyptic environment was released only through digital distribution via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, and that was in the spring of 2012 (the Xbox 360 version in March, the PS3 version in April). Information about the release of the PC version was unknown for a time, but in August it was announced that the game would also appear on Steam. And that's what happened.
The game's plot unfolds some time after a horrific earthquake that struck the United States of America. The main protagonist of I Am Alive, Adam, was peacefully returning home after a hard day at work, looking forward to meeting his beloved girlfriend. But, as they say, he never made it. The tremor was so powerful that all of Chicago (the protagonist's hometown) turned to ruins in just a few minutes, and Adam found himself buried alive under the debris of a nearby building. After spending several days in a desperate attempt to survive, Adam finally crawls out and realizes that the city he loved so much no longer exists. Nevertheless, the main character does not lose hope and sets off in search of his girlfriend, who has suddenly disappeared, leaving behind only a short note. It is worth noting that the main action takes place a year after the natural disaster.
I Am Alive is quite a challenging game, one might even say hardcore. You literally have to survive in conditions of almost complete lack of food, drink, and any weapons. Adam has a machete, a bow made from improvised materials with a few arrows, as well as several firearms, for which it is very difficult to find ammunition. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the hero often has to crawl through the ruins, which, in turn, leads to energy expenditure. If, for example, he fails to climb over a chasm in time, Adam's arms will tire, and he will simply fall into a deep abyss. It’s also important to note that in I Am Alive, health does not regenerate on its own – you have to search every nook and cranny in hopes of finding something edible, be it a soda bottle or canned meat.
Adam's main enemies are bandits and robbers, who proliferated in Chicago after the earthquake. Fighting them is not as easy as it seems, as Adam often has nothing but his machete. However, opponents can be scared off simply by pointing a gun at them (even if it has no bullets). Cowardly opponents might flee, unwilling to risk engaging with someone who has a firearm. Though some will still attack, and then you have to improvise using knives and improvised tools.
During his perilous journey, Adam may encounter a few surviving civilians. Some of them ask for help (sometimes in a brazen manner), but players can easily ignore their pleas and move on. Nevertheless, if you do help the unfortunate citizens, Adam will receive certain bonuses that will facilitate future gameplay.