I Am Alive is a survival horror game that takes place after "The Event". Nobody knows what this event was, but it managed to destroy most of America. There are mentions of frequent earthquakes that demolished most major cities across the continent, but that is all that is known. In the beginning of the game, the character that you play, who remains unnamed for the entirety of the story, goes back to his home city of Haventon to try and reunite with his family. He finds that they left before he arrived, so you start your journey to find them. I won't get into any minor details about the plot because I want to spare you the spoilers. But you will face a lot of challenges along the way, mainly other human beings who have reverted to their prime, violent ways. There are little resources available, so everything counts.
The game takes a third-person perspective, and the destroyed cities and landscapes provide different challenges. You will find yourself climbing and sliding down a variety of different buildings and structures. Unlike other games, climbing depletes your stamina, so a little strategy is involved whenever you get on a ledge to climb up an obstacle. You need to stop to rest in order to make it to the other side of whatever you are climbing.
Along the way, you will meet people and this game offers you ways to avoid confrontation in many instances. Simply lifting your hands and walking the other way can get you out of trouble most of the time. When you have advanced through the game, you will find tactics to lure your enemies close to you so you can slit their throats and get a kill without wasting ammo. You will find yourself doing this a lot; almost too much.
In short, despite some nuisances, this is a very entertaining game. The story is good and I love what the developers have done with the setting. A dystopian, post-apocalyptic America is a very good setting for a survival horror game.
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