I Am Alive

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 168 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 168
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 168
  3. Negative: 41 out of 168

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  1. MegWhiteley
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Wow, I Am Alive is a fantastic game, is so interesting, the gameplay is fantastic, the story is amazing, this is one of the biggest sorprises of 2012, and I never believe that.
  2. Rammsoldat
    Mar 13, 2012
    8
    Having heard of this game a year or so ago I was taken by suprise when it came out on XBLA as I was under the impression that it was due for a full release but seeing as that wasn't the case i downloaded that game and gave it a whirl. From the outset the tone is bleak, you see the video diary of the protagonist and he doe sthe usual "if you're watching this it means im...." so off we goHaving heard of this game a year or so ago I was taken by suprise when it came out on XBLA as I was under the impression that it was due for a full release but seeing as that wasn't the case i downloaded that game and gave it a whirl. From the outset the tone is bleak, you see the video diary of the protagonist and he doe sthe usual "if you're watching this it means im...." so off we go seeing the journey of this man in search of his wife and child. I really dug the look of the game, its a tad simple but the grey works to portray the destruction of the city as well as keep the limitations of the graphics hidden well.

    The climbing mechanics are pretty neat, you have a finite amount of stamina so theres no hanging off the side of a cliff for hours like nathan drake or lara croft. Food is in short supply, water too (though i found alot of soda) and there are people that need helping too (doing so rewards you with retrys) even rarer is ammunition for your empty pistol and the lack of weaponary makes for interesting enemy encounters.

    Id say this game was GOTY material had it been a full snadbox game, the limited amount of time you can spend at street level makes exploring tough but fun and the major climbing sections are pretty intense somtimes. Id say theres only a few gripes i have with this game, one of wich is that although the fight scenes are interesting they are a bit samey throught. efforts are made to add new factors to the fight such as the addition of foes in armour but theresnot really enough to do in fights. Also the survivors that arent hostile towards you dont really factor enough into the game, they seem more like decoration.

    This is an excellent concept for a full game, the ending leaves it open for continuation should they feel the need yet also closes the story should nothing else come to pass.    … Expand
  3. jamesweber
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    i don't agree with this 10/10 reviews but i'll give it an 8. it's not long enough and the controls can be awkward. overall everything else is really solid. you're basically looking for any survivors you can and the mood is a sort of blue gray. if that doesn't make sense then you need to start listening to miles davis. play it, it's dope.
  4. alxvy
    Mar 18, 2012
    10
    Superb! Really gives more reality to post apocalyptic life than other games. I would say it is challenging but I think this adds to the feeling of living on the edge of survival. Poses the question of how far you would and wouldn't go to save yourself or others, sometimes the life of a person is weighed with a couple of bullets. It also rubs home the fact that post apocalyptic life wouldSuperb! Really gives more reality to post apocalyptic life than other games. I would say it is challenging but I think this adds to the feeling of living on the edge of survival. Poses the question of how far you would and wouldn't go to save yourself or others, sometimes the life of a person is weighed with a couple of bullets. It also rubs home the fact that post apocalyptic life would be very grim. Maybe they could have tweaked it to be slightly easier and made it 50% longer, but at this price it's a bargain. Very pleasant surprise, and I would love a sequel!… Expand
  5. silver_DewSky
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    In I am Alive, you'll play as Adam, a man who has traveled the world and comes home to find everything changed due to the Event, a series of disasters that have crippled humanity with a flurry of earthquakes, toxic dust, and other effects, and you'll have to make your way around Haventon in hopes of reuniting with your family. Besides the effects of the Event, you'll also have to fend ofIn I am Alive, you'll play as Adam, a man who has traveled the world and comes home to find everything changed due to the Event, a series of disasters that have crippled humanity with a flurry of earthquakes, toxic dust, and other effects, and you'll have to make your way around Haventon in hopes of reuniting with your family. Besides the effects of the Event, you'll also have to fend of survivors who are easy to attack in order to protect what little they have left â… Expand
  6. Rexnos
    Mar 15, 2012
    9
    Hardly flawless, but definitely worth fifteen bucks. The game play can get a bit stale, but no more so than your typical FPS. Bullets will never feel as precious as they are in this game.
  7. DumbRoDent42
    Mar 15, 2012
    10
    There are some game experiences that just go right over the collective gamers head. Games that strive to be a little bit more than your standard fare; no boss fights, no black-and-white moral decisions that lead to two endings waterlogged by butt-whipped ethical preaching. Perhaps most importantly, a feeling of weight in a human life- a sort of bittersweet glee at killing an assailant, theThere are some game experiences that just go right over the collective gamers head. Games that strive to be a little bit more than your standard fare; no boss fights, no black-and-white moral decisions that lead to two endings waterlogged by butt-whipped ethical preaching. Perhaps most importantly, a feeling of weight in a human life- a sort of bittersweet glee at killing an assailant, the feeling that, as every other being in the game stands a chance of killing you, they have weight. They have lives.
    Of course, as stated, a standard gamer does not play games to care about killing people, or care about people in general. They play games to kill. To mow down hordes of faceless goons and feel fantastic for saving the dame cowering behind their back. You don't do that here. What I'm getting at is that this is not a game for everyone. It comes obscenely close to being a game for very *few*, due to its use of taboo themes (sex slavery, child death and implied pedophilia, cannibalism) that will inevitably make less-mature players giggle and drive others away from the experience... and, of course, the color scheme. The best way to describe it would be chiaroscuro- a deeply-shaded and drained world filled with black, white, and- here we go- gray. A lot of gray. More gray than most people would find enjoyable to look at. Because you're not supposed to. It's meant to be dreary and miserable. Not fun, grin-inducing eye candy. The game uses pitches of black and white- and occasional shocks of red, or faded yellow and green and various other colors- to create a surreal-looking city in ruin, and although some people may find these simple visuals bland I found them to be extremely impressive at points, especially considering the game's $15, downloadable-title nature. Not to mention the fact that there are, in fact, points in the game with shocks of colors other than grey- used to brilliant effect in catching the player's eye, surprising them. There is more here than you initially think.

    In short; I can't guarantee that you're going to like this game very much. Despite not being even remotely advertised as such- and indeed containing standard gaming elements such as a lives system and platforming- I would consider this game an entry in the push for Games as Art, along with Braid and the fresh-out-of-the-kettle Journey. It's abnormal and, admittedly, not always an enjoyable game to play; not so much as it is an involving and thoughtful experience.

    There are flaws to this game, of course. A troubled development cycle makes this an inevitability. Touchy voice acting in places, the occasional frustration with the controls, animations that can sometimes teeter towards the awkward or even glitchy. And yet I give it a ten, because I Am Alive is truly more than the sum of its parts.

    If you want something different, and you're willing to stop viewing a game as merely a game and give some serious though to the story, world, and characters, this game may be worth your time.    … Expand
  8. PITOS
    Apr 14, 2012
    9
    I realy like this game, good story and gameplay. Yes ue3 engine looks like crap in this game, but atmousphere is grate. 19/20 achivments. I wana see second part.
  9. Pericles83
    Jul 24, 2012
    8
    I Am Alive its a chalenge game in a fun way. A true survival game, he will not hold your hand every time and you will have to take some tough decisions along the way. The graphics are regular nothing special but what really matters here is the gameplay, its different, innovative you really feel that you are a survivor and not a hero with regenerating health and infinite ammo. If you likeI Am Alive its a chalenge game in a fun way. A true survival game, he will not hold your hand every time and you will have to take some tough decisions along the way. The graphics are regular nothing special but what really matters here is the gameplay, its different, innovative you really feel that you are a survivor and not a hero with regenerating health and infinite ammo. If you like games that offer new ideas, try it you problably going to love it.… Expand
  10. MAXAKASINNER
    Aug 19, 2012
    9
    Epic I Am Alive Is One Of My Best Games With Ok Graphics But Good Style But Very Short It Was About 4 Hours Long For 1200 Microsoft Points But I Enjoyed It. Apocolypse Is Great
  11. logan35
    Mar 8, 2012
    8
    I am alive is a different kind of game and offers certain experiences that most games don't have. I am alive is a good game the story, setting, and characters are all believable. The game takes place with the main character looking for his wife and daughter which is understandable since the world is pretty messed up. Throughout the game you'll find yourself in a lot of deadly situationsI am alive is a different kind of game and offers certain experiences that most games don't have. I am alive is a good game the story, setting, and characters are all believable. The game takes place with the main character looking for his wife and daughter which is understandable since the world is pretty messed up. Throughout the game you'll find yourself in a lot of deadly situations with certain inhabitants of the city of Haventon. One of the things I am alive does very well is atmosphere, I can say that the game has many environments that look really cool and dusty. Another thing I am alive does very well is the platforming sections of the game. While your climbing your character actually has stamina so you have to be careful with how you use it. The combat situations are also tense because sometimes you have to choose to shoot someone or push them off a building because you don't have a lot of ammo. I liked this game a lot and hopefully it sells well so ubisoft may actually turn it into a real franchise game. The only problem I have with the game is sometimes the combat can be a bit clunky and the game is on the short side compared to a retail game. For 1200 Microsoft points, this game is great.… Expand
  12. Higgins86
    Mar 7, 2012
    8
    There was a man all by himself in a little camp shouting in a shaky voice "Just keep moving man, I don't have much, just go away" He had painkillers that i desperately needed on the box behind him, so I pulled out my gun and fired my last bullet but i couldn't help but feel guilty and was sorry that I had done it. I don't understand the hate for this game. It's a very solid survivalThere was a man all by himself in a little camp shouting in a shaky voice "Just keep moving man, I don't have much, just go away" He had painkillers that i desperately needed on the box behind him, so I pulled out my gun and fired my last bullet but i couldn't help but feel guilty and was sorry that I had done it. I don't understand the hate for this game. It's a very solid survival adventure and has a very captivating mood. Sometimes the climbing controls can be a little weird but it's nothing major and you get used to it pretty fast. The voice acting and scale of the game is actually really good when you consider that it's a $15 arcade game. If you allow yourself to be immersed into this post-apocalyptic world then you'll have a blast trekking over the wasteland and scrounging for items while doing your best to save the little girl Mei you meet early on. The climbing controls feel a bit weird at first and there are parts where the dialogue can get kind of repetitive but these are small problems that can be overlooked by the immersion the game offers if you give it a chance.… Expand
  13. WaywardDawn
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    I personally love I AM Alive it is already my favorite download game. It is pretty long for a xbox live arcade game with if you do everything and search for supplies it can be up to 8 hours long i think that the combat is fun trying to bluff your way out and cursing yourself if your forced to use a bullet if they don't buy it and the climbing is fun and challenging there are usally aI personally love I AM Alive it is already my favorite download game. It is pretty long for a xbox live arcade game with if you do everything and search for supplies it can be up to 8 hours long i think that the combat is fun trying to bluff your way out and cursing yourself if your forced to use a bullet if they don't buy it and the climbing is fun and challenging there are usally a couple diffrent ways to go and you have to look ahead as you can't try to just do it or youll end up running out of breath and haveing to a) use one or more of your supplies that are scarces or b) falling to your death. I think that everyone should ignore the ign review and just get the trial and see for yourself. the story is good and you really get a walking dead kind of feel for humanity when you play the game (I love the walking dead books)… Expand
  14. yolandivisser
    Mar 21, 2012
    10
    I suspect that those who don't like this game are just straight up miserable people! The idea and story create an unusually refreshing background with which to navigate into ultra-depressing gameplay. LOL depressing in that really depressing (ie, Aeris dying sorta thing - creates nostalgia) good way you get from games you're really into... definitely check it out it's my new favorite game
  15. Kamakse
    Mar 10, 2012
    8
    i found I Am Alive to be gritty and compelling. every battle felt like a struggle with much more at stake. the climbing challenges are fun and some of the locals are fun and tense when you explore them like the hotel and the lower decks of the ship.
  16. Khan
    Mar 11, 2012
    8
    I Am Alive actually impressed me in a lot of ways. The climbing portion of the game is simple and fun, the conservation of ammo feels realistic most of the time, and the repetitive confrontations were easily overlooked (I still enjoyed them late in the game, but that's just me). When taken for what it is, an arcade title, it's easy to see just how great this game is. Try it, expect a bitI Am Alive actually impressed me in a lot of ways. The climbing portion of the game is simple and fun, the conservation of ammo feels realistic most of the time, and the repetitive confrontations were easily overlooked (I still enjoyed them late in the game, but that's just me). When taken for what it is, an arcade title, it's easy to see just how great this game is. Try it, expect a bit of repetition, and if you can get over that it's well worth the money.… Expand
  17. marychofeusz
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    "I am alive" to jeden z najlepszych niedokoÅ
  18. jepainter
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    For a 15$ game it is outstanding. Are the graphics great compared to a regular 60$ xbox title? No. But it honestly looks pretty damn good for an arcade title.

    Bad: There are occasional moments of frustration with gameplay. Too linear. I wish that problems could be approached from many different angles, instead of essentially one angle of attack. Good: Many people will probably    For a 15$ game it is outstanding. Are the graphics great compared to a regular 60$ xbox title? No. But it honestly looks pretty damn good for an arcade title.

    Bad: There are occasional moments of frustration with gameplay. Too linear. I wish that problems could be approached from many different angles, instead of essentially one angle of attack.

    Good: Many people will probably detest the combat. You essentially cannot beat two opponents if you are out of ammo and there isn't a cliff or a fire around. But this made ammo precious. And made every fight a tough tactical battle. I have to put the guy with the gun down right away, and if I don't intimidate the other two right away, before they can scoop up his pistol, I'm done for.

    I loved the look of the game. I liked the look of the bad guys.

    The dark tone of the game is awesome. When I was in a tight spot and badly wounded I had to eat some human meat to survive. I let an innocent guy die, because I really didn't want to use my last bullet to save him. These were awesome moments.    … Expand
  19. ulixes
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    This is a great game and the demo looked good. The sound and atmosphere are great. I like the minimalism of the game's graphics. Best game on XLA this year. I Am Alive is something completely new and different in a crowd of too-similar games.
  20. Kranitoko
    Mar 7, 2012
    8
    IGN don't know what they're talking about here. Sure, the game has mediocre graphics; its a downloadable game for crying out loud. The game serves as a real challenge if you play in the hardest mode, where you get very few retries. If you lose all your retries, you go back to where the game last saved. Ammo, food and water is extremely scarce, and when you encounter enemies, sometimes youIGN don't know what they're talking about here. Sure, the game has mediocre graphics; its a downloadable game for crying out loud. The game serves as a real challenge if you play in the hardest mode, where you get very few retries. If you lose all your retries, you go back to where the game last saved. Ammo, food and water is extremely scarce, and when you encounter enemies, sometimes you have to bluff you have a bullet in your gun to fight your way out, something you never actually see in games. Of course if you wait too long, they'll know you're bluffing and go for you. Is it worth it's 1200MSP price? Probably not. 800MSP? Of course.… Expand
  21. nayerr
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    No, seriously, don't trust the IGN review. It's true that they said it was bad, but it's false that it's bad because it's good, good not great, but definitely not bad. not good good, but just good. good enough. good enough for me and good enough for yo momma' i've waited a long time for this game. years. and now i'm playing it. not only am i playing it, but i'm also enjoying myself as i'mNo, seriously, don't trust the IGN review. It's true that they said it was bad, but it's false that it's bad because it's good, good not great, but definitely not bad. not good good, but just good. good enough. good enough for me and good enough for yo momma' i've waited a long time for this game. years. and now i'm playing it. not only am i playing it, but i'm also enjoying myself as i'm playing it. so if you have 1200 points and you aren't afraid of the future, because we all know this game is more than a game, it's a warning sign for things to come in this country and the world and the good men and women of ubisoft are doing us a kindness in releasing this game and helping us mentally prepare for the coming global social breakdown of social society. no more facebook. no more smartphones. no more hot pockets.… Expand
  22. kizza
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    this game at it core has awsome ideas, but IGN's Greg Miller put it best by saying "Usually when a game takes years and years in development, you can expect trouble" For $15 though somewhat worth it, but so many people seem to like it, why? I don't know, I suggest asking the fans of mass effect 3 and dragonage 2, which If you don't know very few people liked it because they were TOTALLYthis game at it core has awsome ideas, but IGN's Greg Miller put it best by saying "Usually when a game takes years and years in development, you can expect trouble" For $15 though somewhat worth it, but so many people seem to like it, why? I don't know, I suggest asking the fans of mass effect 3 and dragonage 2, which If you don't know very few people liked it because they were TOTALLY RUINED. The graphics are ok but looks like they belong in someone more like the original silent hill games on the playstation 1.

    The colours are completely bland, but hey what do you expect in a post apocalyptic world, I mean really were you expecting lush rainforests and utopias after "the killer dust" shows up? this idea alone seems as bad as the idea in the film "the happening". It did keep me in suspense, but to keep it short and sweet. Cheap - and with good reason, for the price its worth a try

    AI - the ai are dumb as hell, you shout at them and point a gun but then as soon as you lower it they forget about it

    it turns out basicly to be a post apocalyptic assassins creed, very little ammo for your guns and you scale broken buildings like ezio auditore    … Expand
  23. HugodrAndrade
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    For 1200MS (15â
  24. ccrogers15
    Apr 3, 2012
    10
    I am alive is an Epic game by Ubisoft. It is a very interesting game with amazing graphics, and an amazing story. It reminds me alot of the movie I am legend, and the game fallout 3 mixed. The games engine is perfect, and with the mechanics, reminds me of a male lara croft. Very good game, worth more then $15. The critic IGN has no idea what there talking about. WHAT??? They said badI am alive is an Epic game by Ubisoft. It is a very interesting game with amazing graphics, and an amazing story. It reminds me alot of the movie I am legend, and the game fallout 3 mixed. The games engine is perfect, and with the mechanics, reminds me of a male lara croft. Very good game, worth more then $15. The critic IGN has no idea what there talking about. WHAT??? They said bad graphics? Really? No its not bad at all. IGN rates ALL survival horror games very very low just to make people mad. Cant spell IGN without IGNorant you know? But this game is amazing and worth every penny for this awesome adventure!… Expand
  25. gamesreflexoes
    Dec 21, 2012
    10
    grande jogo sobre o fim do mundo, belos graficos, belo precinho camarada, recomendo para qualquer um que que queira pagar pouco e se divertir muito neste game da renomada Ubisoft
  26. CloudStrife05
    Aug 19, 2021
    8
    I loved the atmosphere of this game. It was something a bit different then what I usually play so I truly enjoyed it. Would love to see a sequel one day.

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
9
#9 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 68
  3. Negative: 8 out of 68
  1. Polygon
    Apr 26, 2012
    40
    Ah well. One final tinge of guilt for an awful, disgusting, unsettling thing I never wanted to do. That sums up I Am Alive concisely.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 25, 2012
    80
    Excellent thriller works perfectly as a survival simulation. The story is great, game mechanics are great, fight system is smart and locations are memorable – what else could you want? [Apr 2012]
  3. Xbox World Australia
    Apr 23, 2012
    69
    With so many great games on XBLA let alone on disc, it's hard to recommend I Am Alive. It feels like it never reached its full potential. Maybe with more time or a bigger team Ubisoft would have a classic like Assassin's Creed on their hands, but unfortunately it falls flat on too many levels.
    Read full review
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