It sounded like such an interesting idea when it was first announced: You are a survivor of a massive earthquake that destroys Chicago and cuts it off from the mainland. The rest of the world is facing a water crisis, which essentially means you are alone, left to fend for yourself as the city crumbles and survivors become desperate enemies. It was a great idea, but one that disappeared and most presumed dead.
Ubisoft’s I Am Alive originally debuted at E3 back in 2008, and was scheduled for a 2009 release (which it obviously missed). Ubisoft then announced that the game’s development would shift in 2010 from developer Darkworks to Ubisoft Shanghai, where according to Gamestop, it has apparently progressed to the point that the ESRB has seen it and given it an M rating.
Earlier this June, the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification board also rated the game, making it the first solid indication that the title was still alive and kicking. The ESRB furthers that impression, and offers a few minor specifics about the game. Along with the Mature rating, the label will feature the warnings: “Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language.”
All of those are fairly generic, but the ratings also specifically referred to “finishing moves,” including throat-slashing, impaling and pistol whipping. The plot of the game revolves around an average guy named Adam, trapped in the ruins of Chicago while searching for his girlfriend and fighting off other survivors. The early plot summaries seem to imply a bit of platforming as you navigate the city searching for water, mixed with combat as you fight off people that would take what’s yours.
Beyond that, Ubisoft is remaining silent on I Am Alive, and no word yet on when we might see the game on shelves. Early reports have it on the way for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
