It would appear that Ubisoft Shanghai’s new IP I Am Alive is indeed living up to its name, despite the numerable setbacks it has encountered during development. Since the project was handed over by original developer Darkworks gameplay footage has seen some dramatic changes.

This recent trailer depicts the title character – an unnamed man – scaling his way through some challenging environments, fighting back adversaries and taking care of a child who is possibly his daughter. Set in what appears to have been a densely populated city, an unidentified disaster has ripped through the landscape, creating a dangerous new playground for adventurous types.

Gameplay footage switches between third person for exploration and first person for combat as the player takes on the role of the survivor as he manoeuvres his way through perilous environments and fights off enemies who would rather see him dead.

I Am Alive will see release on XBLA and PSN later this year.

PART ONE I TWO

Despite the focus on free-flowing battles, players will also expect Kingdoms of Amalur to provide a robust role playing experience. Noting that the game boasts a full dialogue system, we ask Fridley just how important conversation and player choice is to the overall plot. He is unequivocal in his response. “Player choice in the narrative is the cornerstone of any good open world fantasy RPG and we went to great lengths in our quest and conversation systems to make sure the player has plenty of options.” Read the rest of this entry »

PART ONE I TWO

With its colourful fantasy setting and surprisingly deep combat system, the EA published Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is definitely one to watch. The multiplatform project represents something of a departure for developer Big Huge Games, which had previously been known for its work on historical RTS franchises Rise of Nations and Age of Empires. With hundreds, if not thousands, of fantasy milieus having been produced across a variety of media over the years, the studio will have to work hard to make its mark on the competitive RPG landscape. Read the rest of this entry »

Borrowing heavily from Frankenstein (not to mention Resident Evil and BioShock), Rise of Nightmares revolves around a crazy scientist (aren’t they all) who has a knack for creating mechanised zombies. As you attempt to rescue your wife from his clutches, you discover that he has no qualms about experimenting on and torturing people for his own sick purposes, one such purpose being his own amusement. As you progress, the storyline moves beyond cheap scare tactics, to become genuinely creepy. The bleak, uncompromising visual presentation keeps you in a disconcerted frame of mind. Read the rest of this entry »