Years ago, Ubisoft’s ambitious survival game I Am Alive was in the hands of Darkworks, the original developer who crafted a darker, more intense vision for the game. Recently, leaked gameplay footage from this canceled version has resurfaced, shedding light on what could have been a gripping post-apocalyptic experience very different from the final product released by Ubisoft Shanghai.
Darkworks’ Unique Take on Survival
The early footage reveals a game steeped in tension and player choice. It offered mechanics like bluffing with an empty gun to intimidate enemies or strategic resource management, such as sharing scarce water supplies with others. Gamers have compared its vibe to Spec Ops: The Line for its dark atmosphere and survival focus.
Notably, the game was nearly finished when Ubisoft decided to shift development to their Shanghai studio, resulting in a release that many found disappointing compared to this earlier vision.
Gameplay Highlights From the Leak
- Players could hold up enemies with an empty gun, forcing them to back off, adding a unique psychological gameplay layer.
- The use of limited resources like arrows required players to be strategic and careful in combat.
- Choices like sharing or withholding water from other survivors impacted the player’s experience.
- The game featured a first-person perspective throughout, differing from the final game’s third-person approach.
Why Was This Version Cancelled?
Many rumors point to creative differences between Ubisoft and Darkworks. Ubisoft wanted to integrate multiplayer and possibly change the tone, while Darkworks had a more focused single-player survival game in mind. Limitations of console hardware at the time might have also played a part, especially for some of the more ambitious environmental effects and gameplay systems.
The cancellation allowed Ubisoft Shanghai to start fresh, but in doing so, the game lost much of the initial depth and unique gameplay elements found in the leaked footage.
Community Reactions
The leaked footage has sparked nostalgia and disappointment. Some players feel this original version was more captivating and darker in a good way, while others note that the concepts shown could have made for a groundbreaking survival game.
Discussions often mention the missed opportunities for social-sim style survival gameplay that encourages player interaction beyond simple combat.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ‘I Am Alive’?
- A post-apocalyptic action survival game originally developed by Darkworks before Ubisoft Shanghai took over.
- What does the leaked footage show?
- The footage reveals an earlier version with different gameplay mechanics, a darker tone, and first-person perspective.
- Why was the original version cancelled?
- Creative differences and technical challenges led Ubisoft to restart development with their Shanghai studio.
- Did the final game keep any features from the original version?
- Very few, as the final game shifted focus and design significantly under Ubisoft Shanghai.
- Where can I watch the leaked gameplay?
- It surfaced on YouTube and various gaming forums but was leaked years ago and later rediscovered.
Conclusion
The leaked Darkworks version of I Am Alive offers a fascinating look at what could have been a darker, more immersive survival game. While Ubisoft’s decision to restart development resulted in a very different final product, fans of the leaked footage hope that these ideas and mechanics inspire future games in the survival genre.