Alive 4-ever Review

By , on August 27, 2009


Alive 4-ever
Download on the AppStore
5 out of 5

PROS

  • Slick graphics.
  • Responsive controls.
  • Bluetooth co-op multiplayer.

CONS

  • Fairly violent (options to reduce or turn off gore are available).

VERDICT

Where games like Minigore manage to capture the simple beauty of dual-analogue action games, Alive 4-Ever manages to go beyond and provides a fully featured game that almost any action fan would be happy to have.


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You'd be forgiven if you read the title Alive 4-Ever (A4E), saw the App icon and thought, "Did someone port Left 4 Dead (L4D) to the iPhone?". It's hard to fault Meridian for jumping on to a hot game design concept like L4D and while there are many comparisons to be made, A4E is just about as perfect as it gets for action fans on the iPhone.

The dual analogue controls are extremely responsive, which will save your behind as zombies quickly crowd around you. Other interactive elements are hidden until they are needed (pickup item, mission objectives), which saves visual space and prevents clumsy incorrect presses. You'll earn experience and cash as you clear levels (with bonus items for completing special objectives), which is used to improve your chosen SWAT character and gives you an incentive to replay levels for extra cash.

A4E borrows another page from its creative inspiration with its wasteland art style and cinematic music cues. When fights get busy, there's a chance you will miss seeing an incoming zombie due to the fairly constant colour palette, but they're generally colored for easy recognition.

Some iPhone developers have spent a lot of time and energy in trying to capture the same vibe and energy of franchises on other consoles, hoping to cash in. Meridian opted for quality in Alive 4-Ever and even without the Left 4 Dead motifs it would still be a top-shelf action game. Unless you're averse to violence, A4E should be an icon on almost every gamer's iPhone.

Screenshots

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