Stay Alive is a twitch-based space distance game requiring players to fly as far as possible while avoiding asteroids and enemy ships.
Stay Alive combines two different genres together – distance-based arcade games and arcade space shooters. The mixture of the two works very well in the game. While there are some issues with balance in the gameplay, the core of the game is strong and simple.
That simple mechanic makes Stay Alive very addictive. Players have to control the steering of the spaceship on the left of the screen and use the cannons to defeat enemy ships or create paths by touching the area on the right section of the screen. The ship then fires in that specific direction.
Stay Alive also adds different power-ups and the collection of orbs in the game. These orbs are traded for ship upgrades which help shields, hull strength, and others. Stay Alive is impressive because even though sessions are very short, there is a great addictive aspect to the gameplay and it is not uncommon to play multiple sessions in a row.
There is no learning curve beyond the first few minutes, and Stay Alive becomes all about reaction time and how well players can manage their ammunition and collect orbs and power-ups. Stay Alive is one of the best examples of a "bus stop" game.
Stay Alive is a great game that combines simplicity with addictive gameplay.
