This is a review of a game Never Alone. Never Alone also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa is a puzzle-platformer adventure game developed by Upper One Games. The game is based on the tale first recorded by Robert Nazareth Cleveland in his collection Stories of the Black River people. You take on the role of Nuna an Alaska native from the Inupiat people who finds herself caught up in a never-ending Blizzard.
What is the Game like to Play
Well, you can freely switch between Nuna and the Fox as and when you require, or if you're playing couch co-op you take on one character each. You can jump climb and brace yourself on the floor when the storm hits so it's a pretty basic platform game for the most part, but there is a spiritual element that has an interesting gameplay feature. There are these spirits around the levels and to progress sometimes you need their help. They'll build bridges or create platforms to allow you to cross difficult areas and it's all explained by these excellent Native voiceovers.
There are some puzzles to solve but they're not the most taxing, it's not the most difficult game in this genre, but it's definitely one of the most cultural. You have to flee a cruel invader, save your village, and try to discover the source of this devastating storm. But you're not alone as you have a fox friend to help you along your journey during the various chapters you have to solve puzzles traverse dangerous platforming sections and use both character's strengths to complete the levels. The game can be played solo or via a couch co-op option with two players.
There are several things that can halt your progress in the game, ranging from polar bears to dangerous storms and the cunning little people. The levels have been lovingly created and it feels traditional and authentic to the Alaskan wilderness. The game is really a vehicle for expressing the cultural stories of Inupiat people. To help this the developers have produced several short documentary videos that can be unlocked as you progress through the game. I really enjoyed these cultural insights and it gave me a deeper understanding of the story but also the underlying traditions of the new people and their heritage.
The game has one story DLC called Foxtails. Foxtails tell the story of two brothers and it's more of the same in general but it had some new gameplay elements like kayaking and a couple of other things. In terms of graphics, the game looks very nice. They've done a great job of recreating the snowy tundra and the desolate feeling of the wide-open spaces of Alaska. The characters look cool and it's just a very nice game to look at it's very pleasant all around. The music is beautifully atmospheric it's subtle dreaming and it blends in with the adventure seamlessly. The game has an excellent voiceover narrated by a Native actor he has an esteemed voice and it has a great sense of gravitas and heritage to the story as you progress.
What's Good and What's Bad
What's Good: The story is interesting and educational. The graphics and audio work complement each other perfectly. It's a nice game to play co-op with a friend. The cultural insight videos were fascinating and it's a beautiful game with a beautiful sentiment running through it.
What's Bad: The puzzles are a bit simplistic and the game is fairly short and it does leave you wanting more but there is always the Foxtails DLC if you're craving another installment.
What's the Verdict
Never Alone is a beautifully made game that is both enjoyable and educational in equal measure. I played it solo and couch co-op with a friend both were really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend playing it through within both ways. I've really enjoyed the game and I definitely learn a lot about the Native Alaskans and their cultural heritage. If you're looking for an enjoyable and satisfying adventure game with a spiritual core they're Never Alone is one of the best games in that area.
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