This month we have another wintery game that explores ancient folklore only this time we’ll be delving into the beliefs of the indigenous Alaskan community, the Iñupiat. ‘Never Alone’ is one of those games that test the traditional boundaries of what a video game should be as it really is a vehicle for telling a larger story, one of the Iñupiat people and it goes about this in such a heart-warming way that it’s difficult not to enjoy it. The game itself is designed for two players, though can be played solo, and slots neatly into the category of a puzzle platforming game where you must navigate levels by controlling both a young girl and her arctic fox companion.
Developer: Upper One Games and E-Line Media
Genre: Puzzle platformer
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Release date: 18th November 2014
ESRB: Unrated (mild threat)
The story of ‘Never Alone’ is presented as the kind of tale that an elder passes on to his or her grandchildren and even a few of the cutscenes are in a kind of scrimshaw style as though you are watching a living, breathing wall of cave art. It’s simple narrative that follows a young girl, Nuna, to find the cause of an unnatural blizzard with the help of an arctic fox whom she meets after narrowing escaping an angry ice bear. Together the two friends set out to find the source of an eternal blizzard which threatens the survival of not only the Iñupiat people but everything they have ever known. The story itself is pleasant, full of heart and somewhat magical in an ancient sort of way which really ties into the sense of the tale being told by an indigenous elder. What I particularly enjoyed about the narrative was that it offered up an insight into a culture that I was unfamiliar with and provided me with plenty of information in the form of cultural insight videos. These videos played like clips from a documentary and would discuss the relevant scenario, character or set piece that I had just encountered. Watching them as and when you unlock them can be rather distracting from the game however and I would recommend waiting until you had finished the game before going through them. They were a genuinely interesting watch though and you’d be missing out on some really interesting information by bypassing them entirely as they tend to make everything feel much more wholesome and real.
The game itself is quite clearly designed with two players in mind but, as I only have one controller, I only have a single player experience to talk about. That said, quite a lot of the game requires you to coordinate the movements of both the fox and Nuna so they work together in harmony but, with unpredictable AI, this is not always possible when you’re playing by yourself. Occasionally the character you are not controlling may perform actions that lead to their death and often they struggle to keep up with your pace which, inevitably, also leads to their death. The game is also slightly let down by the controls which can often feel sluggish, unresponsive and awkward to get right. Your ranged weapon, the bola, for instance can be very difficult to aim properly and this simply adds an additional problem to an already bothersome control system. On the positive side the mechanics of the game are pretty solid and generally revolves around a few basic ideas that become increasingly more complex as the game goes on. Whilst coming up against enemies is standard gaming-fare there are some interesting features such as the winter wind which can be both a blessing and an obstacle depending on where you’re trying to go or what you’re trying to do. Spirits that inhabit the game are similarly two faced and whilst there are plenty of good spirits who will help you there are also the not so good ones who may whisk you away at a moment’s notice.
The game’s main premise however is the partnership between Nuna and Fox which is where some brilliant co-op gameplay would have come into play had I had another controller. Whilst Nuna can drag heavy objects and use the bola as a means of retrieving objects or clearing obstacles Fox’s expertise lies in his connection with the spiritual world, allowing him to work with the spiritual manifestations of animals called ‘loons’. Navigating levels tends to require you to switch constantly between the characters so that they may help each other along and there’s enough to interact with for this gameplay to not be boring or repetitive. However, the vast majority of the game does not have the same complexity that the final levels do which manifests not so much as a difficulty curve but more a great restriction on gameplay. In later levels your control over Fox is extended and you can do much more with him and, whilst the scenarios tend to be similar such as the chase scenes, everything is just so much more fun and challenging. It’s just a shame that it takes so long for the game to build up to this balance of play and before you know it the game has finished just as it felt like it was really picking up speed. What I am utterly grateful for after playing a certain similar game was the checkpoint system of ‘Never Alone’ as whilst death may happen quite frequently, dodgy companions aside, you are never put too far back and it never feels as though you are constantly retracing your steps.
What I absolutely adore about this game though is the art style which is so beautifully minimalistic with its soft focus and hazy wash of colours as though everything is thinly veiled with snow. Murky blues, whites and greys do wonders to make Nuna stand out in her fiercely bold furs whilst her Arctic Fox companion is both separate and a part of the frozen tundra that surrounds him. The simplicity but detail of the animations are also absolutely stunning and little idle animations like Nuna warming her hands or Fox pawing at the ground add a little subtle personality to their characters. The wind is flawlessly drawn and animated and you can visually feel the might of it as it throws Nuna backwards across the screen or sails across her shoulders when she’s ducked down, shielding herself from its buffeting power. The soundtrack as well is extremely well implemented, a soft chorus of piano that is only broken up by the shouts and grunts of Nuna and Fox as they struggle on with their task and overall the music has a very subtle and calming effect on the entire game.
The prevalent issues that are present in ‘Never Alone’ are hardly even applicable at the moment as the developer has already announced that patches for both the PC version and the consoles will be released shortly. This is clearly a game with both substance and style and my only remaining gripe is that it takes far too long for the real action to get going and, with that in mind, the game is rather short. This aside it’s a wondrous little indie game that is well suited for modern day gamers who enjoy simplistic yet meaningful games with the capacity for a strong local co-op experience. Visually the game is stunning and I adored the focus on learning about Alaskan folklore as it is quite a rare culture to hear anything about, particularly in games. Treat yourself to something a little different this Christmas and check this out if it sounds like something you’d enjoy.
The Good:
- Lovely depictation and explanations of Iñupiat mythology
- Adorable foxes always rank highly in my books
- Very well thought out narrative spoken in the indigenous language
- Engaging characters that develop a lovely relationship with one another
- Pretty solid puzzles that require some thought
- Stunning graphics and soundtrack
- Nicely animated for the most part
- Solid mechanics, particularly like the application of the wind and spirits
- Later levels much more enjoyable than the rest of the game
- AI and ranged weapon issues (that are currently being patched)
- Polar bear has some odd animations sometimes
Final thoughts: “A genuinely intriguing game that makes me cold just thinking about it, or maybe it’s because I don’t have the heating on and it’s December. I loved the whole concept of this game and knowing that the vast majority of things I found wrong with it are being patched makes me truly appreciate the developer’s dedication to this game. I won’t forget this one.”
