Never Alone is a story from the Inupiaq people of northern Alaska. A terrible blizzard causes Nuna, a young girl, to go search for its origin. Along the way she gains a companion in a white fox and a highly coveted bola for breaking ice and interacting with spirits. Along with Upper One Games’ new genre, world game, platformer would still be an appropriate descriptor for this touching game.
There is no shortage of games that allow you to run, jump and climb. Never Alone’s platforming mechanics are from the cutting edge. But it brings along with it a richness that is seldom seen. Never Alone resonated so well with me because you can unlock video segments of a documentary about the Inupiat people.I did not know much about the northern Alaskan Natives prior to this game. The segments are typically germane to the section of the game you’re in and can be accessed from the main menu. Learning about this culture that has managed to survive in such a harsh climate was incredibly interesting and even inspiring. The game itself can be played solo or with another player controlling the white fox. Switching between the two in solo play had a couple of minor hiccups but nothing major. As cliche and ambiguous as it is to say; Never Alone has heart and should not be missed.
Recommendation: Worth a buy
Genre: documentary infused platformer, world game
Developer: Upper One Games
Publisher: E-Line Media
Platform(s): PS4, Vita, Steam
Price: $14.99
Links
http://neveralonegame.com/
http://GameEnthus.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gameenthus-podcast-video-games/id286435007?mt=2
Scale:
Worth a buy – paying full price for fans of the series or genre makes sense – often includes a caveat
Worth a buy on sale – not quite full price worthy but close, – often includes a caveat
No – borrow it if you must play it
Please no – Don’t waste any time and/or money on it