The beauty about independent developers is that the risk of creating a game isn’t that big as with triple A games. If a big game fails to sell, it means trouble for the developers and their money they’ve invested in the project. With indie games it’s different. The developers can’t lose as much money as the big guys so this means they’re willing to take risks. Those risks result in original games such as Never Alone.
The Iñupiat people of Alaska
The most original part of Never Alone is the way it’s been developed with the help of the Iñupiat people of Alaska. The game wants to deliver more than just fun, it wants to be educational and make people more aware of the culture of Alaska. It’s a goal we can only support and it works great for the game. Throughout the entire story you’ll be able to collect ‘Cultural Insights’. These unlockables videos feature small but interesting insights on the actual lives of the Iñupiat people. To make it complete, the narrative is told in the Iñupiaq language. It’s a different atmosphere than you’re used to and it really works well. Thanks to this unique collaboration, Never Alone offers something no other game can give you at this moment.
The gameplay
This story of tradition is great but Never Alone is still a game at heart, meaning the gameplay has to be good. The story is about a never-ending blizzard that’s raging over the environment. Nuna is set on a path the find the reason of this blizzard and stop it. Short after her departure she meets a mysterious white polar fox. The fox and Nuna are inseparable since the moment their paths crossed. The game plays as a classic side-scrolling platform/puzzle game where the most interesting mechanic is the ability to switch between Nuna and the fox at any time you want.
That is if you’re playing the game on your own. The entire game is also playable in co-op where one plays Nuna and the other plays as the fox. Interesting is that both have special abilities needed to solve puzzles. Nuna can push heavy objects for example while the fox can climb walls and call in help of spirit creatures to reach higher platforms. The game definitely is at its best if you play together with a friend on your couch. Teamwork and communication will be crucial to reach the end of the level but if you help each other out, you’ll have a lot of fun for sure. The game rather falls apart if you’re playing on your own.
Not as fun on your own
So the game really struggles if you play it on your own. The main reason for this is that the computer will control the other character. On straight sections it’s no problem at all. The computer will follow every step you make and to make things a little easier it can also ‘hover’ to your location if it gets stuck in the environment. The bigger problem is when you need to jump very precisely. The AI of the computer won’t always allow a safe jump for the second character, which can result in a failed jump for both characters. This problem also surfaces when the fox is supposed to summon spirit creatures in order to advance. Switching to the fox and summon them yourself is a solution for sure but it would haven been great if the AI was a little smarter. The puzzles in the game aren’t that hard so a better partner could have done wonders for the game.
The small segments of the game where you need to outsmart the little Sky People are fun and offer variation to platforming but again, the AI gets you in more trouble than it actually should. If you want to enjoy the game as it was meant to be enjoyed, play it with a friend.
The atmosphere is strong
Although the gameplay isn’t always that good, it’s definitely a game worth checking out, this thanks to the unique atmosphere. This is created by the background story but also with the graphics. The game never looks high-tech or complex but it looks clean. Both characters are nice and adorable so you’ll feel some kind of connection with them while playing. It isn’t on the same level as let’s say games like Limbo but it delivers a certain different atmosphere. It’s fun to play games like this in a time where every pixel counts.
| The Good: | The Bad: |
| + Great story | – The AI of the NPC |
| + Cultural Insights | – A little too easy |
| + Great in co-op |
Never Alone isn’t as good as we hoped for, the main reason for this is the artificial intelligence. The gameplay isn’t perfect but if you play with your friends it’s a lot better. Don’t expect to see a lot of innovations in the gameplay, the power of Never Alone lies in the background and the insights in a world unfamiliar for many. It’s a different kind of game and we’re happy to welcome it on the Nintendo Wii U. Looking for something else? Give this game a go but invite a friend over to experience the adventure with you.
