Hands On: Never Alone - Something special
It’s hard to capture Never Alone in words, it’s the sort of game that might not seem as captivating as it is until you play it. Playing as a young girl, your quest is to find the cause of a blizzard that is threatening the life and livelihood of your home.
Naturally, you’re not a little girl from Florida or Spain, but Alaska, where blizzards can be truly threatening. Alaska, the most northern and isolated state of America also has some of the most interesting stories to tell, and that is where Never Alone truly grabs you.
Having a discussion with Gloria O’Neill, president of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, before my hands on really opened my eyes to the effort that went into Never Alone. Rather than a development team with an interest in Inuit culture, the Tribal Council approached Upper One Games to make the game.
They had decided to create a video game in order to promote their culture to a wider audience. Making a game was a big gamble, even Upper One Games were worried about the risks the council would have to take in make the game. But as Never Alone was drafted it became clear how the blend of video games and Inuit culture could create something special.
In my hands on I encountered two completely unique beliefs that manifested into the game and only set to intrigue me more. First, playing as the snowy fox I’m told that as an animal he has a closer relationship to spirits. Because of this, he can find helper spirits throughout the game. They come in many shapes and sizes, and in the section I saw came into being as platforms to get across great lengths.
I was told that the finished game would feature videos that go into detail about aspects of Inuit belief, something I was saddened to be missing out on during the hands-on. The second, and extremely interesting entry into game was later on, as I entered a village at night. The village itself is heavily influenced on real life locations, but as night drew on, the Sky People appeared. They looked like northern lights, their faces interesting and asymmetric shapes. Apparently the Inuit version of the Boogie Man, the Sky People are said to snatch children away at night, and if the grab you they’ll take you back into the sky.
They are both fascinating and very unique within the video game, something common in this game exploring a little understood world. I’m sure travelling further through the game you’ll experience so much more.
Never Alone truly makes the arctic circle a mystifying place, and I’m eager to discover more. With solid and safe gameplay featuring two interesting characters, it’s the setting, atmosphere and story that really make Never Alone memorable. A lot of love and thought went into each section of the game, and it was both wonderful and illuminating to play.