From its very start, "Never Alone" succeeds in introducing the unique and peaceful culture of the Inupiaq (Native Alaskans) to the rather "ignorant" average gamer. It features real interviews with Alaskan elders, in-game locations’ actual footage and a lot more content to explore.
You control a little native girl called "Nuna", determined to find the cause of the blizzard tormenting her village. Her journey commences as she patiently discovers the terror and unease of the snowy Alaskan wilderness, featured through the form of a 2D sidescrolling puzzle-platform game, enriched with dynamic visual effects. The Co-op mode is quite intriguing as well, letting the second player take control of the arctic fox, the little girl’s trustworthy sidekick, which plays a significant part as the story unfolds. At some point, Nuna obtains a weapon called "Bola" and the fox starts interacting with the spirits, making them a very effective duet.
Although the game has powerful and immersive atmosphere, it is rather small, yet this is only a minor issue. The major issue lies in its lousy control system. Frequent A.I. inconsistencies, unresponsive movement and annoying mechanics, all accompanied with continuous frustration. You are bound to encounter serious jumping bugs and character glitches until the very end.
The final outcome is narrow positive. You will certainly not call "Never Alone" a masterpiece, but a respectful effort of visual storytelling. It also has a low price, making it even more appealing.