14 DAY TRIAL // One of the good things about the growth of the indie game development industry is that you get to experience stories that you would not normally come across in the big league.
Such is the case of Never Alone, an upcoming puzzle-adventure title created by Upper One Games, the first indigenous-owned video company in the US, focusing on delivering the tales passed down from generation to generation among Alaskan natives to the entire world.
"For thousands of years we told stories from one generation to the next. Our stories help us to understand how the world is ordered and our place within it, but what good are old stories if the wisdom they contain is not shared?" the announcement trailer explains.
The game follows Nuna, a young Inupiat girl, as she explores the icy landscapes that the Alaskan environment has to offer, along with her arctic fox companion, trying to get away from various wild beasts and mythological beings.
Never Alone will have both single player and cooperative multiplayer, in the two-player mode one of the users taking control of the adorable fox.
The narrative is inspired by the rich culture and folklore of the Inupiat people, and all narration and dialogue will be in the Inupiat language, with English subtitles.
The indie scene is rich in puzzle platformers, and Never Alone's interesting and beautiful art style alone are enough to make it stand out, although its main strength is the rich ethnic background and the exploration of unique cultural themes, which will surely draw the interest of many gamers.
As the young girl and her fox companion adventure over ice flows and across the tundra, they will meet a wide assortment of folklore-inspired characters, with names such as Manslayer, Blizzard Man, Sky People, and the Rolling Heads.
The Rolling Heads sounds like a pagan metal Rolling Stones cover band at first glance, but their actual meaning should prove to be much more rewarding to explore, offering insight into how the ancient inhabitants of a remote and unforgiving environment made sense of the world around them.
"Featuring imagery and themes drawn directly from Iñupiat and other Alaska Native cultures, Never Alone features striking visuals, emphasizes the sensibilities and perspective of these indigenous Arctic people and requires players to work cooperatively to succeed in challenging and harsh environments," Upper One Games states in a press release.
Never Alone will be launched during the fall of 2014, coming to the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 platforms.
