Never Alone
Never Alone, or Kisima Innitchuna is a real first in gaming. At least, so far as I am aware. I stumbled across Never Alone while browsing games on the Humble online store and happened across it on it's release day. (Just about a month ago.) I was attracted to this game instantly for it's beautiful visuals, but was especially excited for what it offered alongside.
Never Alone isn't simply a game; it's a game combined with a documentary alongside a story from ancient Inuit folklore. You see, Never Alone was created by a small team of Inupiat Inuit from Northern Alaska in association with an American publisher. Based on Inupiat artwork, scrimshaw and tales from tribal elders; Never Alone represents one of the few games which is a game first and yet is equally informative. I guess you could compare it to Assassin's Creed 2, where you can read up on any major piece of architecture as you wander renaissance Italy. But Italy isn't so hidden away from us as the Inuit are.
As you progress through Never Alone, you follow the story of a young girl who gets lost trying to find the cause of a blizzard which is burdening the village. She quickly gets lost, but is guided by a snowy arctic fox. At this point you can switch between either character and often need to in order to complete most puzzles. Likewise, each character can be controlled individually if you have two controllers (and players.) As you make your way through the game, you unlock short pieces of video which form a much larger documentary. Exploring everything from the history of the Inupiat people, to their involvement in the game, their culture, survival in the harsh wilderness and their connection with the world around them.
There's so much to enjoy about Never Alone. The Inuit perspective is unique and refreshing, (Though not too indifferent from other native american cultures.) the artwork is beautiful and the game makes great use of the Unity engine. The documentary alone is engaging and informative, a real eye-opener as so many of us are consumed in our 'modern' lifestyle.
Never Alone is an inexpensive indie title sitting at about $15 and I highly recommend it.
Never Alone isn't simply a game; it's a game combined with a documentary alongside a story from ancient Inuit folklore. You see, Never Alone was created by a small team of Inupiat Inuit from Northern Alaska in association with an American publisher. Based on Inupiat artwork, scrimshaw and tales from tribal elders; Never Alone represents one of the few games which is a game first and yet is equally informative. I guess you could compare it to Assassin's Creed 2, where you can read up on any major piece of architecture as you wander renaissance Italy. But Italy isn't so hidden away from us as the Inuit are.
As you progress through Never Alone, you follow the story of a young girl who gets lost trying to find the cause of a blizzard which is burdening the village. She quickly gets lost, but is guided by a snowy arctic fox. At this point you can switch between either character and often need to in order to complete most puzzles. Likewise, each character can be controlled individually if you have two controllers (and players.) As you make your way through the game, you unlock short pieces of video which form a much larger documentary. Exploring everything from the history of the Inupiat people, to their involvement in the game, their culture, survival in the harsh wilderness and their connection with the world around them.
There's so much to enjoy about Never Alone. The Inuit perspective is unique and refreshing, (Though not too indifferent from other native american cultures.) the artwork is beautiful and the game makes great use of the Unity engine. The documentary alone is engaging and informative, a real eye-opener as so many of us are consumed in our 'modern' lifestyle.
Never Alone is an inexpensive indie title sitting at about $15 and I highly recommend it.
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