The game Never Alone: Arctic Collection is one of the most beautifully designed games I’ve seen. The entire scenery of a snowy atmosphere, that of Alaska is very well designed and just so realistic. The story of the game is all about a little girl named Nuna and a white fox helping each other survive. This may be an unusual friendship, one that I have yet come upon in any game or in real life, but it also proves you don’t need to be the same species to help one another out.
The game has the two of them working together, figuring out challenging puzzles and obstacles to move forward through this epic adventure. It’s quite a chilly journey, just by the blizzard, snowy weather. Nevertheless, the two main characters in this game are so adorable. Plus, one additional bonus just for playing the game that isn’t in anything else is getting to watch the world of the native Alaskan people and the wisdom they have to share. This actually is an unlockable feature, something that is different from any game I’ve played and possibly a way to make it most memorable and endearing.
A Beautiful Story and Game
The start of the game has an option of either playing the game or the fox tales option. Both a story to play through and each very enjoyable! In either, the game allows you to choose to play either as a single-player and working as playing each character, the fox and the girl or choosing to pair up with another and working together. Either mode can be played anytime throughout the game. So that you don’t need to wait to continue the journey, which is great! In addition to the character and the option of whom to be, the story itself is very well narrated. It is done in the Iñupiaq language, but it does come with English subtitles to help those read along and understand what is being told. It is so captivating that I couldn’t just skip the story and was more compelled to hear it being told before the game starts and in between each new game to start.
Furthermore, The gusting winds and snow sound effects as well as the graphics in the background are really well created and make it feel completely realistic. Including the many animals, detailed nicely. Nevertheless, there are a few spirits and enemies that appear a bit unusual and a bit spookier and fantasize about how the appearance of these characters would look. It does add some essence to the game as well! Even though we still have some time in the game to battle and not just run, but use a weapon, the bola to aid in our protection and escape through icy sections. Therefore this game is an adventure filled with some action and engagement that really makes this even more of a lovely expect journey and game
One of the best things about this game, excluding everything above I mentioned. Is that you can play as the fox even if you are playing in single-player mode. I know I said this already, but for some reason, I adore that you can switch off from one to the other, and honestly, it’s fun being the fox, but of course, the two work together to make the passage to the next location possible. A great team, fox, and girl together!
Of course, there are a few areas in that I felt the game could probably be improved. The bola is an interesting weapon but a bit tricky to use with the button to fling it out of the hands and aim it correctly. I think it took me a few minutes to figure out how to aim the bola correctly and how to get it to be released from my hands. It will definitely be felt after using it so very often in this game, even with the many trial runs to learn how to use it.
Plus, to make it even worse, is that if you don’t know how to use it, the game needs it most of the time. Therefore, after a few runs with some bad enemies and even a polar bear. I was able to get a hang of the bola and had a great workout with my thumb. The same with the left thumb, as the right is for the bola, rowing the boat for the fox tales is a bit more of work out too.
Another problem I did come across is that I had to reset to an earlier checkpoint, thankfully there are checkpoints and autosave. There are spots that seem to be not perfectly done. Where I one time fell into a block of ice, the scenery which I about was meant to happen. Another time, the fox got in this odd stuck position and wouldn’t swim correctly. Gave me a headache and I finally had to reset it at that point. It oddly just isn’t all that perfect. At least the stories aren’t too long, the only part that takes the longest is the difficult use of the bola, which will slow you down as you replay each part over. Also if you get stuck because of some issue with the graphics.
Otherwise, it’s not such a bad game, just a few issues that make it a bit of a problem. However, the rest of the game and story are quite nice. As well as the interesting creatures and puzzles you have to solve, working as a team. Nuna and the fox, being both or playing with another and working together is just fun!
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in a story that has you falling in love with a team; two characters who work together to survive and stories that are unlocked during the game of true wisdom, this is one you should really try out! It may appear very easy, cause it looks too cute to be hard, but don’t be fooled! It does have its challenging aspects in the game.
So all I can say is that it’s nothing, but a beautiful and well-designed game. It may have some imperfections with areas of the game you get stuck. Nonetheless, as mentioned before, I’m grateful there is a reset to the last checkpoint. Otherwise, it would be horrible to restart all over to just get back to where you were. There isn’t any blood or gore to view while playing. Therefore, it’s perfect even for those who have a sensitive stomach, and also perfect for those who love an adventure filled with puzzles.
