Never Alone Hands Down an Old Story to a New Generation

It's hard for cultures and families to keep their oldest and most treasured tales relevant over generations. A story told from elders to children might lose detail, movies might grow dated, paintings may deteriorate, or songs could become passe. Certain forms of art, however – like games – can transcend time and even cultural groups; you don't have to be Japanese, American, or Italian to appreciate the timeless Super Mario Bros. And so Upper One Games and E-Line Media are collaborating on Never Alone, a project that will tell the story of “kunuuksaayuka,” a tale passed among the Inupiat people for well over a century.

Passed to the developers from 86-year old Minnie Gray, who in turn learned it from her late father Robert Cleveland, Never Alone focuses on a young girl named Nuna and an arctic fox aiding her on her adventure. During a particularly oppressive winter, Nuna and her four-legged compatriot must depend on each other and brave the elements to survive. Their journey plays out over the course of an eight-stage puzzle platformer that can be tackled cooperatively or by switching between the characters a la The Lost Vikings, as the fox can quickly scale up the sides of cliffs that Nuna can't reach or knock loose structures to create climbable platforms.

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