Never Alone: Foxtales

This short narrative addition to the unique adventure game leaves a lot to be desired. It builds upon a traditional Inupiaq tale about two brothers and gives gamers a handful of fun new cooperative puzzles to solve. Though it's made with the same frost-covered magic as the base game, Foxtales is terribly short and, as such, is somewhat disappointing. It sets players against the brutal elements of winter and lets them experience the joy of an Alaskan springtime. The seasonal change gives players the chance to paddle a boat and swim through underwater caves while overcoming geographic obstacles and outsmarting a giant man-eating mouse. As in the original game, there are secret owls that unlock videos featuring interviews with members of the Inupiaq nation; these videos offer further insight into Inupiaq values and folk traditions. Gameplay is very similar to that of Never Alone (minus the bola weapon) but still takes advantage of its unique, cooperative aspect. But as interesting as its puzzles are, and as meaningful as its moral might be, this extra chapter can be completed in roughly an hour. That makes its asking price feel a touch steep -- and unjustifiable. Never Alone: Foxtales could've been a stronger add-on to a great game, but instead it feels like content that should've been included in the original game.