ALASKA Demo

The main reason someone might be considering Alaska as a new home is isolation, because it’s the perfect place to go to if you want to be on your own most of the time and not worry about crowded streets. However, this also has quite a few drawbacks, not to mention the fact that you really have to be in tune with nature in order to survive and avoid nasty animals or terrible weather conditions.

ALASKA is a mystery game that puts you in the role of a man living a pretty average life in a secluded town somewhere in Alaska. Most of his time is spent bonding with the few people living in the town, as well as making sure he has enough resources to make it through the winter. However, things get weird when a body is found, and it would appear that you take the role of the investigator.

The mystery does not feature too many original ideas, but the fact that the crime takes place in such an isolated place makes things a lot more exciting. The game brings a few new ideas to the table in the gameplay department, such as a unique way to show you the map and your objectives. Granted, this is still a very early demo version, so the mechanics are far from polished.

The puzzles require you to explore the map and move around in order to talk to people, uncover clues and pick up a few objects every now and again. You can also make use of a few skills along the way, including fishing, repairing and wood chopping, each one of which allows you to help your neighbors and sometimes uncover valuable clues. It is even possible to ice skate around frozen lakes.

Lastly, the graphics are not particularly pretty, especially since this is an indie production with a very small development team, but they are not ugly either. Some of the landscapes are quite dreamy, in fact, since they can create a cozy atmosphere. The controls are simple and to the point, even if you might have to use trial and error to find some of the hotkeys.

In the end, ALASKA has the right idea in terms of gameplay and story, but it still needs a lot more work in order for this to become a proper adventure game. Hence, you can show your support and help with the development process by participating in the game’s Kickstarter campaign.