Summary
While, We Never Yield, may not entirely surpass its predecessor, it certainly carves out its own unique identity. Its focus on parkour, coupled with rich narrative and stunning visual improvements, makes it a worthy addition to the Aerial_Knight series for the price, but the game definitely isn't better in gameplay and stability than the first game in the series, Never Yield.
Developer – Aerial_Knight, BetaJester
Publisher – Headup
Platforms – PS4/5 ,Xbox One , Xbox Series S|X, PC (Reviewed)
Review copy given by Publisher
Usually, when a sequel for a game comes out, it does better than the prequel, but when it comes to Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield, it’s hard to say that it is a successor to its predecessor.
We Never Yield serves as the prequel to Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield, which hit the scene in 2021. At that time, auto-runners enjoyed a wave of popularity, with iconic titles like “Bit.Trip Runner” leading the genre since its release in 2010.
The game delves into the compelling tale of two brothers, former kings, who were dethroned as children. Their journey to reclaim their kingdom and rescue their people is fraught with challenges and personal growth. Returning to their homeland, they must set aside their differences and unite against the evils that have overtaken their realm. Through this perilous journey, they uncover hidden truths about their past, forging a deeper bond and understanding along the way.
When you think of Auto-Runners, Auto-runners typically evoke thoughts of two primary elements:
- Parkour with ducking and jumping movements
- Rhythm-based gameplay
While “We Never Yield” emphasizes the parkour aspect more than, rhythm gaming, it excels remarkably in this area. The integration of parkour with the narrative and level design is a standout feature. Each sequence is meticulously crafted to mirror the tension and urgency. From sprinting through neon-lit alleyways to scaling futuristic skyscrapers, the environments challenge the parkour mechanics to their limits, creating heart-pounding action and breathtaking escapes. Dynamic camera angles and cinematic presentations amplify these sequences, marking a significant upgrade from the original, Never Yield. The graphic improvements are strikingly better, showcasing a remarkable evolution in visual quality.
While a major visual improvement, the game takes ten steps back from its predecessor, when it comes to gameplay and stability. The game’s experience is currently hindered by several significant bugs and performance problems. When the game’s Steam page mentions “Partial Controller Support”, it really means partial, playing with a controller (and even on the Steam deck) the game feels, a bit clunky, and if it was only meant for a traditional keyboard and mouse type of control. Which for a game where you control two characters, it seems a little strange to feel in such a way. Playing with a selection of different wireless and wired controllers, the game didn’t actually know how to properly display the buttons of said controller be it a Playstation, Xbox, or other controller.
One of the game’s other annoyances or steps back is its collision detection, which seems to have gotten worse, I’m not sure however if the sequel is just tight on the timing of button presses and gives less margin for bad timing, or if the games hitbox’s are just worse, but something has changed.
While, We Never Yield, may not entirely surpass its predecessor, it certainly carves out its own unique identity. Its focus on parkour, coupled with rich narrative and stunning visual improvements, makes it a worthy addition to the Aerial_Knight series for the price, but the game definitely isn’t better in gameplay and stability than the first game in the series, Never Yield.
