As a continuation of the first game in the series, Aerial Knight’s We Never Yield takes the charming art style, music, and runner gameplay to new heights with many more obstacles, some wanted and some not so much.
We Never Yield lives up to its title. It features two playable characters, Wally and Lone. As they embark on a journey to reclaim their kingdoms, they are forced to set aside their differences and unite against a surprising adversary—their own aunt. This compelling narrative, filled with engaging twists and turns, will keep players connected to the characters. Unlike most running games, We Never Yield tells somewhat of a persuasive story through minimal dialogue and voice acting between Wally and Lone. Still, even during the gameplay, we hear the characters interact with each other when one fails to overcome an obstacle.
Gameplay
As with most sequels, new gameplay mechanics are introduced, and with Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield, players are tasked with a thrilling challenge-controlling both Wally and Lone simultaneously to overcome the odds against them. To control Wally, you simply press the face buttons, while controlling Lone is delegated to the 4-way directional pad. This unique gameplay element adds an exciting layer of challenge to the game.
Controlling Wally and Lone could get tricky, especially when playing on the hardest difficulty. For instance, some obstacles required Wally to jump while Lone needed to attack simultaneously. There was an instance in the game in which the inputs for the controller were not accounted for, which caused progress to be halted. This issue, while not frequent, is something players should be aware of. The workaround in the current build is to use the keyboard, which then utilizes WASD keys for Lone and the directional keys for Wally. However, after the level was completed, this input was required again at a future level, and the same issue occurred.
The game also features a Solo mode in which players can control Wally while Lone is still there and go through the same motions as if some were controlling him. During this playthrough, however, Lone was supposed to pull a lever to let the barricades down, but it never happened, causing progress to be halted. The only way around this was to play through controlling both Wally and Lone. Playing with someone beside you makes the gameplay more satisfying, as this game iteration features couch co-op.
The game features three difficulty levels: Normal Mode gives players time to react because of the extreme slowdown feature, Hard Mode shortens the slowdown feature, and Insane Mode removes it. Furthermore, the game adds a new meter system that, once filled, gives players the “Power of Kings,” which allows players to run through anything. Though an excellent addition, it does not make the repetitive gameplay more enjoyable. The only way to make this game enjoyable is to play on Insane Mode and try to score a higher grade through each playthrough.
Outside of co-op and controlling both characters simultaneously, We Never Yield does nothing exciting gameplaywise that was not present in the first game. The game felt more repetitive and mundane than the first iteration. These bugs and glitches that halted progress add frustration that leaves a lot to be desired because the game has charm. There is the desire to see how the story plays out, but because of the bug that caused the characters to clip through the stages and fall endlessly, it may never happen until the game is patched.
The game is a step in the right direction, with the ability to control two characters simultaneously. However, it needs something more interesting than a very mundane power-up ability; the game itself could use more varied power-ups, online leaderboards, or even collectibles along the way.
The game features five episodes, with three levels in between. Each episode has a safe zone, which allows players to control Wally in a confined space and spend points gained through completing levels on clothing for him and Lone and how their weapons look. However, these are merely cosmetics and do not change how the game plays. There is no true idea as to how long the game is because of the bug that can present itself, but the guess would be like that of the first game, which takes 2-3 hours to complete.
Audio
Like the first game, We Never Yield features engaging music. The music sets the tone for the game in a way that puts it on par with some AAA titles. The music also suggests that the developer of this game has an excellent ear for music, which could lead to a game akin to Hi-Fi Rush, which also features great music.
The audio, however, is not without its cons; music aside, environmental sounds are a little wonky. I’m not sure if it is an audio bug, but there is a level that features Wally riding a horse and Lone on a motorbike. While the horse gallops were noticeable sometimes, the bike was non-existent during certain loads. Though this did not detract from the overall gameplay experience, it was evident.
Graphics
There is no noticeable difference between We Never Yield and Never Yield regarding graphical fidelity outside of polish. The game features the same art style as its predecessor. However, there were some visual glitches on the zip line in which the characters would not align themselves properly. The game features a striking visual style characterized by bold colors and a sleek, futuristic aesthetic.
Conclusion
Hopefully, what was experienced with this game during the review period will be patched later, as the story is interesting enough to make me want to complete the game. The gameplay presented here leaves much to be desired, and hopefully, the released version fixes the present issues. Still, outside of those woes, the game itself lacks any compelling gameplay that is to be expected in a sequel. If you played the original version, this one is a worthy follow-up, though sometimes disappointing.
Aerial_Knight's We Never Yield
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