Part of my job here at Phenixx Gaming, as I see it, is stepping outside of my comfort zone and bringing games to the attention of people who might overlook them. As a result of that, I’m not very experienced in games of the “endless runner” genre, but Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield captured my attention immediately. After seeing a trailer for it during a recent Indie World showcase, I felt the need to give it a try, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Created by Neil “Aerial_Knight” Jones, a game artist based out of Detroit Michigan, Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is an endless runner set in a futuristic/dystopian Detroit. Unlike the attempted “future realism” and xenophobia-focused Detroit: Become Human, Never Yield focuses on a version of Detroit that is cyberpunk in visuals and seems to be under an authoritarian, police state situation.

However, the game doesn’t dwell on that much, nor does it waste time giving you too many expository details. There is no dialogue in Never Yield, and in fact, it tends to save its story for small sections between levels. The game isn’t very long, and if you’re good at it you can knock out Normal difficulty in about an hour and a half or two hours.

After you beat levels on Normal, you can then play them on two harder difficulties. The difference between the difficulties is pretty simple. On normal, you get a slow-down period before you have to input an action or a jump. Wally, your protagonist, can jump, slide, sprint, or flip to get through obstacles. Each of these actions is color-coded, making it easy for you to telegraph what you need to do in order to pass a certain thing.

In that vein, Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is more like a rhythm game, though the music isn’t connected to your actions. You just kind of get a feel for the flow of the levels, and as you listen to the fantastic soundtrack, it becomes a rather engrossing, chill experience. The game was designed both for fans of speed-running and casual players, so there’s something for everyone.

Each level you complete unlocks a costume for Wally that changes how he looks. Additionally, there is a coin in each level that unlocks a bonus level for you to attempt. The bonus levels are difficult but have a really great style to them. The real joy of Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is beating high scores and unlocking things.

This isn’t a game that you just play through once and set it down. In fact, if I had played this before I wrote my Mental Health Awareness Month editorial, I might have included it for the chill factor of it alone. Yes, certain levels can be frustrating, but if you just sit back, relax, and enjoy the rhythm and the soundtrack, it’s kind of meditative.

Overall I would most definitely recommend Never Yield to anyone who likes the genre. However, if you’re looking for a chill game or something that you can play to kill time/beat your high score, I think this works pretty well. With the Switch version being portable, this would be great for a commute to work or a bus ride too.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield was provided by Headup Games for this review.

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Aerial_Knight's Never Yield

$11.99

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Great Music
• Chill Gameplay
• Multiple Difficulty Options
• Colorful Visuals
• Great for Short Bursts or Long Sessions

Cons

• Story is a Little Light/Easily Missed