NEVER GIVE UP

DEVELOPER MASSIVE MONSTER, TASSLEFOOT • PRICE $21.50 • RELEASE OUT NOW https://armorgamesstudios.com/games/never-give-up/

Every time I review a platformer, I complain that I’m terrible at platformers. I know many people love them. It’s not that I hate them, it’s just that constantly failing (especially with a review deadline looming) gives me high blood pressure. I first saw Never Give Up at PAX Australia, in 2019, and thought, “Oh great. Looks wonderful, guess I’ll have to settle in.” I wasn’t expecting it to be an innovative experience that (finally) builds in the need to practice in a way which is motivating and effective. This may be the first time I’ve ever felt any good at this genre.

Of course, it’s ironic that there’s a “Give Up” button built in. If you press it, you’re allowed to progress (after being cruelly taunted). This would usually be a platformer-inept reviewer’s dream; being able to see content without needing to master it, yet I (initially) didn’t use the button much at all. Why? You complete (a suspiciously easy) level, then it transforms so you have to complete it again, only with more obstacles and dangers added. So, you’re learning the difficult maneuvers in small increments, then adding more. It’s brilliant.

There are additional challenges, like to unlock (near-impossible to collect) items and a suggested speed to complete levels (um, no). It remains extremely tough, overall. I enjoyed the light story, like being taunted about the same pool of acid 600 times. Perhaps I was actually still pretty bad at this platformer, but the structure was so motivating that I was tricked into feeling good? In fact, I started giving up in the second region of six and I completely gave up at the boss there. (You can’t skip bosses.) But this is still the first time I may actually go back for more.