Indie developer Wishfully Studio’s recently released puzzle gamePlanet of Lanais delivering a gorgeous cinematic adventure for players since its debut on May 23. After having caught the attention of the indie community as early as 2021,Planet of Lanais being praisedfor its visuals and gameplay by critics and players alike. On top of this, it’s included in the Xbox Game Pass, which means those who have it can give the game a go without spending an extra $18 to $20.
WhilePlanet of Lanawas first announced in March 2021 with an expected release in 2022, the developers announced in August that unfortunately, the game would need to be postponed until the next spring. While this decision was met with some disappointment from those who were excited to play the side-scroller, it appears that the delay was worthwhile. Unfortunately, the campaign can be completed in around five to six hours but players will likely be so immersed in the atmosphere, soundtrack, and cinematic sequences that the rather short runtime may be negligible.
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Planet of Lana is a Visual Triumph
Theexpressive art style ofPlanet of Lanais no coincidence and this is largely thanks to the early concept art that was hand-painted. An interview by Game Developer with the lead Game Designer, Adam Stjarnljus, details that maintaining that hand-crafted watercolor look in later stages was very important to the studio. This led the team to find a perfect balance between what 3D assets and sprites they could employ on top of their stunning backdrops.
The story follows a young girl called Lana who is on a sci-fi quest to save her sister from robots. It’s a breathtaking experience, with some calling the game the lovechild of HG Wells' works and Studio Ghibli films. In time, this game could see itself on alist of the best puzzle platformersdue to its intuitive puzzle design that is pensive but incredibly satisfying.Planet of Lanaretains typical puzzle platforming elements like moving objects out of the way, pressing buttons at the right time, and bypassing enemies but is also unique because it implements a second controllable player in Lana’s cat-like companion, Mui.
While all thirteen chapters ofPlanet of Lanathirteen are astonishing, the landscape is most admirable when Lana finds herself amongst the greenery of places such as the first Secret Shrine and The Highlands.The Studio Ghibli-esque features of the gameare on full display in these scenes whereas the more harrowing bits, such as Chapter Twelve “The End of the Road”, truly emphasize the size of the foreign planet and how small Lana truly is. Perhaps there is something to be learned along the way as well as players navigate the ever-changing terrain of a fallen world that once represented the harmony between humans and nature.
Overall, while many highly anticipated games have been released this year, such as Nintendo’sThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Wishfully Studio has certainly cemented its newest story-rich game as a contender for best visuals. WithThe Game Awards 2023 set to happen in December,Planet of Lanacould very well be one of the nominees to look forward to if its Top Critic Average of 82% is anything to go off. In the meantime, players can continue to explore the foreign planet and use their wits to outsmart the strange creatures and robots that dwell there.
Planet of Lanais out now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
