This was a very anticipated game for me ever since I saw it at E3 a few years ago and it didn't disappoint!
PLANET OF LANA is an incredibly brilliant game in terms of art direction, music/score, and story.
The art and score blew me away right from the very first trailer I saw. The watercolor paint art style and the ethereal but also sci-fi feeling score is just so unique. Also, some of the music that you hear later in the game is just absolutely BEAUTIFUL, some of the best video game music I've heard in
a while!
The story is very simple as are many games of this genre, but it definitely captures you for the full runtime of the game. From the sheer sense of wonder with how big the world is and the events occurring around you, the affection you feel for your companion, and the sense of horror in later sections of the game. It's breathtaking, horrifying, and heartbreaking throughout and I was really blown away.
I did encounter some frustration with the gameplay here and there. I often found that platforming in general but specifically jumping from one ledge to another, could be very frustrating at times. Some ledges have a few more "inches" of invisible hitbox that aren't represented visually. So I would often find myself jumping too early, then falling to my death or onto whatever was below.
Admittedly, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but a few puzzles felt quite obtuse and confusing. I ended up looking up a walkthrough video about 3 times throughout which is unfortunate.
Overall, this game is brilliant. PLANET OF LANA is not perfect but for me, it absolutely makes up for its faults in terms of story, art, and score. At times, it definitely wears its inspiration from games that defined the genre, such as INSIDE (2016), on its sleeve. However, it also goes above and beyond elevating the gameplay with in-depth puzzles and stealth mechanics. This game is a worthwhile experience for anyone that is a fan of incredible art direction, subtle storytelling, or just a supporter of fantastic indie experiences in general.
PLANET OF LANA is an incredibly brilliant game in terms of art direction, music/score, and story.
The art and score blew me away right from the very first trailer I saw. The watercolor paint art style and the ethereal but also sci-fi feeling score is just so unique. Also, some of the music that you hear later in the game is just absolutely BEAUTIFUL, some of the best video game music I've heard in
a while!
The story is very simple as are many games of this genre, but it definitely captures you for the full runtime of the game. From the sheer sense of wonder with how big the world is and the events occurring around you, the affection you feel for your companion, and the sense of horror in later sections of the game. It's breathtaking, horrifying, and heartbreaking throughout and I was really blown away.
I did encounter some frustration with the gameplay here and there. I often found that platforming in general but specifically jumping from one ledge to another, could be very frustrating at times. Some ledges have a few more "inches" of invisible hitbox that aren't represented visually. So I would often find myself jumping too early, then falling to my death or onto whatever was below.
Admittedly, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but a few puzzles felt quite obtuse and confusing. I ended up looking up a walkthrough video about 3 times throughout which is unfortunate.
Overall, this game is brilliant. PLANET OF LANA is not perfect but for me, it absolutely makes up for its faults in terms of story, art, and score. At times, it definitely wears its inspiration from games that defined the genre, such as INSIDE (2016), on its sleeve. However, it also goes above and beyond elevating the gameplay with in-depth puzzles and stealth mechanics. This game is a worthwhile experience for anyone that is a fan of incredible art direction, subtle storytelling, or just a supporter of fantastic indie experiences in general.