Planet of Lana on PC
Hand-drawn animations have comparatively grow to be a factor of the previous to include extra lifelike options into the fashionable gaming world. But, a number of builders attempt to maintain this artwork fashion alive, including a extra private contact to their storylines. Planet of Lana is an ideal instance of this feat, because it brings hand-painted scenes to life in an immersive sci-fi world.
It’s been some time since a platformer captured my consideration, however Planet of Lana instantly caught my eye with its picturesque surroundings. In a approach, it felt like I used to be controlling a personality in an ever-changing portray that includes its personal units of challenges that enticed me to wish to play extra. The epic journey additionally furthers the movie-like really feel of your entire narrative, taking you on an enthralling journey from begin to end.
On the story’s starting, you’ll be launched to one of many three principal ideas: nature, with the 2 others being machines and people. You’ll see how Lana, the primary protagonist, and people round her use the surroundings to determine a small settlement the place everybody works collectively to outlive. However, simply as she meets up together with her sibling within the wilderness, her sister will get taken away by a fearsome mechanic beast, alongside the villagers.
Lana manages to flee the machine’s clutches, leaving the younger lady alone in an enormous world filled with lethal enemies. Fortuitously, she encounters a cat-like creature, Mui, to assist her together with her quest to avoid wasting humanity. So far as companions go in video video games, Planet of Lana has the most effective I’ve seen, contemplating the animal’s big selection of talents.
![Lana, Mui, and the machine in Planet of Lana](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Image02_seqaef_c_scalew_24251.jpg?resize=1000%2C563)
Gamers can direct the cat to work together with objects, go to sure areas, and even manipulate different critters to maneuver. Oh, and you’ll pet Mui anytime you need, as an cute bonus. However, future gamers ought to use the beneficial controller gameplay to make it simpler to manage.
Collectively, Lana and Mui make for a superb crew, which is useful for the quite a few puzzles. Whereas these challenges can typically be tedious in different video games, Planet of Lana’s puzzles someway at all times really feel totally different from the final. Every time I felt assured in my fixing expertise, I used to be perplexed by the following riddle, however by no means sufficient to make me wish to shut out the sport in frustration.
For instance, a number of puzzles showcase a collection of musical notes so that you can rearrange within the appropriate order, utilizing historic hieroglyphics as a coding system. One other conundrum gamers will come throughout is the problem of water, the place Mui, in true cat nature, will refuse to go throughout the sort of surroundings. Subsequently, not solely will it’s a must to discover a technique to make it to level A to B with Lana, however you’ll additionally want to make sure that your companion can safely journey alongside you.
In case you are a comfortable gamer, Planet of Lana shall be proper up your alley, on condition that there isn’t essentially any fight. Except for the platformer and puzzle facet, it’s a stealth sport, permitting you to cover in tall blades of grass every time a machine is close by. The most effective method I discovered is to attend and observe the enemy’s sample, then devise a plan to keep away from their detection.
Though Planet of Lana is primarily a calming sport, you may count on a number of horror-like parts, particularly when the musical rating has a blood-curdling eerie sound. However then, it turns into much more terrifying when the machines chase you at an incredible pace, fastening the tempo of the cinematic soundtrack.
When issues calm down, the piano’s peaceable melody will put you relaxed to associate with the varied biomes you’ll discover. I appreciated the totally different landscapes of every stage, from a sea of darkness in caves to the sandy storms of the deserts to the greenery of forests; it makes you’re feeling as if you’re traversing an entire planet. Much more so, these areas introduce new challenges to finish by way of their terrain, during which you will need to transcend your earlier methods.
![Exploring the lands of Planet of Lana](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image14.jpg?resize=1000%2C563)
Whereas touring to those many locations, gamers will proceed progressing by way of the mysterious storyline to find the connection between nature, machines, and people. It could additionally typically be heartbreaking to look at Lana undergo the journey alone at such a younger age, primarily when she shouts out for her sister in a number of scenes.
Aside from the unhappy moments, you may nonetheless see a way of naivety from Lana as she continues to search out pleasure within the little issues. Particularly, when she laughs with Mui and learns to have enjoyable all through her expeditions, regardless of her lonely circumstances. There are a number of refined occurrences I admired as effectively, like when Lana begins whispering throughout sneaky missions or Mui meowing in disappointment every time I fell to my dying.
Even when there aren’t many phrases exchanged within the sport, it someway says a lot by way of the character interactions and mesmerizing surroundings. By the tip, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the person versus machine ideology, with a satisfying conclusion that can make all of it value it.
So, if you happen to’ve been on the lookout for one other platformer like Limbo, I extremely advocate selecting up this gem and getting misplaced in its enchanting world for a number of hours. Alternatively, those that love the brand new Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom could get pleasure from its puzzle and exploration gameplay, that are extremely related as compared.
Studio Ghibli followers may relish within the art work and storyline of Planet of Lana, on condition that Wishfully co-founder took inspiration from the critically-acclaimed Spirited Away, amongst different movies. At its core, it really does really feel like you’re in an enchanting film, solely this time, you’re the principal character.
![Planet of Lana Critic Review](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Image03_v2_rikqby_c_scalew_21162.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&w=1000)
Reviewer: Kristina Ebanez | Award: Editor’s Selection | Copy offered by Writer.
Execs
- Lovely scenary
- Gripping storyline
- Entertaining puzzles
- Glorious team-based mechanics with a useful companion
Cons
- Occassional bugs right here and there
- No trace system for puzzle newcomers
Launch Date
Might 23, 2023
Developer
Wishfully
Writer
Thunderful Publishing
Consoles
PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X|S