A Hand-Painted Masterpiece?
As a rule, I don’t watch films twice. Nor TV shows. I don’t read books a second time over either, more than content to be one and done with any and all media.
Similar goes for my gaming habits. In fact, over more than 40 years of gaming, I could probably count on one hand the number of games I’ve gone back to after an initial completion. And yes, if you must know, I was playing the original PaRappa the Rapper again the other night. But that game is most definitely an outlier.
So as much as I adored the original Planet of Lana back in 2023, and for as glorious the world building, narrative, visuals and gameplay were, I never felt the urge to play through it again. Watching the credits roll was enough for me.
That’s not to say I’ve not been hyped for the arrival of Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf. It’s been a game that has been hotly anticipated since announcement, if only to see where Wishfully and Thunderful could take the emotion of the tale. Could they really usurp the brilliance of the original?
Well, let’s just say that Planet of Lana II is easily on par with the game that preceded it. And yes, at some points it betters it too. If you’re in the market for a heartfelt puzzle platformer that is supremely clever in what it does, you’ve just found it.
Intertwining Lore: Do You Need to Play the Original First?
With this being a sequel, I’d suspect that the majority of gamers would want to take in the first game prior to a play here. Don’t think of it as essential, but I do feel that jumping in with this one may confuse slightly, especially if you’re one of those who needs to know every last tidbit of lore. Yes, the tales are ‘different’ but there’s enough intertwining moments that will have you calling upon the memory banks for clarity.
Anyways dive in, and you’ll be treated to another masterpiece with Planet of Lana II.
Lana, Mui, and the Clash of Tribes
You take on the role of Lana, a slightly older, slightly wiser, slightly more agile version than before. With your friendly companion Mui alongside you, and family members, friends and foes popping up throughout the tale at various points, the non-spoken narrative (at least not spoken in a language anyone will understand) is a cracker. It builds nicely, pulls you along for the near eight-hour journey, and, aside from a moment roughly two thirds in that drags a little more than it should, is utterly engrossing.
Of course, I ain’t spoiling no story here, for this is one of those you’ll want to enjoy for yourself; you really should go in blind, narrative-speaking. Just let it be known that there’s a clash between nature, tribes, and technology throughout, and that in Planet of Lana II, the twists and turns are on near-blockbuster levels.
Visual Splendour: Hand-Painted Biomes and Immersive Depths
What I can tell you about are the visuals and mechanics that aid in everything that plays out.
Visually, this is a hand-painted stunner. As you traverse various biomes, each feels alive, like nothing else you’ll have played. Detailed but delightfully simple, Planet of Lana II plays with foreground and backgrounds brilliantly, each a considered and vital role in immersion. Playing out (mostly) as a left to right side scroller, with plenty of up-down action too, it’s a joy to watch Lana et al make their way through the land.
Mechanical Precision: Lana’s Agile Traversal and Environmental Puzzles
Lana does so with aplomb. A neat line in walking, running, sliding and jumping is about all you need, along with interaction with levers and the like, unlocking routes and enabling the fairly linear journey to play out. Hardly a foot is ever out of place as you help Lana navigate through the puzzles ahead, each and every action and interaction coming off as planned.
Of course, there are the odd chase sequences and timed elements that may require a couple of attempts, and we’ve found that trial and error arises at various times, but on the whole, mechanically, it excels.
The Mui Connection
It’s here where Mui comes in too. Sent on the way via a combination of thumbstick and bumpers, placement of Mui is key, again interacting with environmental elements to aid Lana. Expect to be found taking control of all manners of foes and friends, from the mechanical to the organic, with the chance to utilise some ink fish a real personal highlight. Again, I don’t want to go giving too much away…
Orchestral Grandeur
The sound is stunning. Aside from the Sim-ish speak that is more intriguing than anything else, it’s the calls from Lana to Mui, and the emotion that is conveyed in them, that really hammer home the partnership these two have. It’s a joy to get Mui to wait, or to follow, all whilst trying to time other specific actions and activities. And when things do go wrong, Planet of Lana II can easily become a tear-jerker, one to pull on the heartstrings.
The best thing about the audio though? The orchestral soundtrack that plays out through. It ramps up the intensity superbly, calming down in certain moments before smashing back with intensity. It’s up there with some of the biggest BAFTA winnings scores for me, and deserves all the praise it should rightfully receive come end of year and awards time.
Planet of Lana II is extremely linear, and pretty easy though, with only really one way of solving any set piece or conundrum. Secrets and collectibles are in place, and at times you may wish to look in a nook or cranny, but none of that is really here nor there. I preferred to focus on the game playing out, at one point refusing to put the controller down until the credits span out. Of course, if you do want to go back in to bear witness to specific chapters again, you can do so.
Brilliant, But Lacking the Wow
So yes, Planet of Lana II is absolutely brilliant. But the question is, can it be slapped with the big 5/5 score? I’d say no.
Granted, there’s not an ounce wrong with it, not a single blemish on a brilliantly put together game. But I don’t feel an urge to head back into it again to mop up any remaining secrets, collectibles or achievements. I cannot lie, for an hour or so midway through, I was beginning to pray for the ending to arrive. There are just a few moments that drag, that could have been shortened.
And it doesn’t quite ‘wow’ as much as the first game either, rarely leaving the jaw dropped as happened all too often the first time around. Don’t get me wrong, I was immersed in Lana’s tale for nearly eight hours, but it does feel like this could easily have been wrapped in six and still we’d have walked away happy.
So, yes, Plant of Lana II is the success we suspected it would be. A brilliantly told tale combines with stunning visuals, cracking gameplay mechanics, intriguing puzzles and a soundtrack to die for. But it lacks wow moments and any sense of difficulty. We’d not have complained if Wishfully had cut a teeny bit of filler in the process, either.
Important Links
Return To A Beautiful Alien World In Planet of Lana II – Now On Game Pass – https://www.thexboxhub.com/return-to-a-beautiful-alien-world-in-planet-of-lana-ii-now-on-game-pass/
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf Continues the Unforgettable Journey on Xbox Game Pass – Release Date Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/planet-of-lana-ii-children-of-the-leaf-continues-the-unforgettable-journey-on-xbox-game-pass-in-2026/
Buy from the Xbox Store (or use Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/planet-of-lana-ii/9pl89b9hcz9w
