A Silly Sequel with Stellar Co-op
Way back in 2020 (and seriously, that in itself only feels like about five minutes ago) I had the good fortune to review a little game called Journey to the Savage Planet. It’s fair to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now, as is so often the case when something works, there is a sequel to play. This time around it goes by the imaginative name of Revenge of the Savage Planet, put together by Raccoon Logic Studios.
Revenge of the Savage Planet brings a wealth of new mechanics to the table, as well as a whole new viewpoint. So, can lightning strike twice? Or, more to the point, can a sequel be as good as the source material? Let’s blast off and find out.
Now, the thing about Journey to the Savage Planet, and indeed with this one, is that they are a bit silly. No, scratch that, they are unashamedly silly, and luckily Revenge of the Savage Planet carries this on. There is also a healthy dose of satire running through the narrative here, giving us a definite “big business is bad, dude!” vibe to proceedings.
Stranded and Scrappy: Setting the Stage for Survival
Anyways, our employer in the first game, Atlas Kindred Aerospace has been bought out by Atla Interglobal, a gigantic mega corporation, and we have been sent exploring once again. However, when we arrive at our destination, we are told that we have been fired – tough luck, basically! With no backup or resources, it is left to us to survive on our wits alone.
From there, gathering up some basic tools, will let us expand our base of operations, and explore multiple planets to boot. What could possibly go wrong?
Third-Person Transformation
Well, some examples of things that could go wrong are found in the presentation of the game, sadly. During my time with Revenge of the Savage Planet I’ve been stuck in plants (literally, stuck and couldn’t move), and I’ve had enemies stuck in solid rock, even though they have been able to shoot me (that was mildly irritating). Thankfully, aside from a few issues, this is a game that holds up well.
Alongside that, the change in perspective from first person in the original to third person here, works very well, whilst the animation of our character is amusing to say the least, with a very exaggerated way of running or wading through water that adds a ton of personality. And then, the animals, and indeed the whole biomes of the worlds that we explore are well up to standard, and look brilliant; from the lush jungles to the frozen wastes and poison gas filled caverns. There is no denying, Revenge of the Savage Planet’s overall design is of an extremely high standard, with that also running into the gear we find works, though to the cannon we unlock.
The sound is also very good, with some sterling voice over work from the cast. There’s a robot drone who is very dry and relentlessly cheerful, and every sound seems to have a place. In fact, animals make a different noise depending on their mood (shooting them will alter their disposition quite quickly!) and the battle music, which seems to pop every couple of minutes, is never too intrusive.
Whips, Stomps, and Goo Guns
So, how is the gameplay? Well, it feels pretty familiar if you have played the first game, even with the shift in perspective, and for the first few hours it is all business as usual. After this, well, there are a whole heap of new things to try out!
First up is the whip, that can be a grappling hook, as well as a weapon, right? Well, this time it can also be used as a lasso, enabling the opportunity to capture various animals dotted around the planets; these can then be researched to help get new upgrades. Some creatures can be captured straight off the bat, like the annoying flies that infest the place, but bigger ones need to be stunned first. This is done by shooting their weak spot; something which is found by scanning them. Of course, hitting a tiny spot when the enemy is bearing down on you is quite the trick!
In Revenge of the Savage Planet, there are other new tricks up our sleeves, such as rocket assisted stomp attacks (great for cracking enemy armour, as well as broken floors), rail grinds and a gun that shoots various liquids. Clearly someone at Raccoon Logic is a fan of Powerwash Simulator, as the amount of things I’ve had to wash down in this is pretty high! Still pretty satisfying though…
Co-op Chaos: Double the Trouble, Double the Fun
We can also fire goo, lava, another weird goo that conducts electricity and is used to solve problems and so on. All these tricks and more will need to be utilised in order to fully explore the worlds we find ourselves on. With a nice Metroidvania twist, stuff that is discovered on later worlds will open up new areas on the earlier ones, and so revisiting areas can provide access to new, exciting gear. The gameplay loop is pretty compelling, and the story does keep you goin, as you attempt to get your revenge.
The best thing about Revenge of the Savage Planet, however, is not just the way that the worlds are presented, but that you can enjoy them with a friend, either in couch co-op or in online multiplayer. Both ways work really well (just be sure you are showing online if you wish to play with a co-op partner), and yes, you can slap, kick and shoot your partner if they are annoying you! You can also revive them if you feel merciful. Obviously, having two sets of guns and goo, especially in the big boss fights makes things a lot easier, and the net code works really well.
A Worthy and Hilarious Sequel
In conclusion, while there are few rough edges, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a worthy successor to the previous game, especially if you have a buddy to take along for the ride. The levels of fun are high enough to go near off the scale, and as long as you don’t look too hard at the bugs, will have a great time in an alien paradise.
Would I lie to you?
Important Links
Revenge of the Savage Planet Launches – Xbox, Game Pass, PlayStation, PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/revenge-of-the-savage-planet-launches/
Fired and Furious: Revenge of the Savage Planet Offers Co-op, Critters, and Corporate Criticism – https://www.thexboxhub.com/fired-and-furious-revenge-of-the-savage-planet-offers-co-op-critters-and-corporate-criticism/
Download Revenge of the Savage Planet on Xbox (and Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/revenge-of-the-savage-planet-standard-edition/9P82XBHH518V/0010
Or take home the Cosmic Hoarder Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/revenge-of-the-savage-planet-cosmic-hoarder-edition/9PJ9C97XT8GL/0010/9PG4K3FGF9G5
