Review: Revenge Of The Savage Planet (Xbox) -Op Fun To Game Pass
By You know, I had almost forgotten how much I relished 2020’s Journey to the Savage Planet. Typhoon Studios’ initial venture was a remarkably distinct and vibrant one that compelled you to think constantly as you navigated what was – and remains – an expansive, planet-sized platform-puzzle filled with charming aliens to…well…blast apart and toss around. Naturally.
While the original game encountered some specific challenges – and it did debut to fairly mixed critiques, holding a Metascore of 78 – the main concerns primarily lay within its first-person perspective, which, in my own experience, produced some clunky moments during combat and traversal, that held back the overall experience. It felt like the view of your actions required a slight pullback for comfort, for enhanced spatial awareness, shall we say, and indeed, that adjustment has been made in this sequel.
Revenge of the Savage Planet transitions to a third-person viewpoint, allowing players to dive back into the cosmos for more Grob-inspired fun. This time, you play as a down-on-your-luck explorer, entirely forsaken by a malevolent corporation and left to fend for yourself in the outer expanses. Naturally, giving up isn’t an option, so you’ll need to begin surviving immediately by scanning flora and tech, enhancing your equipment, and discovering various new gadgets, if you plan on returning to your scummy boss for a taste of revenge.
This is all the plot you really need to grasp, whether diving into single-player or fully online/local co-op, and once the action begins, the shift to third-person proves to be a substantial enhancement for the following platforming escapades. You’re swiftly thrown into action, stranded on the first of four worlds, tasked with scanning and using your rudimentary blaster to fend off aliens.
Fortunately, you’re accompanied on this journey by EKO, a hovering droid who guides you on where to go and what you’ll require for your next upgrade, all while delivering a stream of lighthearted banter that isn’t as irritating as it could have been. The game also lets you select a male or female voice for your companion, alongside adjusting the frequency of their comments, should you find it bothersome. Actually, I’ve been quite enjoying EKO’s gentle humor, so I’ll take back that last remark, EKO. Carry on, my little metal buddy.
This may sound like the usual busywork, but Revenge of the Savage Planet is an exceptionally well-crafted experience. It controls seamlessly, the fresh perspective enhances locating items, battling, and exploring stunning alien landscapes significantly, and as a result, this sequel not only advances beyond its predecessor but truly resembles a full reboot. I adore the whip you can gain, which you utilize to capture and collect specimens (who then must endure experimentation, alas). I also appreciate how dousing certain enemies causes them to burst and explode, mainly because it evokes memories of playing Super Mario Sunshine.
While Journey featured a single planet, here you have four wildly diverse ones to discover (with a fifth secret one for those who earn it), and whereas Journey’s combat was cumbersome, here it flows smoothly most of the time, even pesky flying insects (I dislike shooting airborne bugs) are easy to eliminate without resorting to yanking out your hair. Which wouldn’t take long for me anyway, to be honest with you.
Traversal feels far more fluid as well. I won’t spoil the myriad branches of new gear and tools you’ll get to explore – uncovering those elements constitutes at least 67.3% of the enjoyment here – but they’ve created numerous exciting ways to zip around these planets (and beneath the water, once you arrive). You can quickly unlock the ability to negate any fall damage as well, which, paired with those oversized, whimsical strides that your avatar takes, makes moving around a breeze. It makes exploration incredibly enjoyable and thrilling, and when another player joins the fray, serious laughter ensues. In fact, playing split-screen with my son has provided some of the greatest co-op fun we’ve savored in a while.
In this aspect, it helps that the game is such a vibrant, expansive experience that revels in its eccentricity. It bears a resemblance to High On Life (which I couldn’t enjoy due to its dreadful humor) in its presentation, and it also reminds me of that game in its overall design, featuring a constant, talkative sidekick. It also brings to mind No Man’s Sky for its slick resource-gathering and scanning mechanics. With a swift press down on the D-pad, everything important is highlighted as a grid covers the area, allowing you to make your way to snag anything you desire. It’s best to grab everything.
Apart from the light-hearted, chaotic combat, and the continual gathering of loot/resources to 3D print various gear, you can also engage in enhancing your base by adding furniture and devices to make it feel more homey. I honestly couldn’t care less about this home improvement aspect, though, so I appreciate that I can largely ignore it while still relishing the rest of the game immensely. There are also numerous outfits to obtain for dressing up your avatar, which is nice because the clothing options look fantastic.
Beyond this, there’s an enjoyable amount of variation in the planets you’ll encounter, with shifts between conditions, traversal methods, and enemy types ensuring an adventure that maintains its intrigue right to the conclusion. As I mentioned, the narrative isn’t the focal point; it’s all about indulging in the moment, grabbing a companion, and spending your time jumping and jetting, swinging and swimming, diving and dismantling, as you upgrade and explore to your heart’s content. The worlds are visually stunning, the adversaries are intricately designed, and there’s tremendous variety in your tactics for dealing with them. What’s not to adore about diving into that with a friend beside you?
So yes, while not an enormous AAA titan, Revenge of the Savage Planet represents yet another delightful entry in Xbox Game Pass. It feels as if we’re enjoying something of a hot streak lately with Game Pass releases, and Typhoon Studios has undoubtedly kept that streak alive with this title. I finished Journey to the Savage Planet believing there was so much more potential in that game, and this sequel excellently fulfills that promise. It’s a clever, amusing, vibrant, and gratifying game to invest time in, and certainly worth your attention. Now, when’s the next one? Beyond the Savage Planet, perhaps?
Conclusion
Revenge of the Planet effectively shifts the franchise to a third-person viewpoint, delivering a sequel that is more refined and confident overall. This is a vibrant, intelligent, and imaginative adventure at every turn – one that is significantly enhanced when experienced in co-op – offering you a captivating world brimming with whimsical creatures, outrageous weapons, and a plethora of opportunities for exploration. Join for the co-op, stay for the Grob, as we always say.