Introduction
The cosmos holds an endless fascination, a tapestry woven with the threads of unexplored worlds, perilous survival, and the tantalizing promise of discovering the utterly unknown. Gaming has consistently tapped into this primal urge, offering virtual voyages to fantastical realms where danger and discovery walk hand-in-hand. Revenge of the Savage Planet wholeheartedly embraces these themes, but with a significant, refreshing twist: it injects a potent dose of absurd humor into the heart of its interplanetary exploration.
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a captivating first-person adventure that casts you as an employee of Kindred Aerospace, the “fourth best interstellar exploration company.” Your mission, should you choose (or rather, are forced) to accept it, is to catalogue the alien flora and fauna of AR-Y 26, a planet seemingly devoid of intelligent life and perfectly ripe for colonization. Of course, things are rarely what they seem, and AR-Y 26 proves to be anything but uninhabited, and vastly more dangerous than the glossy Kindred Aerospace brochures would suggest.
What distinguishes Revenge of the Savage Planet from its peers is its expertly balanced blend of exploration, crafting, combat, and laugh-out-loud humor. It masterfully borrows elements from the Metroidvania genre, rewarding players with new abilities and equipment that unlock previously inaccessible areas. Coupled with a robust crafting system that keeps you constantly scavenging for resources, the game offers a consistently engaging loop of discovery and progression. While it might suffer from a few minor shortcomings, the overall experience is one that’s both rewarding and thoroughly entertaining.
A World Worth Exploring
The planet AR-Y 26 is the star of the show, a vibrant and bizarre world bursting with personality. It’s a planet sculpted by alien forces, showcasing a breathtaking diversity of biomes, each teeming with unique flora, fauna, and environmental hazards. From the lush, fungal-infested forests to the icy, cavernous depths and the volcanic, lava-ridden landscapes, the environmental variety is staggering. The level designers deserve high praise for creating a world that is as visually stunning as it is engaging to explore.
The Metroidvania elements are seamlessly integrated into the game’s design. As you progress, you’ll unlock new abilities, such as a grappling hook, a jetpack, and the capacity to withstand extreme temperatures. These abilities aren’t just about enabling you to reach new areas; they fundamentally alter how you traverse the environment and interact with its inhabitants. Discovering a hidden cavern or unlocking a shortcut that connects two previously disparate zones is incredibly satisfying, fostering a constant sense of progression and reward. The game constantly motivates you to revisit familiar locations with your newly acquired powers, uncovering secrets you initially overlooked.
The feeling of discovery is palpable. Each new creature you encounter, each hidden cave you unearth, adds to the sense of wonder and adventure. The game does a fantastic job of scattering collectibles and hidden areas throughout the world, encouraging players to deviate from the main path and thoroughly explore every nook and cranny.
Laughter in the Face of Peril
Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t just about surviving on an alien planet; it’s about doing so with a smile, or at least a wry chuckle. The game’s humor is one of its strongest assets, permeating every aspect of the experience, from the dialogue to the environmental details to the very premise itself. The game avoids taking itself too seriously. It embraces a lighthearted and often absurd tone that makes even the most perilous situations feel manageable, and undeniably funny.
The game is peppered with humorous dialogue, witty observations, and absurd situations. The protagonist’s internal monologues, delivered with a sarcastic wit, offer a constant stream of comedic commentary on the absurdities of corporate life and the dangers of interplanetary exploration.
A huge part of the humor comes from Kindred Aerospace, your hilariously inept corporate sponsor. Their in-game advertisements, displayed on holographic screens scattered throughout the environment, are a masterclass in corporate satire. They tout the benefits of their products with a level of hyperbolic enthusiasm that is both ridiculous and strangely endearing.
The game masterfully blends environmental storytelling with humor. You might stumble upon a skeleton clutching a coffee mug, a discarded advertisement for a “life-saving” product that clearly failed to save its user, or a graffiti tag offering a sarcastic commentary on the planet’s hostile environment. These small details add a layer of depth and humor to the world, making it feel more alive and believable. While some jokes might not land for everyone, the sheer volume of humor ensures that there’s always something to make you laugh.
Crafting Your Survival
Survival in Revenge of the Savage Planet hinges on your ability to scavenge resources and craft new tools, upgrades, and consumables. The crafting system is intuitive and rewarding, providing a constant sense of progression as you unlock new recipes and improve your existing gear.
The crafting process is relatively simple. You collect resources by exploring the environment, defeating enemies, and scanning alien flora and fauna. These resources can then be used to craft a wide variety of items, from health potions and stamina boosters to new weapons and equipment upgrades.
Upgrades are particularly important for surviving on AR-Y 26. You can upgrade your jetpack to fly higher and farther, improve your grapple to reach more distant targets, and enhance your weapons to deal more damage. These upgrades not only make you more powerful but also allow you to access new areas and overcome previously insurmountable challenges.
The balance between resource gathering and crafting is well-executed. The game provides a steady stream of resources without feeling overly grindy. Finding a rare resource to craft that final upgrade is a rewarding experience. It also avoids becoming overly tedious.
Combat and Carnivorous Critters
The combat in Revenge of the Savage Planet is fast-paced, strategic, and surprisingly challenging. You’ll have access to a variety of weapons and abilities to fend off the planet’s hostile inhabitants.
Your primary weapon is a versatile blaster that can be upgraded with different ammo types, such as explosive rounds and shock rounds. You’ll also gain access to other tools, such as a grappling hook that can be used to pull enemies towards you or to launch yourself into the air.
The enemies in Revenge of the Savage Planet are diverse and often bizarre. You’ll encounter everything from swarms of aggressive bugs to hulking, armored beasts. Each enemy type has its own unique attack patterns and weaknesses. The combat requires you to think strategically and use your abilities to your advantage.
While the standard enemies can be challenging, the boss encounters are particularly memorable. These battles often require you to exploit the boss’s weaknesses and utilize your environment to survive.
Addressing the Asteroid Sized Issues
While Revenge of the Savage Planet offers a compelling experience, it’s not without its flaws. Some players might find certain sections repetitive, particularly in the early game when your movement options are limited. Minor bugs can occasionally crop up, although these are generally not game-breaking. Some might consider the story light but serves the humourous nature of the gameplay.
It’s important to note that these shortcomings are relatively minor and don’t significantly detract from the overall experience. The engaging exploration, humorous presentation, and satisfying crafting system more than compensate for any minor issues.
A Cosmic Conclusion
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a delightful and memorable experience. Its engaging exploration, humorous presentation, satisfying crafting system, and unique blend of mechanics make it a game that’s easy to recommend. Despite some minor shortcomings, the game offers a rewarding and entertaining journey to a vibrant and bizarre alien world.
This game is particularly well-suited for fans of Metroidvanias, exploration games, and humorous sci-fi adventures. If you’re looking for a game that’s both challenging and funny, Revenge of the Savage Planet is definitely worth checking out. If you love games like Metroid Prime or even elements of No Man’s Sky then this will certainly satiate that craving.
So, should you embark on this hilarious and deadly cosmic adventure? Absolutely. Revenge of the Savage Planet is a must-play for anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable gaming experience. You’ll laugh, you’ll explore, and you might just survive long enough to get your revenge on that savage planet. It will certainly give you a new outlook on the horrors of the corporate machine and makes that long commute all the more worthwhile.
