If you happen to’re searching for a fast and beautiful sport, one you possibly can polish off in a few relaxed afternoons, Planet of Lana matches the invoice. Beforehand an Xbox console unique, it is come to PlayStation now, and can converse to anybody who loved the likes of Limbo or Inside.
It is in the identical vein, with a small and powerless protagonist whom you should information by means of a robotic invasion of her serene residence world. Teaming up with a cute native critter, you will sneak previous robots and different nasties within the hopes of saving your family and friends.
With a fantastic painterly artwork model, the principle strengths of Planet of Lana are within the visible and soundtrack departments, which each excel. Its vistas are beautiful at factors, though its often ponderous insta-kill stealth mechanics can’t fairly match that degree. The sport additionally depends surprisingly closely on its barely pedestrian platforming, with a motion set that favours animation constancy over fluidity to sometimes have you ever lacking jumps that you simply actually suppose you bought proper.
There are frequent puzzles to offer the actual meat of the gameplay, although, as you direct your little companion to distract foes and offer you openings to maneuver earlier than determining new paths — the basic overlap between stealth and puzzle-solving is clear right here. So, whereas its puzzles are prosaic sufficient and its stealth fairly simplistic, given it solely lasts for a couple of hours, neither spoils the get together.
It is the landscapes, outsized encounters, and a few beautiful background melodies that can stick with you, although. Planet of Lana takes you thru breezy mountain meadows to arid deserts, with dank caves and metallic constructions, too, every with its personal color palette and soundscape. These assist it to really feel like a very substantial journey, for all that its runtime is modest (though there are some decently-buried secrets and techniques to search out for the keener followers).
It may not find yourself matching the affect of Limbo or the perfectly-judged arc of Inside, however Planet of Lana is a welcome addition to the side-scroller style on PlayStation regardless. It appears to be like superb, sounds nice, and tells a pleasant succinct story.