In a future far, far away—when humanity finally reaches the Moon… Wait, that already happened? So, could Revenge of the Savage Planet really become a reality?
The truth is, we still don’t know what truly awaits us on other planets—beyond atmospheric conditions and data from nearby celestial bodies. And let’s face it: a large part of humanity would love nothing more than to explore uncharted worlds, discovering alien life, flora, and fauna scattered across the universe.
That’s exactly the premise of Revenge of the Savage Planet, the second entry in this colorful, fun, and exploration-driven franchise. Developed by Racoon Logic, the game retains the eccentric humor, stunning alien environments, and light-hearted tone of its predecessor. However, it slightly stumbles when trying to meaningfully evolve the original formula.
After crash-landing on a planet once colonized by humans, your mission is to help rebuild an abandoned scientific outpost—a key step in constructing a ship that will one day take you home. One of the fresh additions this time around is the ability to customize your house/lab’s interior. Players can spend in-game credits to purchase furniture like beds, counters, and even arcade machines.
You start with just a scanning tool, and your first task is to explore and document everything around you. A vast database can be created, covering everything from small plants and scattered mechanical parts to local fauna. When it comes to alien creatures, you’ll need to capture them—Pokémon-style—to analyze them and unlock new suit or weapon abilities.
At its core, Revenge of the Savage Planet sticks to its Metroidvania-inspired roots: explore, gain new tools, and access previously unreachable areas. This loop of curiosity, discovery, and backtracking is deeply satisfying, especially for fans of the genre. New gadgets and movement mechanics add complexity, though some are underutilized or introduced too late to leave a lasting impact.
Combat may feel a bit light for some players. The main weapon is a single pistol with two modes: standard and charged shots. However, a new addition in this sequel is the elemental pistol, which plays a vital role in solving environmental puzzles. For example, you can transfer energy from electrified mushrooms using conductive elements from peculiar local plants.
Each new world introduces a distinct biome, bringing unique flora and challenges. These environmental elements can also be used in combat—some enemies are only vulnerable to water, requiring your water pistol. Others can be burned for additional damage. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and adds a fun twist with every new area. Speaking of water, another new feature is the marine world—players can look forward to an intriguing underwater environment to explore.
The humor returns in full force—absurd, satirical, and completely over-the-top. The game pokes fun at corporate culture, space colonization, and sci-fi tropes. If you enjoyed the chaotic tone and ridiculous in-game ads from the first game, you’ll feel right at home. If not, this sequel won’t change your mind—it just leans in harder. There were definitely some “Omg…” moments along the way.
The narrative plays a secondary role. While there’s a central mystery and a few entertaining twists, the story mostly serves as a backdrop to the game’s true star: exploration.
Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly. Even though it uses Unreal Engine 5, it worked flawlessly on a mid-range PC, with fast loading times—even when teleporting between worlds. During my 12 hours of gameplay so far, I haven’t encountered a single bug—visually or technically.
In summary, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a delightful, colorful, and sometimes hilariously absurd sequel. It’s an interplanetary amusement park for fans of the first game or anyone looking for a lighthearted space adventure. Its strength lies more in its atmosphere and creativity than in groundbreaking gameplay mechanics—and for this title, that’s more than enough.
[Note: Review based on the final PC version of the game, kindly provided by Renaissance PR via PressEngine.]
