Journey to the Savage Planet review: Rewarding exploration and frustrating combat

Journey to the Savage Planet fungi Source: Windows Central

Journey to the Savage Planet is Typhoon Studios' first project to release since its founding a few years agone, but its developers are far from inexperienced. The studio is comprised of veteran industry developers that clearly put their combined decades of cognition to skillful use. Journeying to the Vicious Planet is like one part No Homo'due south Sky, one part Outer Wilds, and i part The Outer Worlds while all the same managing to be its own thing.

In that location's a lot to love in this small package, and though it isn't perfect, I've found myself going back to it every night to explore, leaving no stone unturned and no corner unmapped.

At a glance

Journey to the Savage Planet box art

Journeying to the Savage Planet

Bottom line: Journeying to the Savage Planet is full of breathtaking conflicting environments that y'all're encouraged to explore. I loved solving all of its puzzles and scanning each new flora and animal I came across, but the shooting mechanics and world-building could use some more work.

The Practiced

Variety of colorful biomes
Exploration is rewarded
Encourages clever apply of items
Sense of sense of humor

The Bad

Abrupt ending
Hints of interesting world-edifice that never pays off
Shooting feels clumsy

Journey to the Cruel Planet What I like

Journey to the Savage Planet Enigmatic Spire Source: Windows Central

Journey to the Savage Planet, at its core, is about exploration. Finding a new dwelling for humanity. To do so, you'll need to browse just nigh every flora and fauna you lot come across — of which I wish there were more. Though they're vastly different games, information technology reminded me a little of No Man's Sky in that regard. Players are thrust into an unknown earth with their only direction beingness to explore. That's a big part of what makes it so fun. You have the leisure of exploring at your own pace and discovering secrets on your own without distractions.

The visuals are too a standout aspect of this game. Everything is vibrant, vivid and full of life — even the dead things. The planet is oozing with color. It's a cracking juxtaposition that makes an otherwise hostile planet feel welcoming.

I've found myself going back to information technology every nighttime to explore.

When I said Journey to the Savage Planet had a chip of The Outer Worlds in information technology, that's because it also has this backer corporation sending you out on your journey. That in and of itself doesn't mean much — capitalism is everywhere, after all — but the way the company presents itself; the humor that'due south used and how it refers to its employees, that's what made it feel like The Outer Worlds. Cipher as blatant, just the similarities are there.

All in all information technology took me about 8-hours to complete the campaign, and I'm now 11-hours in trying to collect everything. It's non especially long, just that serves to its benefit. It has a clear focus without forcing you lot on 1 path. It encourages exploration while still nudging you toward the finish line. Aside from the ending, the pacing was exactly as it should be.

Considering I played using a pre-release code provided by the publisher, I didn't become a take a chance to see how its co-op gameplay fared. From what I can tell, in that location aren't whatever drastic changes between it and solo play. Gainsay and puzzle solving should exist easier, merely I'm not sure what systems are in place for players to communicate or collaborate with ane another, like possibly pinging a location or trading materials.

Journeying to the Savage Planet What I don't like

Journey to the Savage Planet Festering Chasm Source: Windows Central

Throughout the entirety of my playthrough I dreaded having to fight any enemies. The shooting in Journeying to the Savage Planet feels impuissant at best, completely ineffectual at worst. Many enemies move too quickly for yous to ever become a good shot in, especially since you tin can't aim down the sights. I tin can't begin to count the times I emptied a prune of x bullets just for maybe 1 of them to striking the desired target. Try shooting the unarmored flailing tail section of a moving beast that jumps all over the place. It's non easy and it'due south not fun, it's frustrating.

Equally happy every bit I was to defeat the terminal boss, which yous can appropriately call a bullet sponge of sorts (bullet glob of slime?), I also felt that the ending was too sharp. Right when the credits began to curlicue I sabbatum there for a few seconds thinking it was some sort of joke and that these were only false credits that would lead into another section of the game. But no. That was it. In that location are hints of some very cool globe building that never really pays off. If you want answers, don't expect to go them easily. What niggling you practice learn comes from a handful of expidition letters and video logs you can unlock. It's another tool to encourage exploration, but it made my journey feel a chip pointless.

Should y'all buy Journey to the Savage Planet?

Journey to the Savage Planet Towering Crystals Source: Windows Central

If Journeying to the Cruel Planet looks like something you lot'd be interested in judging by its trailers, I'd encourage you to selection information technology upward. Those who remain on the argue won't find annihilation groundbreaking here, but information technology's still a fun game for what it is.

The world of AR-Y 26 is full of diverse biomes that I only wanted to see more of. The game's curt length is a double-edged sword considering while I capeesh a game that you can get through in under 10-hours, those nonetheless weren't enough for me. Barring the frustrations I had with its gainsay and the cease boss battle, I loved it. And I'd actually love a sequel. The ending leaves room for more stories to be told.

Uncover secrets

Journey to the Savage Planet box art

Journey to the Fell Planet

An uncharted planet (maybe) fit for humanity

Journey to the Fell Planet is full of scenic alien environments that yous're encouraged to explore. I loved solving all of its puzzles and scanning each new flora and animate being I came across, merely the shooting mechanics and globe building could use some more work.

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