Review: Planet of Lana II Builds on the Original Game

The first Planet of Lana game felt like a desperate race to survive, thrive, and free loved ones. It ended up being an incredibly tense, short situation that focused on things like puzzles and stealth, even though situations could get quite heated and quick-time events appeared. It also left some mysteries unsolved and a situation in which the people on the planet suddenly had access to new technologies and robot assistance. While billed as a standalone sequel, Planet of Lana II builds on the premise in every way, while also leaving room for the future.

Editor’s Note: There will be Planet of Lana spoilers in the next paragraph.

Even though Wishfully mentioned Planet of Lana II is a standalone game and it begins with a full retrospective of everything that happened in the first installment, I feel like actually going through the first experience is important. Yes, there’s a full summary. But the brief introduction lacks the same punch. I felt it didn’t make clear the twist that everyone on the planet is descended from people from a colony ship the “invading” alien robots worked on, and the altercation came from them attempting to follow their original programming. I think someone coming to this without that experience might not be as connected to Lana and Mui’s story. 

Anyways, as a result of the events of the first game, all of the people now live alongside robots and are beginning to use of the alien-to-them technology from the original. However, that means some aren’t using it peacefully or appropriately, which is causing societal issues. Lana herself is more driven to figure out more of the truth of her people’s past, especially after seeing certain elements on ships. There’s also the question of background for Mui, her companion, and other characters. Plus, as an additional driving force, Lana needs to find a cure for an ailing child. Which prompts her to set out on another adventure for answers.

Artistically and narratively, Wishfully handled Planet of Lana II so well. The game is still quite gorgeous. Even though we are seeing some places depicted in the original, the design, lighting, and other visual enhancements make it all somehow look even more beautiful. It looks (and runs) especially well on the Switch 2 and is quite vivid. There’s also a conscious design decision for there to be an original language used, so we need to infer what some interactions and elements mean. While there are occasional subtitles to help set up certain plot points, it’s a choice that works because the developer is constantly showing us what we need to know through character actions and environmental storytelling. I also found the brief Mui’s Journey segments, in which we control that character and gain additional insights into their experiences, are very insightful and well-executed.

In terms of gameplay, Planet of Lana II works a lot like the original game. While this is an action adventure, it tends to rely more on thoughtful puzzle-solving than skill-based platforming. That isn’t to say there’s none. This time around, Lana is able to do things like wall-jump and slide to reach certain areas. Stealth is also still used, since Lana and Mui aren’t attacking. Meanwhile, as in the original, puzzles can involve things like pulling boxes to places, flipping switches, managing Mui and having them work with and even sacrifice other animals, and hacking robots. Since Lana doesn’t directly attack, other approaches are necessary to handle foes and make what might have been a boss fight in another game into a puzzle here.

One thing I did notice when going through Planet of Lana II is because it is a more methodical type of adventure, it can take time adjusting to the controls. Things do move very smoothly and it is easy to execute actions. However, knowing where hitboxes are for potential hazards or what cover will actually, well, cover, can take some time to work out. The first chapter feels like a learning experience for this. Also, since the game itself is pretty short and takes about five hours, it usually doesn’t get too exacting until about the fifth chapter. So by the time you do get to the more demanding seventh chapter, you’re prepared. 

Planet of Lana II is quite a successful sequel that builds on the original in pretty much every way. Wishfully also tells its story in a fascinating way that still leaves every intention and action crystal clear. It might take some time to adjust to inputs, but it’s a brief adventure with interesting puzzles and a promising cliffhanger.

Planet of Lana II is available on the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.