Introduction
Ready for another dose of intergalactic exploration with a side of corporate absurdity? *Revenge of the Savage Planet*, the standalone downloadable content (DLC) for the wildly popular *Journey to the Savage Planet*, has crash-landed onto consoles and PCs, promising a fresh batch of bizarre creatures, treacherous environments, and, of course, more of that signature darkly comedic charm. But does this DLC manage to capture the magic of its predecessor, or has the Savage Planet’s hostile beauty started to wear thin?
Revenge of the Savage Planet, this new adventure from Typhoon Studios (now part of Google Stadia Games and Entertainment) and published by 505 Games, throws players back into the vibrant and unpredictable world of Xantus. Building upon the already established foundations of *Journey to the Savage Planet*, this DLC offers a substantial addition to the experience. Players who enjoyed the original game will likely find themselves immediately at home, while newcomers will discover a universe brimming with unique lifeforms, stunning vistas, and gameplay that perfectly blends exploration, combat, and a healthy dose of slapstick. This **Revenge of the Savage Planet review** will delve into the core gameplay, the innovative new features, the strengths, and yes, the weaknesses of this expansion, helping you decide whether or not it’s worth your time and, more importantly, your hard-earned credits.
Diving Back into the Alien Wilderness
The core gameplay loop of *Revenge of the Savage Planet* remains faithful to its roots, which is a good thing. Players once again assume the role of an intrepid explorer working for Kindred Aerospace, a fourth-best interstellar exploration company. The objective is simple: investigate the planet Xantus and determine its suitability for human habitation. This means traversing diverse and often dangerous landscapes, scanning and cataloging alien flora and fauna, collecting resources, and, of course, blasting any hostile creatures that stand in your way.
Exploration and Discovery
The emphasis on exploration is a defining characteristic of *Revenge of the Savage Planet*. The world of Xantus is meticulously crafted, offering a sense of wonder with every new vista. Level design is a standout, encouraging players to venture off the beaten path. Hidden pathways, secret areas, and environmental puzzles reward the curious, making exploration feel genuinely engaging. Players are given tools to aid their exploration, such as a jetpack that provides vertical mobility, grappling hooks to reach distant areas, and a scanning device that allows players to learn more about the local ecosystem. The core gameplay loop focuses on exploration to unlock new areas, which encourages players to return to previously visited areas, unlocking and discovering new resources as the player levels up their tools. This provides the feeling of always progressing.
Combat Dynamics
Combat is a fundamental aspect of the experience, and *Revenge of the Savage Planet* offers an exciting, albeit familiar, system. Players are armed with a standard pistol, and while it lacks the sophistication of some shooters, it serves its purpose. Combat encounters are typically focused on short bursts, giving the player options to be mobile, and taking advantage of the environment around them. This makes combat a more dynamic experience and allows players to constantly strategize, and use environmental elements to their advantage. Many of the creatures on Xantus require special handling and strategies, which encourages players to study the creatures and adjust their approach accordingly.
Resource Gathering and Crafting
Resource gathering and crafting are integrated seamlessly into the *gameplay* experience. Scattered throughout Xantus are various resources that can be harvested and used to craft upgrades for weapons and tools. This added layer of progression adds a layer of accomplishment. The ability to craft better equipment is essential for survival, as the world of Xantus is filled with increasingly dangerous threats.
Environmental Puzzles
Furthermore, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* introduces new environmental puzzles and challenges. The puzzles are well-integrated into the game. Many of these puzzles require the player to use their tools and understand the game’s mechanics to proceed, which promotes player engagement.
A New Chapter on Xantus
*Revenge of the Savage Planet* brings a wealth of fresh content to the table, giving fans plenty of reasons to revisit this alien world.
New Environments
One of the most significant additions is a new, sprawling area to explore. These environments offer a diversity that is more expansive than the original game, offering a fresh perspective on the world of Xantus. These new environments are brimming with secrets and side quests, guaranteeing a solid amount of game content to go through.
New Creatures
Of course, no *Journey to the Savage Planet* expansion would be complete without new creatures. The DLC introduces a host of new alien lifeforms, each with unique behaviors and attack patterns. From hulking behemoths to nimble, elusive critters, these new additions keep combat encounters fresh and engaging. Players will need to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each creature to survive. One of the most enjoyable parts of this DLC is discovering the new creatures the game throws at you, creating new dynamics for exploration and combat.
New Arsenal
The game provides a host of new tools and weapons to add to the arsenal. These new additions encourage players to mix up their approaches to the new environments. Players can also upgrade tools for better functionality and efficiency to provide even more freedom in their exploration.
New Missions and Objectives
Along with new weapons and tools, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* has new missions and objectives that tie into the new narrative. Players are given objectives in these newly added sections, which encourages players to explore these areas. The new objectives add a refreshing layer to the base game, encouraging players to spend more time in the world and engage in exploration.
Building on a Solid Foundation
*Revenge of the Savage Planet* refines many aspects of the original game, resulting in an even more polished and enjoyable experience.
Quality of Life Improvements
The DLC has greatly improved upon the quality of life features. The UI has been cleaned up and reorganized, providing a cleaner and more intuitive experience. Furthermore, the fast travel system has been updated to make navigating the world easier, streamlining exploration without sacrificing the joy of discovery.
Difficulty Refinement
The game offers a more finely tuned difficulty balance. *Revenge of the Savage Planet* offers challenging combat encounters without feeling overly punishing. This provides a sense of satisfaction for the player, while still providing an engaging experience for new and returning players.
Engaging Gameplay
The overall gameplay feel of *Revenge of the Savage Planet* is extremely satisfying. The combination of exploration, combat, and crafting creates an engaging and highly addictive experience that’s hard to put down. *Revenge of the Savage Planet* keeps the player engaged by always giving something new to experience, whether it’s through new weapons, new resources, new enemies, or new environments.
A World Brimming with Character
The environment design in *Revenge of the Savage Planet* is exceptional. The game boasts a unique visual style that sets it apart from the crowd. The world is filled with vibrant colors, bizarre shapes, and imaginative architecture. The visual design is both beautiful and alien, creating an immersive atmosphere that is hard to forget.
Atmosphere and Tone
The atmosphere and tone of *Revenge of the Savage Planet* are a significant factor in its appeal. The game seamlessly blends humor, adventure, and exploration to create a unique and highly enjoyable experience. The music and sound effects are well-crafted, adding to the immersive experience. The soundtrack is a mix of quirky soundscapes, which enhance the experience. Furthermore, the developers do a phenomenal job in their presentation of humor. The writing has a distinct charm that draws the player in with its clever writing.
A Unique Blend
The unique blend of humor, exploration, and combat is what truly distinguishes *Revenge of the Savage Planet*. The developers fully embrace the absurd, creating a game world that is as captivating as it is hilarious.
Unraveling the New Story
While *Journey to the Savage Planet* wasn’t overly focused on narrative, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* does try to expand on the story and provides a new chapter to explore on Xantus.
Plot Details
The narrative kicks off when Kindred Aerospace sends you back to Xantus. The new plot involves something that the player didn’t resolve in the first game, which creates an interesting premise for the DLC. The new characters are quirky and add to the comedic charm that is prevalent throughout the game. The overall storytelling is well-paced. The main plot is interwoven with the main gameplay, and players are encouraged to continue the main story through exploration and discovery. The writing maintains a high level of quality. The dialogue is witty, and the writing is engaging.
Performance and Technical Considerations
*Revenge of the Savage Planet* runs smoothly on most systems, which is crucial for an enjoyable experience.
Technical Stability
The technical performance of *Revenge of the Savage Planet* is generally solid. The game runs smoothly with a stable frame rate. While the game has minor graphical issues, the issues are negligible.
Optimization for Platforms
The game runs well and is optimized for multiple platforms.
Loading Times
The loading times are relatively quick, allowing players to jump back into the action without significant delay.
The Value Proposition
At a reasonable price point, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* offers a significant amount of content. While the DLC isn’t particularly long, it provides a great value, especially for fans of the original. The amount of content it offers can keep players engaged for hours. This DLC is more than worth its price.
Comparison with the Original
Compared to the original *Journey to the Savage Planet*, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* provides a fresh experience while maintaining the core elements that made the first game so enjoyable.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the DLC’s biggest strengths lies in its capacity to expand upon the game’s core gameplay while adding a solid narrative. The new mechanics, environments, and creatures, give players more to explore. The presentation of humor, vibrant environments, and the quality of life improvements are key to enhancing the gameplay. The primary weakness is that this game might feel familiar to those who played the first game.
Final Verdict
Overall, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* is a worthwhile addition. It maintains the core elements that make the original game a blast to play.
Concluding Thoughts
With the introduction of new mechanics, gameplay, and environments, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* maintains the elements that made *Journey to the Savage Planet* so fun. The experience is made even better with the addition of new content and overall improvements to the experience.
If you are a fan of *Journey to the Savage Planet*, *Revenge of the Savage Planet* is a must-have. It is worth the money, offering hours of entertaining gameplay. Dive back into the hostile world of Xantus.
