If you were a fan of games like Flashback and Abe’s Odyssey, then Wishfully’s ‘Planet of Lana‘ definitely looks like a game you’ll want to check out. Take a look at the most recent trailer, which gives a look at the almost-painted world of Planet of Lana as well as the areas players will explore.
Planet of Lana is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer, set on the planet Novo, and tells the story of Lana, a native of the planet. Lana and her sister run, as a mysterious mechanical army descends on the beautiful landscape of Novo. The two become separated when Lana’s sister is captured.
Lana encounters a cat-like creature named Mui alone in the harsh wilderness of Novo, with whom she forms a bond. The two set out on an adventure to save Lana’s sister, and discover the origins of the invading robot force.
The tale of Planet of Lana is told through the animation as players travel through Novo, from lush green woods to harsh deserts. The game’s score was composed by Takeshi Furukawa, of 2016’s The Last Guardian. Studio Ghibli’s film Spirited Away was also a ‘guiding star when it came to the tonality of the game,’ according to Creative Director Adam Stjärnljus.
Players will also have to solve various environmental puzzles, and Mui will play an important role in finishing them. Players will be able to give Mui commands to do things Lana can’t, like hypnotising other creatures and slithering into narrow spaces. The addition of a companion is a unique gameplay concept in Planet of Lana, like the PS2 classic ‘Ico‘, or 1989’s ‘A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia‘.
But, Mui has their own limitations, and will need Lana to do specific tasks in order for the two to continue forward together. For example, Lana has to swim and gather planks for Mui to sit on to get across water-filled gaps because Mui can’t swim, a lot like The Last of Us‘ Ellie.
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Planet of Lana is set to hit Xbox series consoles, PC, and Game Pass on 23 May 2023.
