Review: Revenge of the Savage Planet - a Goo'dlike Space Adventure

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a sequel to the acclaimed Journey to the Savage Planet (2020), which expands the original formula with more planets, creative mechanics and a satire of corporate capitalism. Developed by the studio Raccoon Logic formed by former members of Typhoon Studios (which was acquired and later closed by Google), the game maintains the absurd humor and metroidvania exploration of the first, but now in third person and with a galactic target. The game is an experience that combines irreverence, creativity and very addictive gameplay.

Revenge of the Savage Planet focuses on interplanetary exploration and upgrade-based progression. This time, you visit four distinct planets, such as the swampy Stellaris Prime and the desert Xephyr, each with unique biomes, puzzles, and ecosystems. The switch to a third-person perspective allows the player to place more emphasis on the platformer genre, with mechanics such as grappling hooks, grinding on energy rails, and an aerial stomp reminiscent of classic action games.

However, what stands out the most is the goo system. With a hose that collects and spreads colored substances, you solve puzzles and dominate combats.

Each goo has its own characteristics, mechanics and functions:

- Purple goo conducts electricity, activating mechanisms or electrocuting enemies.

- Green goo is flammable and slippery, ideal for traps in co-op.

- Red goo burns everything in its path, while water (blue goo) clears obstacles.

The goos are complemented by upgrades such as a magnetic fork to manipulate metals and seeds that dissolve hardened sap. Each new item we acquire opens up areas that were previously inaccessible, and this part of the game is very satisfying, although we depend on the Nu Florida base to manufacture upgrades, something that can break the rhythm a bit at times.

The story revolves around a space colonist who wakes up after 100 years of cryosleep. He discovers that he has been fired by Alta Interglobal, a megacorporation that bought his old company. It’s clear that the game's plot is a critique of corporate greed, with live-action cutscenes full of parodies of absurd advertisements (like a nasal cryptocurrency miner) and CEOs who, in addition to being weird, are the grotesque type of person we would not want to meet, like Martin Tweed, who has an appearance that ridicules business tycoons.

The humor is inspired by Tim & Eric and Rick and Morty, which has its hits and misses:

- Hit: Visual jokes (like creatures with buttocks on their faces) and hilarious corporate emails.

- Mistakes: The EKO drone's dialogues are very repetitive, and the jokes are too excessive, like, for example, commercials for "mucus chains".

The narrative loses strength when they abandon satire to discuss other topics, but the general tone remains light, creating a good contrast.

While the first game was set on a single planet with interconnected biomes, Revenge of the Savage expands to four planets, each with its own visual identity:

World of Stellaris Prime: Lush jungle, starting base with a customizable trailer.

World of Xephyr: Scorching deserts and hidden oasis.

World of Zenithian Rift: Combination of extreme cold and an active volcano.

World of Bonus Planet: Revealed only at the end, with a narrative surprise.

The verticality of the game is impressive, with underground caverns and mountains that require grappling hooks and a Jetpack to climb.

Cooperative mode (online or split-screen) is where the game shines in all its essence. However, the constant dialogues of NPCs hinder communication between players. Another detail is that some missions are clearly designed for single-player, making co-op a bit confusing, something that can be improved with future fixes.

In co-op, partners can:

- Combine goos to create traps (e.g.: green slide + lava at the end).

- Share tasks.

- Troll each other with chaotic mechanics, reminiscent of Divinity: Original Sin.

In single-player, the experience doesn't have all that charm, especially on large planets that seem empty without a partner, but for people who like to explore alone it ends up being something good and enjoyable.

Combat is the weakest point of the game, making it clear that this may not be the main feature of Revenge of the Savage Planet. The main weapon is a pistol that doesn't offer much, and the enemies, although visually varied, repeat the same attack patterns.

Capturing creatures (a Pokémon-like system) is more satisfying than fighting, but it requires precision to hit their weak points, something that doesn't always work due to the "floatiness" controls. But once you get used to the capture system, the game flows smoothly.

Your base in Nu Florida allows you to decorate a trailer with absurd and funny furniture, such as:

- Giant hamster treadmill.

- Hugging machine.

- Toilet with black hole for waste.

Although they have no relation or impact on the story or gameplay, these elements bring an irreverent tone, in addition to being a lot of fun when decorating your trailer. There are also cosmetic rewards, such as skins for the space suit, obtained by scanning flora and fauna.

The game runs well on all systems, whether on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, with vibrant colors that impress and delight the eyes.

I had no problems playing on Xbox Series X/S, but I noticed that other people, mainly on PC, detailed occasional bugs such as:

- Enemies do not spawn correctly.

- Platforming that traps the player in textures.

- The ability to deflect projectiles sometimes fails.

Although it’s nothing critical, the development team will certainly bring fix patches.

Pros

- Rewarding Exploration: Each planet is a vertical maze filled with secrets, requiring return trips with upgrades to previously inaccessible areas.

- Customization and Detail: The Nu Florida base allows you to decorate trailers with surreal items, such as hug machines and corporate award walls, reinforcing the mood.

- Organic Progression: Upgrades such as the double jump, grappling hook, and water jet are integrated, encouraging in-game experimentation.

- Vibrant Visuals: Intense colors highlight biomes such as orange deserts and fluorescent jungles, with beautiful creature designs.

- Music and Atmosphere: ​​Whimsical soundtrack matches the cartoonish tone.

Cons

- Poor Combat: The main pistol lacks tactile impact and enemies repeat attack patterns.

- Repetitive Enemies: Despite the visual variety, many enemies respawn with minor changes, reducing the challenge.

- Technical Bugs: Enemies not spawning, platform collisions, and faulty defense abilities.

- Poorly Integrated Co-Op: Constant NPC dialogue hinders communication between players, and some missions are clearly designed for single-player.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a sequel that delivers on the previous one in scale and variety, but it may feel strange to fans of the first one as it loses some of the original focus. The exploration is very rewarding, the humor gets many laughs, and the co-op is a wonderful experience. However, the weak combat and the fragmented structure of the planets may frustrate those looking for a more polished experience.

I recommend it to fans of metroidvania, casual gamers who enjoy absurd humor, and anyone looking for a fun co-op without being competitive.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.