After embarking on a mission with her companion Mui to rescue her sister and her village from an invasion of alien robots, Lana embarks on a new journey through Novo, a planet that has changed significantly since the arrival of the machines. People now have access to modern technology and Novo is progressing thanks to it, but it has also created greed and inequality as tribes have adapted to it differently. «This causes tension to increase and the harmony of the planet to be endangered,» says the official synopsis. Lana and Mui will live an experience that will reveal secrets about their past and the planet.
Planet of Lana II players can expect the same mix of platforming and stealth sequences from the first installment, but with an expansion of the puzzle mechanics. There are new robots, creatures, plants and machinery, while the biomes gain variety by adding new environments such as frozen peaks, deep seas and forgotten ruins where nature combines with technology. What has not changed has been the absence of dialogue and the importance that the bond between Lana and Mui has in the story. So much so that in this sequel the adventure «revolves around camaraderie and trust.»
For their part, puzzles integrated into the environment promise to be more elaborate and inventive, continuing to reward awareness, synchrony, and cooperation rather than complex logic. To navigate their way through dangers and overcome challenges, players will need to use Lana's improved agility, as she can now wall jump, move more fluidly, and gain momentum. In addition, the collaboration between Lana and Mui is expanded and allows hacking different robots, machines and creatures to manipulate the environment. All of this is introduced while maintaining a minimalist interface and a narrative that comes from the world.
On Metacritic and OpenCritic, Planet of Lana II has an average score of 82 and 84, respectively. Anyone who prefers to try the game before checking out will find a demo on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and Steam.