Journey To The Savage Planet: A Hilarious and Chaotic Adventure Through an Alien World!

Prepare for interstellar shenanigans, intrepid explorers! Journey to the Savage Planet, a first-person adventure game developed by Typhoon Studios (later acquired by Google Stadia Games and Entertainment) and published in 2020, throws you into the role of an employee of Kindred Aerospace, the “4th best” intergalactic exploration company. Tasked with determining if the uncharted planet AR-Y 26 is suitable for habitation, your mission quickly descends into a gloriously absurd quest for survival amidst hostile alien creatures, bizarre flora, and the constant threat of exploding purple goo.
The story unfolds through quirky voice recordings from your eccentric AI companion, Ekon, who provides guidance with dry wit and dubious enthusiasm. Expect plenty of laughs as you encounter talking plants, sentient rocks that spew projectiles, and gelatinous blobs with a penchant for chomping on anything they can get their pseudopods on.
Beneath the surface humor lies a surprisingly deep exploration loop. Journey to the Savage Planet encourages players to embrace experimentation and ingenuity. Resource gathering and crafting play vital roles in your survival. You’ll scavenge alien materials to fashion weapons, tools, and upgrades. The crafting system allows for flexibility; you can choose from various weapon types like the trusty “Plasma Pistol” or the more unconventional “Meat Grinder.”
Exploring AR-Y 26: An Alien Playground with Teeth
AR-Y 26 is a visually stunning world teeming with vibrant ecosystems, towering fungal forests, and cascading waterfalls. The planet’s diverse biomes present unique challenges and rewards. Navigating treacherous caves filled with spiky predators might net you rare crafting materials, while traversing lush meadows could lead to encounters with friendly alien creatures who offer cryptic clues.
The game encourages exploration through its map system, which unfolds gradually as you discover new areas. Hidden collectibles scattered throughout the world incentivize careful observation and off-the-beaten-path venturing.
Biome | Description | Hazards | Rewards |
---|---|---|---|
Lush Meadows | Fields of giant mushrooms, towering flowers, and shimmering crystal streams | Adorable but biting creatures called “Pufflings” | Rare crafting materials for health and stamina upgrades |
Deep Caves | Networks of tunnels riddled with stalactites and bioluminescent fungi | Aggressive, multi-limbed insectoids and toxic gas pockets | Powerful weapon blueprints and artifact fragments |
Volcanic Vents | Steaming geysers, lava flows, and scorched earth | Blazing creatures immune to fire damage | Highly durable armor upgrades and elemental resistances |
Embracing the Unexpected: A Genre Mashup Done Right
Journey to the Savage Planet skillfully blends elements from various genres. It’s a survival game at its core, demanding resource management, crafting, and combat against challenging foes. Yet, it also incorporates Metroidvania-style exploration with unlockable areas and abilities, rewarding players for backtracking and revisiting previously inaccessible zones. The lighthearted tone and comedic dialogue inject humor into the typically grim survival genre, making for a refreshing and engaging experience.
Technical Prowess: A Visual Feast with Occasional Hiccups
Visually, Journey to the Savage Planet impresses with its vibrant color palette, detailed environments, and captivating alien lifeforms. However, performance can be inconsistent on older hardware. Players may encounter occasional frame rate drops or texture pop-in, particularly in densely populated areas. Despite these minor technical hiccups, the game’s charm and engaging gameplay easily outweigh any visual shortcomings.
Should You Embark on This Savage Journey?
Journey to the Savage Planet is a highly recommended experience for gamers seeking a unique blend of survival, exploration, and humor. Its vibrant world, quirky characters, and satisfying gameplay loop will keep you entertained for hours on end. While performance may be a concern on lower-end systems, the overall package delivers a delightful and memorable adventure. So, buckle up, grab your “Goo Gun” (a staple weapon against those aforementioned exploding blobs), and prepare to laugh your way through a truly unforgettable interstellar expedition!