Humanity is awful. Like really awful.
If you need a reminder of just how awful then look no further than Racoon Logic’s satirical new Action-Adventure Revenge of the Savage Planet.
This tongue-in-cheek entry is a sequel to 2020’s Journey to the Savage Planet, in which players — employees of Kindred Aerospace, the “4th Best Interstellar Exploration Company” — were tasked with exploring uncharted planet ARY-26 to see if it would be suitable for future human colonization.
We guess it was, because as we fast forward 100 years (or 5 years in game development units) we see that the sequel has put you in the shoes of a would-be-colonist who wakes from a 100 year slumber to discover Kindred Aerospace has gone bust, and you are now unemployed. Oh, and the ship is also falling apart. And you are on a collision course with your new home in Nu-Florida.
Probably should have led with that one.
One quick auto-eject and rain-shower of deadly debris later you find yourself miraculously alive and in the first of four of explorable planets — kicking off your adventures in a lush rainforest filled with tropical plants, picture perfect waterfalls, and adorable local fauna that you should probably start gunning down and eating straight away.
You’ll be directed throughout the game’s initial stages by a helpful/annoying hovering AI companion named EKO who will advise you on how to get started. And what to shoot. And which adorable creatures to eat. Hey, you may no longer have a job, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit the remainder of your days out. You can still catalogue the aforementioned lifeforms, in addition to searching out scattered survival packages and colony currency which in turn can be used to kit out both yourself and your new home. Which is probably advisable, if you want to remain alive.
And if you’re really stuck for something to do there’s also that mysterious signal to check out that might just provide more intel on the company’s dubious motives?
If Journey to the Savage Planet was like being dropped into a universe where everything felt like it had been designed by a mad scientist with a penchant for puns, Revenge of the Savage Planet takes it one step further with an even weirder menagerie of local wildlife for you to harness in some terrible way. The game’s world is a masterclass in controlled chaos too. Each planet bursts with bioluminescent jungles, neon swamps, worm-infested deserts, snow-capped mountains, and crystalline caverns, all rendered in a vivid art style that feels like an homage to Saturday morning cartoons.
These environments are simply a joy to explore, with secrets tucked into every glowing nook and cranny, rewarding curious players with upgrades, collectibles, and the occasional sarcastic quip from EKO. Even the way your character moves is a cartoonish joy to behold, from his preppy carefree walking style, to his exaggerated run, and cartoonish leg lifts while ploughing through shallow water.
The story itself leans heavily into satire, poking fun at corporate greed, humanity’s insatiable drive to pave paradise and make everything just a little bit worse with its very presence, and all manner of bureaucratic incompetencies, with a script that’s equal parts Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Grand Theft Auto car radio adverts. Spend a moment watching the giant TV screen in your new digs and you’ll feel distinctly unnerved by what’s passing for food back at home. While the plot won’t win awards for depth, it’s a perfect vehicle for the game’s irreverent tone, delivered through snappy dialogue and absurd cutscenes.
Equal Parts charm and chaos, Revenge of the Savage Planet is at its best when it embraces its freeform exploration. The game’s planets are littered with objectives: scan and optionally trap and research creatures, gather resources, solve environmental puzzles, upgrade your stuff, and so on. However, you’re largely free to tackle them at your own pace.
The jetpack-fuelled platforming (did we mention there’s a jetpack? Because there is, along with some other cool ways to get around that we won’t spoil for you here) is smooth and intuitive, letting you zip across chasms and scale cliffs with a satisfying sense of momentum. New gadgets, like a gravity-defying grapple hook and a goo (seriously there’s so much goo in this game), or lava-spewing blaster add variety to both combat and movement, though the controls can feel a tad finicky during heated moments.
Combat is where the game stumbles slightly. While blasting alien critters with elemental weapons (think Proton whips, bombs, sticky goo, and even lava) is initially thrilling, the enemy AI lacks sophistication, often charging mindlessly into your crosshairs.
To boot, boss fights, though visually spectacular, rely heavily on pattern memorization, which once understood is hard to pretend you haven’t noticed in that taking a peek behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz kind of way. Still, the sheer variety of creatures, be they gelatinous blobs, winged monstrosities, or adorable fluff balls, keeps encounters fresh, and the game’s forgiving checkpoint system ensures you’re never punished too harshly for a misstep.
The crafting system is also a standout, letting you cobble together upgrades from alien goo (so much goo), discarded tech, and the occasional “recycled” Kindred product. Want a jetpack that lets you hover longer or a gun that shoots flaming spores? You’ll need to scavenge, research, and experiment, which adds a rewarding layer of progression.
Co-op mode, for those who want to introduce a friend to the madness, is a riot, allowing two players to wreak havoc together, though the lack of split-screen might disappoint couch co-op buddies.
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a gleeful, chaotic adventure that never makes the mistake of taking itself too seriously, and that’s its greatest strength. The game’s blend of exploration, humor, and vibrant world-building makes it a joy to dive into, even if the combat and occasional control hiccups keep it from reaching the stars. For fans of the original first-person game, or anyone craving a lighthearted escape into a bizarre universe, this is a planet-hopping romp worth taking.
Just don’t expect Kindred Aerospace to cover your medical bills.
Our Score: 7/10. With its irreverent humor, colorful visuals, and a knack for keeping you on your toes, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a straightforward and delightful, if occasionally uneven, cosmic romp that’s as endearing as it is absurd. Simplistic AI, repetitive boss fights, and occasional control issues won’t detract overly much from what is a kaleidoscopically goofy action adventure.
Genre: Third Person Action-Adventure
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 05/20/2025
Studio: Raccoon Logic
Publisher: Bandai Namco
