The second day of the Summer Games Fest has been a dedication to upcoming indie titles celebrated under the banner of “Day of the Devs,” among which is the debut game of Wishfully Studios calledPlanet of Lana.Technically speaking, this wasn’tPlanet of Lana’s first rodeo, as it had previously been shown at last year’sSummer Games Fest, but this time around the studio delivered a fresh new trailer complete with new gameplay footage.
The game stands on its own two feet with impressive visuals, an intriguing thriller story of a robot invasion, and an adorable cat-like companion, but it’s actually the latter aspect that has drawn fan attention.Reminiscent ofThe Last Guardianand its focus on companion-based puzzle solving between a young protagonist and their mystical, enigmatic friend, fans have looked into these comparisons in anticipation of what to expect from the upcoming title.
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The Story Of Planet Of Lana
Wishfully Studios was founded in 2018 and began work on its first game that could become known asPlanet of Lana. It’s clear from the new trailer’s commentary that the game has been a labor of love for him and his team, reflected in a charming, almost hand-drawn style and a burgeoning relationship between its two core characters, the titular Lana and her feline companion Mui, that already promises a great deal. ThoughPlanet of Lanawas showcased back in 2021, it now appears set for a 2022 release date, it seems that several years in development are about to pay off.
Planet of Lanatakes place on an alien world once peaceful and harmonized, but is sent into chaos by the arrival of a faceless robotic army that has been 100 years in the making. As if this ominous beginning wasn’t enough to get the story started, the trailer confirms that Lana’s objective starting out the game is to save her abducted sister. The player is set to take control of both Lana and Mui as they venture through the game, and would be a refreshing return to companion-based puzzle games that have been overcome by moremultiplayer or co-operative style games.The last companion-based game that captured the attention of fans wasThe Last Guardian, which is why the two games feel familiar despite a good few years between them.
It’s revealed in the trailer that Mui, despite appearing to be an average cat, has strange powers that can control the world and creatures on the alien planet. Little is known how or why Mui is capable of this, but it’s a direct parallel to Trico, the mysterious bird-cat-dog-like creature whomThe Last Guardian’s protagonist finds himself paired with. Both games follow the journey of unsuspecting young heroes who are thrust into grand adventures, relying on the combined efforts of protagonist and companion to make their way through the world and achieve their goals. Curiously, the connections between the games don’t stop at general story beats and gameplay mechanics either, as it’s been confirmed as well thatThe Last Guardianmusic composer, Takeshi Furukawa,is working on music for the game, so perhaps his influence on the project has helped the game take such a similar shape.
As well-received asThe Last Guardianwas upon its release with commendations for its story and artistic direction, its gameplay was criticized,Planet of Lanamay need to address these concerns when following in Trico’s footsteps. Additionally, withThe Last Guardian’sdevelopers Team Ico no longer around, and Team Ico’s successorsgenDESIGN having hinted at a possible new gamebut little else beyond that, it looks likePlanet of Lanahas to fill the void left behind byThe Last Guardian.This time the new animal to endear player’s will seemingly just be a cat.Planet of Lanafans won’t have to wait long to get their hands on the upcoming indie title; it will be joining a growing list of other indie games set to come out in 2022.
Planet of Lanais set to be released in 2022 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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