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Co-op action returns to the “golden age of science fiction”

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Co-op action returns to the “golden age of science fiction”

The exploration of crazy sci-fi worlds goes into the second round, bigger, wilder, even more voracious – and in split screen.
The exploration of crazy sci-fi worlds goes into the second round, bigger, wilder, even more voracious – and in split screen.
The exploration of crazy sci-fi worlds goes into the second round, bigger, wilder, even more voracious – and in split screen.

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The first steps in Revenge of the Savage Planet show that something fundamental has changed here. While in 2020 we explored the alien planet of Journey to the Savage Planet from the first-person perspective, the sequel moves away from that. After the hero crash-lands and picks up his chatty AI companion, the camera, struck by an electric shock, jumps into the third-person perspective – and stays there for the rest of the game.

Mobile like never before: Revenge of the Savage Planet gives you plenty of freedom of movement - and co-op
Mobile like never before: Revenge of the Savage Planet gives you plenty of freedom of movement - and co-op


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Mobile like never before: Revenge of the Savage Planet gives you plenty of freedom of movement – and co-op

There is also a big change in terms of developers: The former Typhoon Studios have been re-established as Racoon Logic after the end of the streaming service Google Stadia (Google had previously bought Typhoon). The company continues to operate in Montreal, Canada, and many of the 30 employees have already worked on the predecessor.

Gerald Weßel

Video games, especially on the PC, have been an integral part of Gerald’s leisure activities since early childhood. He has been particularly fond of travelling to fantastic worlds beyond our solar system, whether dark or colourful. They always arouse his curiosity for technology and the fantastic.

At first glance, however, the second part inherits all the strengths that we attested to in the GameStar review of the colorful, wild sci-fi excursion to ARY-26: exploration, scanning, collecting, crafting and combat resulted in a successful Metroidvania.

Colorful, crazy worlds that want to eat you

Your overall goal is once again simple: repair the crashed spaceship and fly home. Along the way, you collect evidence against the greedy corporation Kindred Aerospace and upgrade your jetpack, weapons and tools. Such upgrades allow you to reach previously inaccessible areas.








Multiplayer in many different forms: online or even in split screen like in the children’s room.

The most important new features in Revenge of the Savage Planet are:

  • Four main planets instead of one plus one bonus planet, all with semi-open world design and different ambience (subtropical, volcanic, desert, western)
  • Underwater areas
  • Third-person instead of first-person perspective
  • Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen lighting
  • At least twice as long as the first part, around 30 hours
  • Online co-op with crossplay and split-screen mode for two people
  • Goo as a spreadable slime that serves many purposes
  • “Crash Pad” as a base that can be expanded and furnished with the option to collect creatures. The appearance of the castaway can also be customized.
  • A map for orientation

According to the developers, you don’t need to know the predecessor to understand the story. However, those familiar with the first outing will rediscover a lot of familiar things – even if the setting is different – and meet old acquaintances.

We saw a presentation on the game and about half an hour of gameplay. This was mostly from the beginning of the game, but the developers also showed us some advanced mechanics and later areas.

Revenge of the Savage Planet takes itself less seriously than its predecessor. The world is over the top, the comments from the companion robot range from snappy to silly, and the aliens and plants – or a combination of both – are easily recognizable thanks to their quirky designs.

The inspiration for characters, creatures and the general mood of the game can be found in the “golden age of science fiction,” as the developers call it in conversation: “Men in Black, Ghostbusters or even the Goonies.”

Those who venture out to explore the galaxy should also find something exciting. The world design borrows heavily from greats from Nintendo’s Nintendo 64 era, such as Banjo-Kazooie.

You are also exploring underwater in an alien solar system.
You are also exploring underwater in an alien solar system.





You are also exploring underwater in an alien solar system.

The world tells its own story through creatures, plants and structure; it lives even without explicitly placed NPCs, thanks to munching trees, jumping slimes and sweet cuddly creatures that can kick you.

They populate planets that are more violent than before. You won’t be able to explore truly open worlds, but the sections that were often perceived as narrow in the previous game are far less common. You will repeatedly have to enter expansive areas that offer several paths to new puzzles, enemies or treasures. Practical: This time, the stranded person has at least picked up software that automatically draws him a map.

Viewpoint creates comedy (duos)

The switch to the third-person perspective is more than just cosmetic, as the developers explain. It’s the only way the animations can have their full effect. They are a vehicle to cement the game’s satirically exaggerated approach. Nothing is subtle, everything is presented very clearly to be unmistakable. Would you like some examples?

  • The hero does not walk, but struts through the landscape.
  • When running and jumping, the arms and legs row like a cartoon character.
  • When the protagonist scans something, he presses a switch on his visor in a very important way.
  • When wading through water, he lifts his legs up in a foolish manner in an attempt (in vain) to avoid getting wet.
  • One kick is a real dropkick, which also throws aliens or the co-op partner away in a high arc.

Speaking of co-op: While it was already there in the first part, the second part takes it to the next level with crossplay and split screen.

We think the game is particularly brilliant in the organic interaction between players.

There are plenty of old and new upgradeable tools to have fun alone or with two players: a hand weapon, a whip, a jetpack and other tools. Across the board, the game should not only have more different equipment, but also more widely usable equipment.

The jetpack, for example, is of course primarily used for locomotion, but it can also be used in combat as it gives you more momentum when sliding across the ground – even more effective and fun on glittery goo.

The Crash Pad is your customizable home base, Nu Florida, on the starting planet Stellaris Prime.
The Crash Pad is your customizable home base, Nu Florida, on the starting planet Stellaris Prime.





The Crash Pad is your customizable home base, Nu Florida, on the starting planet Stellaris Prime.

Speaking of which: One of the new tools is a spray cannon for this slime. Depending on the color, it interacts and reacts differently with the environment and to your actions. It can be used to solve puzzles or for creative use in combat.

The green slime, for example, is flammable, while the blue one conducts electricity. The three types can be distributed freely and also behave at least approximately physically correctly with the environment (water washes away green goo, for example).

When and for what purpose will Revenge of the Savage Planet be released?

Revenge of the Savage Planet will be released simultaneously on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and for the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5. There will be no version for the Switch. According to the developers, the hardware would be overwhelmed.

The price is currently unclear, but it should definitely not be at the level of a AAA game. A release is planned for sometime in 2025, but currently it looks like the first half of the year.

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