Planet of Lana

This game is probably for you if:
- You love story focused games
- You love beautiful whimsical worlds
- You enjoy clever simple puzzles
- Don't mind a game in the 3-5 hour range
- Are a fan of both INSIDE and Ghibli
This game probably isn't for you if:
- You want tremendously difficult puzzles
- Prefer crunchy mechanic focused games
- Aren't a fan of games where the main reward is the story
- Nothing about the world portrayed in the trailer sparked curiosity in you
I love an infinite AAA game that you can pour years of your life into without ever scratching the bottom as much as the next person. Sometimes that's what I want, sometimes I really just want to be somewhere else for weeks at a time, to have an experience that I know will always be there with something new for me to do.
And sometimes I want Planet of Lana.
I've been desperate for something to scratch the INSIDE itch since it released years back. Planet of Lana scratches that itch with a more adventurous upbeat tone that still has a fair smattering of dark spooky moments. The puzzles aren't going to make your head explode but the way your companion is integrated into them leads to some super clever and satisfying solutions.
Plus the composer worked on The Last Guardian, the music really really makes the game and helps reinforce that wondrous feeling of adventure.
it also has some of the best alien wildlife ambiances I've heard in a while. Each location feels like it's full of very diverse alien creatures, most of which are conveyed through sound alone.
I had a great time, some very tense moments, some very tender moments, some slightly frustrating moments, overall well worth 20 bucks if you meet the above criteria.

My wife, Lana, passed on May 15, just 8 days before the launch of this game. Neither of us were aware of this game, so you can imagine my absolute shock when I opened Steam, on the day it launched, and saw it at the top of the front page. Her loss continues to be soul crushing, every day is a struggle. She wasn't much for gaming, outside of all Mario games (3D World was her fav), Zuma, and Lumines. I have been gaming literally since the mid-70s, and she would crush me in any of the aforementioned games, she was amazing at playing those. She did not like games with a lot of fighting, and after playing this game just enough that I could leave this review, I have yet to experience any sort of combat, so I think she would absolutely adore this game.
So, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Devs, for making this game, and at the absolute perfect time.
I love and miss you Lana, far more than words can express!

Imagine if Inside and Gris had a baby...and you will get one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. My wife and I took turns sharing the controller and enjoyed the whole experience. 10/10

This was so good I finished it all in one sitting. Yes, seriously. From the music score to the game-play, everything is just *chef's kiss*. My only nitpick is you should be able to change the keyboard controls (Crouch with the S key is not very intuitive).
If you liked:
-Limbo (2010)
-Inside (2016)
-Stray (2022)
You will love this game.

Planet of Lana is a delightful puzzle platformer with stunning dynamic deep backgrounds, masterful soundtrack and a fantastic story that borrows ideas from multiple sources. Gameplay mainly focuses on your interaction with your companion to solve puzzles and help avoid the menacing creatures that you will encounter on your journey. The game starts off slow but ramps up the action on the later half with several surprising sections including a thrilling chase sequence. The game is roughly 5 hours long, divided in 12 chapters each with unique environments and hidden shrines to find. Puzzles are on the easier side to ensure smooth progression through your journey. Give this game a try if you like simple puzzle platformers or you enjoyed similar games like INSIDE or Planet Alpha .

Planet of Lana is a beautiful side-scrolling adventure that follows a young girl and her cat on a search for a lost friend. Lana witnesses the destruction of her village by an extra-terrestrial invasion and manages to escape. The rest of the game is traversing a variety of landscapes with natural challenges (chasms, hills, etc.) while evading the invaders (death ray drones, mechanical spiders, etc.). You also find alien machinery to puzzle out and use as you make your way. The game feels a bit like LIMBO or INSIDE but has less violence and seemed a bit easier. Your alien encounters are interspersed with long walking sequences that provide respite.
I am not a cat person, but I could not help cheering for Mui - Lana's feline companion who responds to her commands and has special powers. Lana is 'the last child standing' and the cat provides friendship and assistance. All dialog is in a fictional language but the game manages to create strong emotions about love and joy, fear and loss. It also does a good job of creating an atmosphere of true menace when Lana is at risk.
Typically, I do not excel in this genre. However, Planet of Lana was manageable. A couple of the evasion scenes are quite tricky as you coordinate the movements of Lana and Mui to survive. My timing failed more than a few times before I finally hit the magic combination and moved on.
For me, the hardest task in the game was when I had to load Mui on a drone and fly him about without killing him. The drone controls are very wonky and keeping the drone steady without sending Mui into an electrified wall or industrial fan was quite daunting. After several days, Mui survived my drone piloting and we were headed towards the final chapter. There is no true 'boss' battle at the end. However, there is a QTE-like exercise which almost gave me carpal tunnel. I played with a controller but there was still a lot of button mashing.
The game autos-saves frequently, after each collectible (10 shrines to locate) and each major scene. Although there are some exceptions, progress on incomplete puzzles is not saved. Failure usually meant starting from the beginning of the exercise. SIgh...
The art is beautiful, the music is passionate, and the story is sweet. If you don't mind some running, jumping, climbing, and stealth, then I'd highly recommend this game. Completionists have their work cut out for them... 100% requires that you survive the entire game without dying (a lofty goal, indeed!).

iiiiiiiiiiiiluuuuuuuu!!!!
+Great game, very beautiful design, crisp sound, nice story, fun characters!
- Very repetitive puzzles, many long stretched parts, missing the special something.
I do recommend the game but was hoping it had a bit more to it.
First playthorugh played 4 hours and might get back again for the 100%, but it is not a 2nd playthrough that will be exciting unfortunately.