Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf Review | Around the World with My Best Friend

Sequels can sometimes get a bad wrap. They’re not always very good and can even sometimes be downright disappointing. That being said, there have also been some incredible sequels, especially in the games industry, with titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong or Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Planet of Lana II: Children of Leaf from developer Wishfully, is another great sequel to add to the list. Some of its puzzles can be frustrating, but its world-building and storytelling are nearly unmatched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NksRtFjpYGI

In Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf, you once again play as protagonist Lana in a world taken over by alien technology. While much of the world still appears to be primitive, you’ll be able to see, the more you explore, how this technology has affected not only Lana’s village, but much of her planet as well. After an incident where Lana’s niece gets too close to a strange rock that falls from the sky, Lana must venture into the many diverse biomes of Novo to find a cure to save her.

The best part of Planet of Lana II, from the very start, is its world-building. You learn a lot about Lana’s home planet, Novo, in the first game while she’s on her mission to save her sister. In the sequel, advanced alien technology has arrived, and Lana’s village has had to adapt. Lana’s village has decided to embrace this new technology and use it to their advantage. But, of course, with new technology comes new dangers, and not only is Lana’s niece affected, forcing Lana to go on her new quest for a cure, but there are extreme hazards awaiting anyone who is not careful. Players will have to venture through lands ripe with new technology, avoiding lethal robots, lasers, and more in order to progress.

There are many more environments to explore during the game, some of which have barely, if at all, been touched by this new technology. Lana will uncover the Wemari Village located in a dense forest where the community wants nothing to do with alien technology. In another area, there is a new group of people who are attempting to use the technology for their own selfish needs. Over the game’s 7 to 8 hour playtime, you’ll uncover a land full of unique biomes, including snowy mountaintops, lush forests, dangerous waters, and much more. Each location is distinctly different, and each offers its own new challenges.

My biggest frustration, as I imagine it will be for all players, are the game’s numerous puzzles. With no hint system, you’re completely on your own to work out the sometimes very complicated solutions. One of the main mechanics involves working with your animal companion, Mui, who has some special abilities that can help you control technology as well as other creatures. Mui can hit buttons, cause brief power outages, and more to assist Lana with her progress.

There are a lot of different elements involved and, a lot of the time, you’ll have to figure everything out through trial-and-error. For example, at one point, Mui is able to control what look like round dust bunnies that can stick to surfaces and leave lint behind. Lighting them on fire can cause the fire to spread throughout the area, burning objects and platforms to your advantage. It’s up to you to figure out how this ability can help you move on to the next area. Each new environment you explore will add new elements, and you’ll have to learn how they will negatively or positively affect your progress.

If you’re a fan of puzzle games and you like the challenge of trial-and-error puzzle solving, you’ll definitely be satisfied. If you’re frustrated by puzzles that may take you twenty minutes or even longer to solve, you’ll probably hit a wall as I did and find yourself having to take breaks before going back. Once you get used to the mechanics, hopefully, things will get easier for you, but Planet of Lana II certainly presents a challenge.

Despite the challenges you’ll face when you load into Planet of Lana II, it’s hard to deny how incredible every other element of the game is. From its world-building to its characters to its stunning soundtrack, this title is more than just a great sequel; it’s a great game whether or not you’ve played the first. Fans of the original, or fans of puzzle platformers in general, won’t be disappointed.

Breakdown

Game Name: Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

Developer: Wishfully

Publisher: Thunderful Publishing

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2

Game Length: 7-8 hours

Accessibility:

• Ability to adjust UI scale

• Ability to adjust Gameplay UI

• Can turn on/off the game cursor always being on screen

• Can turn on/off locking the game cursor during gameplay

Final Thoughts

Planet of Lana II triumphs in its world-building as players discover more and more about Lana’s home planet, Novo, and the different factions of people that live there. While I found some of the puzzles to be frustrating, I was so enamored by its story that I found myself wanting to go back for more as soon as the game closed out. Developer Wishfully’s ability to tell a story without any lines of dialogue is unmatched, and if you loved the first Planet of Lana, its sequel is an improvement in almost every way.

Key provided by Plan of Attack PR. Reviewed on Steam Deck.