Planet of Lana II Review

Planet of Lana was one of my favourite video games of 2023, a story of a young girl, Lana, who befriends an adorable cat-like creature named Mui while trying to survive a robot-invasion of her planet. Planet of Lana felt like a colourful version of Limbo but with its own sense of identity. Planet of Lana’s ending was quite contained, and now, 3 years later, Planet of Lana II is here, but did we need a sequel? I’m pleased to say we certainly did.

We once again take control of Lana and Mui, after Lana’s sister ends up in a coma-like state after coming into contact with a mysterious toxin. The two search for three ingredients to concoct a potion to hopefully cure Lana’s sister, but in the process, uncover the dark secrets of their planet.

In Planet of Lana II, Lana has become more nimble, with elevated platforming abilities such as wall jumps and the ability to swim underwater. Mui, with the increased bond with Lana, can be controlled more precisely, allowing for more complex puzzles than in the previous game. Controlling Mui is seamless and genuinely feels so much smoother this time around.

With no weapons on hand, stealth is once again a major factor in Planet of Lana II. I, myself, have never been the biggest fan of stealth in video games, but Planet of Lana II’s stealth sequences never feel tedious, and the checkpoints are mostly generous. With more ways to navigate these levels, the stealth sections never feel too frequent.

Mui also has the ability to control patrol drones and other creatures akin to Mui’s species to assist with puzzles and navigating the gorgeous painted landscapes. These sections are incredibly fun and offer a small reprieve from the sometimes punishing time-reliant platforming.

I found the puzzles in this sequel more complex and sometimes challenging, but not difficult to the point where you start to doubt your own intellect. Puzzles introduce new mechanics often, and then reintroduce them once more in conjunction with another mechanic. They are so satisfying to solve, especially the odd ones that may have you using trial-and-error methods.

What I love most about Planet of Lana II is that it expands the worldbuilding touched on in the first game, answering many questions I was left with. In fact, in my Planet of Lana review, I specifically stated that, “I am in love with the Planet of Lana world, I just wish I knew more of the history behind the planet we are traversing.” Planet of Lana II, with tremendous effort, explores the history of the planet without any English dialogue, and does a fantastic job doing so. The narrative is ultimately left up to interpretation, but that doesn’t mean it’s not easy to follow either.

Planet of Lana II’s soundtrack is as serene as the first game, with mostly ambient sounds during puzzles and beautiful melodic pieces around key story moments. The music flawlessly heightens the emotions of each scene, encapsulating the story beats near perfectly. Takeshi Furukawa’s work is a masterpiece, with no piece of music inferior to another.

Planet of Lana II is more of Planet of Lana, but with its core elements elevated and expanded upon. But the beauty of this sequel is the storytelling and world-building through music, camera pans, and breathtaking scenery and landscapes.