Planet of Lana features a vibrant world full of whimsy and wonder.
Summer Game Fest 2021 held some great announcements from Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, the release date for the then-wildly anticipated Elden Ring, and a new look at Tales of Arise. One new reveal that really caught the attention of many was Planet of Lana. With its beautiful hand-painted art styles and ethereal vibes, Planet of Lana was love at first sight. Couple this with sci-fi elements, an adorable companion, and gorgeous environments; this was going to be a captivating adventure with a lasting impact. Wishfully Studio’s debut title is five years in the making and was well worth the wait.
Wishfully is an indie game studio based in Sweden that was formed in 2018. In their own words, they have “a passion for creating stunning artwork, deep storytelling, and innovative design. We are always striving to make games that leave a lasting impact”. Wishfully have a bright future as they are off to the races with Planet of Lana.
Planet of Lana is a puzzle-platformer/adventure game that takes inspiration from classic indie games like Limbo and Inside as you sneak past enemies, hop to different platforms, and solve puzzles to make your way through to the end. Unlike its contemporaries, it features a dual dynamic to add flavor to puzzles.
It follows the story of the titular young girl, Lana, and her trusty and cuddly companion, Mui, as they set forth on a mission to rescue not only her sister but the rest of her village from the rampaging robots. Lana and Mui must aid each other in their weaknesses if they hope to survive the now hostile environments.
The story begins as Lana is off playing with her sister, Elo, as they make their way from the village to the outskirts, past the verdant forest. Trouble in paradise quickly ensues as they soon arrive at a cliff when, suddenly, robots appear to kidnap Elo and the rest of the village. Immediately, you are thrust into this world gone awry and set forth on an epic adventure.
The dialogue seems to be spoken in gibberish, but it was actually a language developed for the game. No subtitles are included, which was by design. You don’t need to know what they are saying anyway because you can feel it through the character’s actions, emotions, and body language.
Lana’s desperation can be felt as you hear her call out for her sister, just as much as her affectionate side reveals itself while interacting with Mui. Wishfully’s choice to present the narrative like this adds a deeper layer of feeling, as all you can understand is raw emotion.
The DNA of past hit puzzle-platformers is imbued into the gameplay mechanics found in Planet of Lana. There are plenty of puzzles of varying difficulty. A few head-scratchers here and there, but they never feel unfair. The eye candy aspect aside, the surroundings are your best friend. If a puzzle seems too difficult, retrace your steps, the answer will surface.
One particular puzzle where you have to match the right notes together can leave you confused if you aren’t exploring the area properly. Lana is naturally heavier, allowing her to give weight to a platform and carry heavy objects such as containers or logs.
She can remove planks of wood and other obstructions to access crawl spaces, too. Her jump is also shorter than Muis. Lana can command Mui where to go up to a certain distance. It’s useful to access out of reach platforms where Mui can knock over ropes for Lana to climb up or buttons it can press.
You can also tell it to stay, so it can sit on black patches of flora to extend curled-up flora forward, allowing Lana to climb on top of it to access new heights. Lana can also have Mui follow behind her. There are holes in the ground for Mui to move in and out of seamlessly.
This is particularly useful for luring robots to inspect the holes, giving Lana the opportunity to run past them unscathed. Stealth is a huge aspect of the game. There are bushes scattered around that Lana and Mui must utilize to keep out of sight of the robots or wildlife. If you are caught, there is little in the way of helping you, as they are insanely fast and will kill you if you aren’t vigilant.
Mui is afraid of water, so you must solve puzzles and bring a log over, so it can perch on top while you move it across whilst hiding from the aggressive robots. Mui’s last ability can be found via the trinket Lana receives that allows her to command Mui to telekinetically possess creatures to aid in puzzles. Wild fauna can be put into a trance-like state thanks to Mui’s new ability. You can move the slug-like creatures backward or forward to extend or shorten their bodies, allowing Lana to hoist herself up to a cliff.
The bond between the two is powerful. There is desperation in their voice when the other dies, and you can even pet Mui on its head. There are many static moments when the screen goes into a cinematic mode. Lana and Mui will run across the sprawling landscape for up to a minute at a time, allowing players a moment of reprieve and a chance to appreciate the scenery.
Every backdrop passed by is adorned by breathtaking hand-painted art. This set itself apart from its contemporaries. It presents a gargantuan-sized level of charm, with characters having button eyes. The beeps and boops of the robots form a melody as the colors on their display change.
Planet of Lana more than pulls its weight in the art game sub-genre. With lush verdant greenery, scorching hot deserts, and gorgeous sunsets, set to ambient music to match the given area. Music is an integral part of the immersion in gaming and rings true in Planet of Lana.
The main menu features a somber piano piece with sounds of wildlife and white noise to enhance the feeling of the impending journey. Takeshi Furukawa, an American-Japanese composer/conductor, lends his musical talents to create a soundtrack that is both mesmerizing and pleasing to the ears. He has also worked on the now-defunct Japan Studio’s The Last Guardian’s soundtrack as well. It is safe to say Planet of Lana was in good hands when it comes to the sounds found on Planet Novo. The sound direction, in general, was sublime.
Planet of Lana is much more than a game; it’s a spiritual experience. At times, cutscenes will be silent as Lana and Mui trek across the land, fully immersing the player in Planet Novo’s different locales. Much like moments out of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away when characters are just soaking in the environment, with no dialogue and a dash of awe-inspiring wonder.
Scenes like these evoke more emotion because you are reliant on other factors outside the story elements. Wishfully masterfully creates this ethereal vibe In Planet of Lana. Moments that just make you put the controller down and take it all in as well.
It’s a chill game that also has its fair share of wild moments. In one instance, you are exploring a scenic beach and the next; you are riding atop a spider-like robot like a horse at breakneck speed, avoiding enemy robots shooting at you along the way. Planet of Lana features a few segments with quick time events that are nothing short of epic. One standout scene will leave the player with their jaws on the floor. As you progress, certain areas have paintings that seem to point to old lore. According to the official game summary, the saga stretches across centuries and galaxies.
For the player here for the journey and not just the destination, there are also shrines to visit, with ten in total but they are well hidden. Aside from the shrines, there are no collectibles. Just a linear A to B experience. Planet of Lana has little to no issues in its performance, either. A few frame drops here and there in the forest for the pre-release, but it was quickly updated on day one with a performance patch to smooth out those minor kinks. So far, Planet of Lana is one of the most promising titles Xbox has released this year.
Wishfully Studio’s debut title is an endearing sci-fi epic that will leave you feeling an array of different emotions. Planet of Lana is also one of the most visually impressive indie games to come out of 2023, with its vivid, hand-painted environments and backdrops, there is plenty to gawk at. The gameplay has fluidness and easy to understand mechanics that allows for a smooth gaming experience. The bond that Lana shares with Mui is a special one, and genuinely wants to see these two persevere to save the day.
Planet of Lana is short and sweet and never overstays its welcome. There was an onion or two cut in front of me by the time the credits rolled around. It is a remarkable debut effort from Wishfully Studios that is sure to delight with its gorgeous visuals, grand story, and brain-busting puzzles.
