Planet of Lana II: Kids of the Leaf is a cinematic puzzle/platformer that focuses extra on setting and storytelling than motion. I haven’t performed the primary recreation, however this nonetheless works nice as a standalone revel in. It pulls you in lovely briefly, or even with out a lot discussion, it’s simple to grasp what’s occurring.
The tale is most commonly informed thru visuals, personality animations, and what’s going down round you. You’re shifting thru a mixture of herbal landscapes and spaces that really feel extra darkish and mechanical, and that distinction performs into the full tone of the sport. I appreciated that it doesn’t overexplain issues, however that still approach some moments can really feel just a little obscure. Nonetheless, it remains constant, and the point of interest at the connection between the principle characters is helping raise it ahead as you move.
Gameplay sticks to puzzle/platforming, however there’s extra selection right here than chances are you’ll be expecting to start with. Numerous the puzzles contain running along your spouse, whether or not that’s distracting enemies, triggering mechanisms, or timing actions so you’ll transfer ahead safely. There also are stealth sections the place you need to keep away from detection, and a couple of sequences that really feel extra cinematic, like escaping threats or navigating collapsing environments. None of it’s particularly difficult, then again there have been a couple of moments the place I discovered myself staring on the display screen for some time making an attempt to determine one of the best ways to finish one of the vital tougher puzzles. It’s paced properly and introduces new concepts continuously sufficient to stay issues from feeling repetitive.
The visuals are simply one in all my favourite portions of the sport. The environments have a hand-painted glance, with spaces starting from open, colourful landscapes to darker sections with a heavier mechanical presence. There’s a noticeable shift in tone relying on the place you’re within the recreation, which is helping stay the adventure from feeling flat. It runs properly at the Nintendo Transfer, each hand held and docked, and I didn’t run into any efficiency problems. The soundtrack is lovely excellent too, particularly all over quieter moments or when the sport leans into extra anxious sequences.
The largest drawback remains to be the duration. It’s a brief revel in total, and it ends simply because it feels find it irresistible’s beginning to construct momentum. The puzzles additionally keep at the more uncomplicated facet, so for those who’re on the lookout for one thing tougher, this most likely received’t push you very a lot. That stated, it does stay issues shifting, and there isn’t a lot downtime or filler.
Total, Planet of Lana II: Kids of the Leaf is a forged, well-paced revel in that does so much proper, although it doesn’t pass very a ways with its concepts. If you happen to’re partial to puzzle-platformers or slower-paced, story-driven video games, that is one you’ll most likely revel in. Simply don’t be expecting an extended or in particular challenging revel in.
