Planet of Lana, the 2023 puzzle-platformer, is back and that means you can expect three things: gorgeous landscapes, top-tier puzzles, and a continuation of Lana and adorable Mui’s story. Whether you’re returning to the technological story or are new to its beauty, you can try out Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf with Wishfully’s upcoming demo.
Planet of Lana released in May 2023 as a puzzle-platformer that used the iconic 2D side-scroller format, blending the old with the new with its beautiful art style that captured undisturbed nature and terrain against a technological underbelly that demanded to be explored. Planet of Lana showed the childlike wonder and how the world literally expands as you explore it; where the game isn’t just a fight for survival against the elements, animals, and the threat of something new, but how we can overcome anything if we hold onto hope.
It’s an underrated puzzle-platformer that wields the nostalgia of Rayman and Oddworld, the beauty of Journey, and the emotional impact of INSIDE and Shadow of the Colossus.
The original story showed Lana traversing across various biomes; where civilization is non-existent, and nature and technology runs rampant. It demonstrated the stillness of a natural world that’s been tainted by advanced technology. Though, this mechanical corruption only needed a soft touch, and that’s where Lana came in. Her drive to save her community, paired with the inseparable bond of Mui, an adorable cat-like companion, harmonized beautifully with Planet of Lana‘s themes of resilience and hope.
This sequel will have new ways to solve puzzles and scale walls, expanding on Lana and Mui’s abilities while balancing stealth and problem-solving as seen from the first game. While the original had the isolation of Wall-E and the appearance of a Studio Ghibli title, Children of the Leaf may be inspired by Princess Mononoke as promo images feature a sort of deer god (Forest Spirit). You can expect a calming and powerful soundtrack in this title that tugs on the heartstrings, just like the original.
Children of the Leaf is the sequel of Planet of Lana, a direct continuation of Lana’s story. The mystery of Mui’s powers takes a step into the spotlight. The narrative has moved on from the threat of robots going against humanity to how power in the wrong hands can destroy tradition and sever community. The store page briefly describes the divide between tribes, likely through factions using technology for all the wrong reasons. It’s a story that should resonate with us—now more than ever—what with the everchanging technological landscape that threatens our very jobs.
If you’re interesting in trying the sequel out, the demo for Children of the Leaf will drop on Feb. 11, on PC, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X/S.
