Summary
One of the biggest upgradesRevenge of the Savage Planethas over its prequel is the multiple planets you can explore instead of just one. There are four main planets to explore, as well as a bonus end-game inclusion to tie everything together, and each of them presents a unique environment and challenge.
Not only does each planet have a distinct aesthetic, but they each have a unique host of creatures, as well ashidden upgrades and toolsto make the protagonist even more powerful. While all the planets have their own charms, which is the most fun to play through?
5Slappi’s Den Of Fun
Best Region: Shrine Of Grind
It feels a little unfair to compare Slappi’s Den of Fun to the rest of the planets you can explore, since it’s structured so differently, but it’s presented as a planet on the selection screen, so it counts.
Instead of offering a standard open-ended level like the other planets, you’ll instead visit separate challenge shrines accessible at specific teleport points. Each of these shrines has a completely different style of platforming or combat challenge, and while some are a lot of fun, like the Shrine of Grind, others feel more forgettable.
After completing the shrines, you get to visit the final area for the direct fight against Slappi. His monologue exhibit is a perfect representation of the game’s sense of humour, but it does drag a little by the end, and while the final boss fight is fine, it doesn’t compare to some of the earlier bosses.
4Stellaris Prime
Best Region: Nu Florida
Stellaris Prime has the most unique structure out of all the planets in Savage Planet, since you’ll be returning there the most often. A large chunk of the planet is taken up by the hub area of Nu Florida. While theHabitat and creature enclosuresare fun to revisit and rewarding to build-up, the rest of Nu Florida feels barren thanks to just how big and empty it is.
The rest of the planet is much stronger, however, with some of the best platforming in the game, especially since you’ll be so limited in your abilities on your first visit. It never feels like you’re running up against too many locked doors, and the limits just force you to be more creative with your techniques.
The main drawback of Stellaris Prime is the lack of return appeal. Yes, you can use new abilities to reach new areas upon return, but these new areas tend to be tiny and not offer many meaningful rewards. If a bigger chunk of the planet was saved for late-game, it would be a bit more of a tantalizing prospect to revisit.
3Xephyr
Best Region: Great Oasis
Xephyr is a refreshing planet to visit second after you finish your pretty long first visit in Stellaris Prime, since it’s a lot more open, and you’re much less likely to face that many locked-off areas.
Even though desert biomes can often feel a little samey and boring in some games, Xephyr doesn’t fall for this same trap. There are plenty of unique zones that actually make it one of the more diverse areas in the game, with the Oasis being a clear stand out.
The diversity does end up contributing to Xephyr’s main weakness however, being that it sometimes feels a bit mashed together. Different zones tend to feel a little plonked-down wherever they would fit, and it just makes the setting feel a little less natural compared to other planets. In spite of this, it’s still plenty of fun to explore.
2Quasadron IX
Best Region: Florian’s Fuschia Festivus
Despite the relatively calm opening area, as soon as you venture into the depths of Quasadron IX, you won’t be given a break, but in the best way possible. Quasadron IX is beautiful; the jungle theme is utilized expertly, with different aesthetics working together perfectly, but contained in this beauty, are some of the most aggressive creatures in the game.
There are a couple of more peaceful creatures, but the vast majority will attack on sight, and it makes exploring Quasadron IX chaotic. This makes sense though, since it’s the last main planet you’ll unlock, so having a constant challenge is a great way to feel like you’re really being tested.
The main drawback of the final main planetis the tool upgradesyou’ll find here, or the lack thereof. The only main upgrade you get this far into the game is the remote-controlled drone, and while it would’ve been useful earlier in the game, it feels like a waste being kept so late on in the story.
1Zenithian Rift
Best Region: Bilodeau’s Floating Isle
Revenge of the Savage Planet is far from the first game to combine a fiery and icy zone into one area, but it does have one of the best executions of the concept in Zenithian Drift.
Instead of the two opposing elements being combined at random, the lava-filled depths are kept low, and the icy mountains are kept high, and it makes the area feel more naturally occurring rather than a video game just trying to stand out.
While some of the enemies can be a little frustrating to fight, especially in the large groups you’re faced with, since you’re so powerful by this point in the game, it’s a well-scaled challenge to test all of your abilities. Exploring the floating isles after unlocking the glider is a clear highlight, with some of the best vertical traversal in the whole game.
