Journey to the Savage Planet

Journey to the Savage Planet is a 2020 adventure game developed by Typhoon Studios and published by 505 Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on January 28, 2020, with a Nintendo Switch version released on May 21, 2020 and a Stadia version on February 1, 2021. It was released in Japan on August 20, 2020.[1]

Journey to the Savage Planet
Developer(s)Typhoon Studios
Publisher(s)505 Games
Director(s)Alex Hutchinson
Producer(s)Reid Schneider
Designer(s)Jean Pellerin
Programmer(s)Yassine Riahi
Artist(s)Erick Bilodeau
Writer(s)Alex Hutchinson
Composer(s)Brian D'Oliveira
EngineUnreal Engine 4 
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
Stadia
ReleaseJanuary 28, 2020
Nintendo Switch
May 21, 2020
Stadia
February 1, 2021
Genre(s)Adventure, metroidvania
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Journey to the Savage Planet is an adventure game played from a first-person perspective. In the game, players are tasked to explore ARY-26, a colorful planet inhabited by various alien lifeforms such as Pufferbird, Barfer and Floopsnoot. The player's main task is to catalogue various alien flora and fauna, and collect the resources needed to craft new items and upgrades, such as jetpacks and grappling hooks, which enable the players to reach previously inaccessible areas.[2] Players will also encounter various hostile lifeforms, which can be defeated using weapons such as laser guns and throwable items such as acid grenades.[3] The game can also be played cooperatively with another player.[4]

Story

The player was hired as an employee for Kindred Aerospace, the "4th Best Interstellar Exploration Company", who must explore an uncharted planet named ARY-26 to see if it would be suitable for future human colonization and discover the secrets of the planet.

Development

Journey to the Savage Planet was directed by Alex Hutchinson, the director of Assassin's Creed III and Far Cry 4, and it was the debut project for Typhoon Studios. About 20-30 people worked on the game, and the game's development started in late 2017.[5] The team wanted to make the game a very focused experience, thus they avoided adding many features that were considered as "extras" in other triple A titles. Elements from Metroidvania games were also incorporated into the game, and the team introduced a lot of hidden content to encourage players to explore the world.[6] In comparison to standard video games the game was designed to be shorter and easier than most modern titles, this was done so that players would not "see it as a liability".[7] Speaking of the game's tone, Hutchinson called the game an "earnest comedy" and that the title was "very much more in the fiction side of science fiction".[8] The game's dialogue was designed to be humorous, but the team also ensured that players can create funny moments on purpose or by accident via the title's various interconnected gameplay systems.[9] Metroid Prime, the Far Cry series and Subnautica influenced the game's design, while the game's bright visual style was inspired by films such as Men in Black and Ghostbusters.[10] The game also incorporates elements from Pioneer, a cancelled game that Hutchinson was working on at Ubisoft.[7] The team also took influence from the Golden Age of Science Fiction specifically the optimism expressed in those works.[7]

Hutchinson announced the game during The Game Awards 2018.[11] Publisher 505 Games released the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows (via the Epic Games Store) on January 28, 2020.[12] Due to the relatively light content Hutchinson chose to release the game at a budget price of $30 which he also hoped would help players "take a risk with a new IP".[7]

Reception

The Xbox One and the Windows versions received generally positive reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic,[13][15] while the PlayStation 4 received mixed reviews.[14]

References
  1. "Journey To The Savage Planet". Nintendo Japan. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. Wakeling, Richard (January 28, 2020). "Journey To The Savage Planet Review - A Pulpy Sci-Fi Romp". GameSpot. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. Lane, Rick (January 30, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet review – a colourful adventure". The Guardian. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  4. Livington, Christopher (August 19, 2019). "Journey to the Savage Planet will have online co-op, launches in January". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  5. Leri, Michael (June 16, 2019). "How Journey to the Savage Planet was inspired by archaeology and Assassin's Creed 3". Game Revolution. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  6. Valdes, Giancarlo (April 12, 2019). "Journey to the Savage Planet is a cheeky sci-fi romp packed with secrets". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  7. Garst, Aron. "Journey to the Savage Planet a reaction to a past life of AAA development". Gamsutra. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  8. Valentine, Rebekah (December 7, 2018). "Journey to the Savage Planet and an adventure in optimism". Gameindustry.biz. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  9. Hornshaw, Phil (June 24, 2019). "Journey To The Savage Planet Lets You Make Your Own Laughs With 'Interactive Slapstick'". GameSpot. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  10. Futter, Michael (March 26, 2019). "'Journey to the Savage Planet' Is Irreverent Exploration in Service of Capitalism". Game Informer. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  11. Vincent, Brittany (December 6, 2018). "TGA 2018: Typhoon Studios' Journey to the Savage Planet announced". Shacknews. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  12. Khan, Imran (August 19, 2019). "Journey To The Savage Planet Releasing In January". Game Informer. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  13. "Journey to the Savage Planet for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  14. "Journey to the Savage Planet for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  15. "Journey to the Savage Planet for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  16. Devore, Jordan (February 2, 2020). "Review: Journey to the Savage Planet". Destructoid. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  17. Wood, Austin (January 27, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet review - "A great time no matter what you do"". GamesRadar+. Future Publishing. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  18. Skrebels, Joe (January 27, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet Review". IGN. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  19. O'Reilly, PJ (May 25, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet (2020)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  20. Iwaniuk, Phil (January 27, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet review". PC Gamer. Future Publishing. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  21. Lane, Rick (January 30, 2020). "Journey to the Savage Planet review – a colourful adventure". The Guardian. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
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