Developer Wishfully has expanded upon the pastel art style of the original in Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf, resulting in an even more gorgeous sequel. The game builds on the world and characters, offering a refined continuation that addresses the original's main criticism of being too short.
Set nearly two years after the first game, the sequel opens with a brief prologue before easing players back into its cinematic puzzle-platforming. Lana now has a more refined moveset, including dashing and sliding, which makes controlling her feel slicker and more responsive.
Mui, Lana's cat-like companion, returns with new abilities, including the power to hypnotise wildlife. This adds depth to puzzles, requiring players to think differently by incorporating a third party's skills, such as a fish blocking cameras with ink or a mouse-like creature's ash trail being set alight.
The puzzles are more complex but never stump for long. However, some trial-and-error platforming sections can break the suspense when repeated multiple times. The story's poignant moments are effective, with Takeshi Furukawa's score enhancing the emotional stakes.
Overall, Planet of Lana 2 is a welcome sequel that refines the original formula while expanding its scope, offering a heartfelt and visually stunning adventure.
