Revenge of the Savage Planet

The story of Revenge of the Savage Planet is widely praised for its sharp humor, satirical edge, and thematic focus on corporate greed and absurdity. Critics like Gameliner and Generación Xbox highlight its irreverent tone, framing it as a critique of megacorporations through the lens of a disgruntled employee stranded on an alien world. MondoXbox and Movies Games and Tech commend the narrative’s blend of irony and grotesque scenarios, with the protagonist’s awakening after 100 years or being fired mid-mission serving as a comedic yet biting commentary on corporate neglect. Creative Bloq and GameBlast emphasize its darkly humorous take on modern tech dystopia and the absurdity of space exploration, while GAMES.CH notes the use of environmental storytelling and animated cutscenes to enhance the quirky, satirical atmosphere. Many reviewers, including Xbox Tavern and Impulsegamer, appreciate the game’s lighthearted yet critical approach to commercialism, with Softpedia pointing to its unique structure of intertwining three storylines that balance guided narrative with open exploration. Overall, the story is seen as a fun, if not deeply complex, foundation for the game’s adventurous and comedic elements. However, some critics argue that the narrative lacks depth or coherence, with Game Informer noting that while the satirical take on corporate life is present, the core mystery feels underdeveloped compared to the engaging quest log. Radio Times and WellPlayed suggest the story delivery is a weaker aspect, prioritizing gameplay mechanics like exploration and base-building over a compelling plot. Vandal mentions that the humor, though present, may not resonate with all players, and Inverse points to a simplistic narrative that leans heavily on the developer’s personal experiences with Google Stadia, which could feel niche. Pure Xbox and Xbox Tavern note minimal exposition, which might leave players disoriented initially, while BaziCenter and Combo Infinito describe the plot as a backdrop for the game’s action rather than a central pillar. These critiques suggest that while the story’s themes and tone are effective, its execution sometimes falls short of delivering a fully immersive or intricate narrative. Despite these mixed perspectives, the overall consensus among critics leans positive, with the story’s humor and satire being its defining strengths. While some reviewers, like Game Informer and Vandal, acknowledge that the narrative’s impact varies, the majority agree that it successfully captures the absurdity of corporate culture and modern consumerism in a way that aligns with the game’s adventurous gameplay. MondoXbox and Gamer.no highlight its ability to balance critique with entertainment, and Softpedia and Impulsegamer appreciate its memorable, if exaggerated, take on corporate conspiracies. The story’s role as a vehicle for exploration and action is frequently noted, with Meristation and Xbox Tavern emphasizing that players engage more with the world-building and challenges than the plot itself. While not a narrative masterpiece, the game’s satirical and comedic approach is seen as a cohesive and enjoyable element that complements its gameplay, making it a standout in its genre despite its flaws.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Revenge of the Savage Planet for its engaging Metroidvania-inspired structure, emphasizing exploration, progression, and creative mechanics. Gameliner highlighted the game’s "humorous interactions with the environment" and "creative movement," while Generación Xbox and MondoXbox noted its addictive blend of exploration, resource collection, and character development, comparing it to the genre’s classic roots. Pure Xbox and TheXboxHub commended the precise controls and third-person perspective, which enhanced traversal and platforming, and the inclusion of co-op play, respectively. Movies Games and Tech, IGN Spain, and Game Informer lauded the "rewarding exploration system," "variety of weapons and upgrades," and "satisfying mechanics" that kept players invested. The game’s focus on unlocking new tools to access previously unreachable areas, as described by GameOver.gr and WellPlayed, was seen as a core strength, with many reviewers appreciating the organic, non-linear design that encouraged revisiting planets with evolving abilities. These elements collectively created a sense of discovery and mastery, with critics like Metro GameCentral and Softpedia noting the balance between puzzle-solving, combat, and traversal. However, some reviewers pointed out flaws that detracted from the experience. GameSpew and Impulsegamer criticized the combat as "one-note" and "lacking," with the latter finding the death mechanics frustrating. GameSpew also highlighted the "frustrating" creature capture system, while Combo Infinito noted that "some areas lack rewarding discoveries," and Inverse mentioned repetitive tasks that felt like "busywork." Creative Bloq and WellPlayed observed that the upgrade-driven progression occasionally "stalled the pacing" or led to repetitive puzzles, and Metro GameCentral’s mention of "gadget-based challenges" hinted at occasional overcomplication. These critiques, though varied, suggested that while the game’s core loop was strong, certain mechanics—particularly combat and resource management—felt underdeveloped or tedious compared to its exploration and level design. Critics like Vandal and BaziCenter acknowledged the game’s emphasis on strategic thinking and organic exploration but implied that these aspects weren’t always seamlessly integrated. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among reviewers was overwhelmingly positive, with the gameplay’s strengths clearly outweighing its flaws. The Metroidvania framework, combined with open-world exploration across multiple planets, was repeatedly cited as a standout feature, with critics like Meristation and GameBlast noting its "engaging and fun" nature. While some reviewers pointed to minor issues—such as repetitive puzzles or combat shortcomings—the majority viewed these as manageable drawbacks rather than deal-breakers. The game’s emphasis on upgrading equipment, capturing creatures, and revisiting areas with new tools created a compelling loop that kept players motivated, as highlighted by TheXboxHub and Game Informer. Even critics like Combo Infinito and Creative Bloq, who acknowledged certain limitations, praised the refined mechanics and level design. Ultimately, the game’s ability to blend exploration, platforming, and progression in a visually vibrant, humorous world earned it high marks, with the positives—particularly its Metroidvania-inspired structure and creative movement—dominating the critical reception.

The majority of critics praised Revenge of the Savage Planet for its vibrant and creative visual design, highlighting its colorful environments, unique planetary aesthetics, and engaging art direction. Gameliner emphasized the game’s “visually vibrant and creatively designed” world, noting that detailed animations enhance its comedic tone, while TheXboxHub and GameBlast celebrated its diverse biomes and polished presentation, with the latter pointing to “unique biomes” and “visually appealing environments” that enrich exploration. Movies Games and Tech and GameSpew both lauded the “visually stunning” landscapes and “colorful environments,” describing the game as a “whimsical” and “quicky” experience that encourages discovery. The use of Unreal Engine 5 was frequently cited as a strength, with MondoXbox and Creative Bloq noting its role in creating large, detailed worlds and bold, stylized visuals. Even the third-person perspective, as mentioned by Gameliner, was seen as a positive enhancement, offering a more immersive and dynamic view of the game’s eccentric design. While the positives dominated, some critics pointed to technical shortcomings that slightly detracted from the visual experience. BaziCenter and Combo Infinito both noted performance issues, such as frame rate drops and rendering problems, with Combo Infinito specifically mentioning that the game “does not run at 60fps on PS5,” leading to occasional stutter. Xbox Tavern and WellPlayed acknowledged that the visuals, while appealing, “may not be visually groundbreaking” and that the console version targets 30FPS, which could impact fluidity. GameOver.gr also observed that the game’s “visually appealing” design lacks advanced graphical technology, though it maintains stable performance. These critiques, while valid, were relatively minor compared to the widespread admiration for the game’s artistic choices and creative execution, suggesting that technical limitations did not overshadow its visual strengths. Overall, the consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the game’s Graphics and Visual Design being a standout feature. Despite some technical hiccups on PS5, the majority of reviews—such as those from Generación Xbox, Meristation, and Impulsegamer—highlighted its “distinct planets,” “diverse biomes,” and “whimsical” art style as key contributors to its charm and replayability. The game’s cartoonish, hyper-colorful approach, reminiscent of Fortnite and classic 3D platformers, was consistently praised for complementing its humorous tone and fostering a sense of wonder. While a few critics acknowledged its lack of cutting-edge technical prowess, the collective sentiment underscored that Revenge of the Savage Planet succeeds through creativity and style rather than raw graphical power, making it a visually engaging and memorable experience.

The majority of critics praised the sound design and music of Revenge of the Savage Planet, highlighting its alignment with the game’s comedic and quirky tone. Generación Xbox and MondoXbox both commended the excellent English voice acting, particularly noting how it enhances the game’s absurd humor, with MondoXbox specifically praising Eko’s commentary for adding depth. TheXboxHub and Xbox Tavern emphasized the cheerful, well-executed sound effects and a “punchy” soundtrack that complements the game’s adventurous spirit. GameBlast and GameOver.gr also appreciated the vibrant and fitting music, with GameBlast noting how it contributes to the overall enjoyment, while GameOver.gr highlighted the ironic company announcements as a standout element. Additionally, WellPlayed praised the FMV videos and parody adverts for their high production values and comedic charm, reinforcing the game’s unique identity through its audio elements. However, some critics pointed out notable drawbacks. Softpedia criticized the soundtrack as “repetitive,” which detracted from the experience, while Gamer.no found the constant chatter from the robot companion overwhelming, suggesting it could hinder immersion. IGN Spain noted that the high-quality music, though well-executed, was underutilized during gameplay, with players primarily encountering it in their habitat. These critiques indicate that while the sound design is generally strong, its frequency and variety may not fully satisfy all players. The repetition and overuse of certain audio elements, such as the robot’s voice, were seen as potential drawbacks that could diminish the game’s overall impact. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among critics leans positively toward the sound design and music of Revenge of the Savage Planet. The majority of reviews celebrated its ability to enhance the game’s humor and atmosphere, with praise for voice acting, quirky sound effects, and a soundtrack that matches the game’s energetic tone. While some critics like Softpedia and Gamer.no raised valid concerns about repetition and pacing, these were relatively minor compared to the widespread appreciation for the audio design. The game’s sound elements are largely seen as a key contributor to its charm, with many reviewers emphasizing how they elevate the experience, even if not every aspect is flawless.

The voice acting in Revenge of the Savage Planet is widely praised for its quality and creativity, with multiple critics highlighting its role in amplifying the game’s humorous tone. Generación Xbox commends the "quality and creativity" of the voice work, emphasizing its contribution to the game’s comedic atmosphere. MondoXbox specifically notes the excellence of Eko, the protagonist’s robotic companion, as a standout element, while Pure Xbox appreciates the customization options for Eko’s voice and chatter frequency, which enhance the game’s humor. TheXboxHub and IGN Spain also celebrate the "dry and cheerful robot drone" and the "humorous videos and announcements," respectively, underscoring how the voice acting enriches the game’s lighthearted and satirical narrative. These reviews collectively suggest that the voice work is a deliberate and effective design choice, blending absurdity with charm to create a memorable experience. However, some critics express reservations about the voice acting, particularly regarding its potential to overwhelm players. Movies Games and Tech describes the robotic sidekick’s constant dialogue as "overwhelming," though they acknowledge its value in enhancing the story if kept active. Gamer.no echoes this sentiment, noting that while the robot companion’s guidance can be adjusted, it "may become annoying for some players." Impulsegamer criticizes the humor of the quippy robot as "outdated," suggesting that the voice acting’s comedic elements might not resonate with all audiences. Additionally, Creative Bloq mentions FMV ads with "wonderfully bad acting," which could imply a disconnect between the game’s voice acting and its visual storytelling. These critiques point to a design balance that, while intentional, may not appeal universally due to its repetitive or dated nature. Despite these mixed reactions, the overall consensus among critics leans positive, with the voice acting being a key component of the game’s identity. While some find the robotic companion’s dialogue excessive or the humor stale, the majority highlight its creativity, personality, and ability to elevate the game’s tone. TheXboxHub and Pure Xbox’s emphasis on customization options suggests that the developers aimed to cater to diverse preferences, allowing players to tailor their experience. GameOver.gr and IGN Spain further reinforce this by praising the voice acting’s role in adding character and enhancing immersion through ironic announcements. Ultimately, the voice acting is seen as a defining feature that aligns with the game’s quirky, satirical style, even if its effectiveness depends on individual tolerance for its quirks.

The technical performance of Revenge of the Savage Planet receives mixed but generally favorable feedback across platforms. On the Xbox Series X, critics like Movies Games and Tech and Pure Xbox highlight a smooth and stable experience, with no frame rate issues or stability problems, while Generación Xbox and TheXboxHub note that the game performs well overall, particularly in cooperative mode, despite minor bugs. For the PS5, GameOver.gr, IGN Spain, and Metro GameCentral praise its solid construction, stable frame rates, and visual quality, with IGN Spain emphasizing its "visually impressive" technical execution. WellPlayed and Creative Bloq also acknowledge the game’s reasonable performance, even if some critics like Softpedia and Radio Times mention minor UI glitches or occasional frame stutters that are not critical. Overall, both platforms are seen as capable of delivering a polished experience, with some reviewers suggesting that technical flaws are overshadowed by the game’s charm and design. However, technical issues are more pronounced on both platforms, though with varying severity. On Xbox Series X, Gameliner and MondoXbox report frame rate drops and crashes during co-op play, while Meristation describes the performance as "very just," implying it meets basic expectations but lacks polish. TheXboxHub and Xbox Tavern note specific bugs, such as getting stuck in environments or losing resources upon death, which can disrupt gameplay. For the PS5, BaziCenter, Combo Infinito, and Creative Bloq mention frame drops and rendering problems, especially in demanding scenes, while GameBlast criticizes the absence of a performance mode. GameSpew and Softpedia highlight recurring bugs and UI glitches, and Radio Times even suggests these issues add to the game’s "charm," though others like WellPlayed express concerns about the 30FPS target. These flaws, while present, are often framed as tolerable or non-disruptive to the core experience. The overall consensus among critics is that Revenge of the Savage Planet delivers a technically sound experience, albeit with some platform-specific quirks. On Xbox Series X, while Gameliner and MondoXbox point to performance inconsistencies, the majority of reviewers, including Movies Games and Tech and Metro GameCentral, emphasize its stability and smooth gameplay. For the PS5, the game is praised for its solid performance by GameOver.gr and IGN Spain, but critics like BaziCenter and GameSpew note that technical hiccups—such as frame rate locks or glitches—are more frequent. Despite these issues, most reviewers agree that they do not significantly detract from the game’s enjoyment, with Radio Times and Softpedia acknowledging that flaws are minor and often forgiven by the game’s engaging design. The divide between platforms appears to be more about the frequency of bugs than overall capability, with both systems handling the game adequately, though not flawlessly.

The majority of critics highlight the game’s strong replay value through its emphasis on exploration, collectibles, and cooperative play. Gameliner and MondoXbox note that the collectathon mechanics, upgrades, and secrets encourage players to revisit the game, particularly for completionists. Pure Xbox and TheXboxHub emphasize the variety of planets and gameplay loops that reward exploration, while Generación Xbox and Movies Games and Tech praise the engaging gameplay and vast worlds that invite repeated playthroughs. Co-op features are a recurring positive point, with Meristation and Combo Infinito pointing out that real-time shared progress and couch co-op make the experience more enjoyable on subsequent runs. Additionally, IGN Spain and Gamer.no highlight the potential for multiple endings and secondary arcs, which further incentivize players to explore different paths and outcomes. These elements collectively create a foundation for replayability, especially for those who value discovery and social gameplay. However, some critics caution against potential limitations in replay value due to repetitive structures or mechanics. Creative Bloq and GameOver.gr mention that the Metroidvania-style exploration, while rewarding, can feel monotonous over time, and WellPlayed notes that certain puzzles may lose their appeal upon repeated attempts. Impulsegamer and Inverse point out that co-op play, while a plus, is hindered by missions not being optimized for teamwork, which could dampen the experience for some. Metro GameCentral and Softpedia also note that the game’s relatively short length (12–15 hours) and lack of explicit emphasis on replayability might not satisfy players seeking extended content. These critiques suggest that while the game’s design fosters revisiting, its core mechanics and structure could become tiresome for those who prioritize variety or longer gameplay. Despite these concerns, the overall consensus among critics leans toward a positive assessment of the game’s replay value, acknowledging its strengths in exploration, co-op, and progression systems. While some highlight the risk of repetition, the majority agree that the game’s collectibles, secrets, and dynamic upgrades provide enough incentive for multiple playthroughs. Gameliner, Pure Xbox, and IGN Spain emphasize the appeal of discovering hidden content and experimenting with different playstyles, whereas critics like Creative Bloq and Inverse balance their praise with reservations about monotony. The game’s replayability seems to depend on player preferences—those who enjoy co-op and exploration will likely find it rewarding, while others may be deterred by its repetitive elements. Ultimately, the reviewers concur that Revenge of the Savage Planet offers a satisfying, if not overly lengthy, reason to return to its worlds.