Review – Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

brings back Lana and Mui to continue their adventures on this mysterious hand-painted planet. The enchanting moments certainly remained in fans’ memories, and now we have the chance to delve deeper into the secrets of this world far from Earth. But here it is clear from the start: this is a sequel that expands and refines what is no longer so alien.

Developed by Wishfully, the game keeps its foundation intact: adventure, clever puzzles, and stunning aesthetics. This time, Lana and Mui are more mature and have new skills that expand the possibilities of interaction. The experience is more varied, more fluid and more ambitious. Still, it is a safe evolution, which improves what already worked without necessarily risking new paths.

In search of a cure

The journey begins years after the first title. Driven by curiosity, Lana and Mui explore an old installation, a prologue that already indicates that there is something bigger behind this story. When Anua falls ill while approaching a mysterious rock, the central mission of Planet of Lana II begins: finding the ingredients for a healing potion. What starts as a simple search quickly turns into something much broader.

There are three ingredients spread across different biomes. In the icy mountains, the pulp of a very rare flower, at the bottom of the sea, a pearl protected in a shell and, in the forest, a ritual that leads to the encounter with a mystical animal, from which it will be necessary to extract part of the horn. The structure is clear, divided into episodes and works well precisely because it serves as the basis for what the game does best: its countless puzzles.

But reducing the experience to these three destinations would be unfair. Parallel to the search for a cure, we see how the tribes are using the reprogrammed machines to their advantage and, discreetly, traces of the past emerge and raise deeper questions about the relationship between humans and machines. The question that echoes is inevitable: where did all this come from?

The murals scattered around the scene do not provide ready-made answers. The game relies on interpretation, which is a bold choice and consistent with its contemplative proposal. Visually, the planet is even grander. The machines, reminiscent of ARCs creatures, remain threatening and reinforce the need for stealth. Here, the danger is not in frantic action, but in constant worry.

Anyone who played the first title knows that the dynamic between Lana and Mui is the heart of the experience. In Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf, this partnership reaches its best moment. Lana is more agile, can stick to walls and reprogram machines to use them strategically. Mui, in turn, takes on an even more active role: deactivating circuits, interacting with objects and establishing connections with creatures on the planet.

This expansion of skills is not a mere detail, it transforms the design of the puzzles that match well with the scenarios. The variety is impressive and shows obvious care with progression and rhythm. The game introduces ideas, develops, combines and exchanges at the right time. It’s a formula that surprises throughout the progression

Mechanics for moving boxes appear frequently, robots can be reprogrammed to create strategic situations, structures can be levitated and even a small submarine comes into play. Nothing seems thrown in there just for variety: everything makes up the scenarios and it’s up to you to decide how to use them throughout the journey.

I ask about creatures from Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf

The most creative point of the sequence is controlling the creatures. There are three in total, each with well-defined functions and their own puzzles. The small fish is fast, passes through narrow spaces and can release a dark speck to blind cameras and other sea creatures. The fluffy ball creates flammable trails that open the way in blocked areas, a shame, however, that the animal needs to be sacrificed during the process, a decision that reinforces the weight of choices. The flying animal allows you to transport water and modify the environment by watering plants.

They all work very well. Maybe even too well, because when they start to get really interesting, the game moves on. It’s impossible not to wish these mechanics were explored for longer. They remind us of the feeling of not wanting to say goodbye to the mounts in Donkey Kong Country or the transformations in Super Mario Odyssey. Here, creativity is real and that is precisely why it leaves you wanting more.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf constantly transforms throughout the journey. Narrative, gameplay, visuals and orchestral score go together and mix, just like the handmade arts. In fact, the art direction continues to be one of the series’ greatest assets and, without a doubt, the element that most sustains its identity. It’s impossible not to get involved.

There are moments controlling just Mui, almost like a little point-and-click, that break the rhythm in an intelligent way and still hold challenges. Even in the fear of water that the little companion still feels, it is also incorporated as mechanics, requiring Lana to transport him safely in a flower that transforms into a bag.

The characters’ own language remains incomprehensible and this decision continues to be the right one. The absence of subtitles for dialogue reinforces the idea that the player must observe, interpret and feel. It’s not a game that explains too much. He trusts the attention of whoever is playing.

Interpreting the signs

Anua’s search for a cure is just the trigger. The real focus is on the relationship between machines and humans. Some revelations may sound predictable, but the emotional impact still works. The game builds its moments delicately and knows when to slow down. The ending leaves room for continuity. It remains to be seen: DLCs or a new game, Wishfully? Whatever it is, we want it!

To everyone’s delight, the duration is longer than that of the first game, being around eight hours. This can be extended if you look for all the collectibles, which help to create an interesting narrative diagram (here’s a tip). The rhythm is balanced, without exaggerations or artificial fillers.

The puzzles are not especially difficult and here is one point that can divide feelings. Accessibility can expand the audience, but it reduces the feeling of overcoming. At times, there was a lack of boldness for greater challenges during the progression. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf ends up choosing a safe path in its design and it’s not possible to judge, after all, the recipe worked in the first title.

Even though it is an experience deeply focused on the connection between two characters, the game remains exclusively single-player. A cooperative mode would have the potential to drastically increase the duo’s dynamics. It’s a wasted opportunity. While playing I wondered what it would be like to have a second player exclusively controlling Mui.

Another detail is that there is a single moment that works as a kind of battle constructed by puzzles and it is excellent. Precisely for this reason, the absence of other similar moments throughout the campaign may be sorely missed. They should insist on this idea, perhaps it would show more of the hostility and rivalry between the tribes and their use of technology.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a consistent and artistically admirable sequel. It expands the universe, refines its mechanics and delivers a carefully constructed experience. However, it avoids greater risks and is therefore not revolutionary. Maintaining this essence came at the cost of some limitations.

I hope there is a next step for the series, where the connection between Lana and Mui, which is the heart of the experience, can perhaps stop being lonely. A well-structured two-player co-op mode can take this partnership to another level. In any case, Planet of Lana II shows that its universe is solid and full of potential to the point of making us imagine and want much more.