You slowly drag your broken body across the exotic, hostile world of PLANET ALPHA, wondering if your presence is more than just coincidence. Strange, ancient structures rise from the tangled flora with a promise to unlock the secrets of the planet. Mechanized war machines descend from the heavens to hunt you, but the planet is just as unforgiving for them as it is for you. This is the opening hour of PLANET ALPHA, a new puzzle-platformer coming from Team17 and Planet Alpha Game Studio, and I had the opportunity to preview the game ahead of launch.
The first thing that struck me in my hour-long preview was the amazing visual presentation. The planet comes to life, literally, as massive plants and creatures roam in the background. Your character animates fluidly, and small visual cues give you an idea of what you can and can’t interact with. It’s a striking visual design that both looks great, and serves a purpose. Those plants and creatures you see in the background? Chances are you’re going to encounter them later on. Even the blocks you push around look like a natural part of the world. Furthermore, a dynamic day-night cycle completely changes the visual landscape, while also opening up gameplay opportunities.
A major part of the puzzle solving in PLANET ALPHA involves the environment. Hiding in tall grass or behind structures while waiting for enemies to pass by, or jumping on a precarious ledge to drop a giant slab on the heads of unsuspecting sentries are a couple of examples. The most interesting element, however, is the use of special pads that let you control the time of day. Certain types of plants and fauna become more active at particular times of the day. By taking advantage of this, you can grow cover for yourself by simply moving the sun to a different spot in the sky. You can also trigger vicious enemies to go to the sleep, allowing you to pass by unnoticed. It’s quite a novel idea that is implemented very naturally in the context of the game.
The gameplay appears to be solid, but what really has my interest about PLANET ALPHA is the story. While there wasn’t much in the demo, the little bits that were there suggested something pretty big. Ancient technology, militant robots, and you at the center of it all. Luckily, I won’t have to wait long to unravel all the mysteries.
With PLANET ALPHA’s launch just around the corner, the race to unlock the secrets of the planet is underway. Anyone familiar with Play Dead’s LIMBO or INSIDE will immediately be familiar with the moment to moment gameplay, but what makes PLANET ALPHA special is where it deviates. A colorful, vibrate setting, sci-fi powers, and a galaxy-sized mystery await intrepid explorers willing to brave the planet’s surface.
Keep your eye to Voxel Voice for our full review of PLANET ALPHA when the game launches on September 4th on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch.
