Revenge of the Savage Planet sits firmly within the relatively niche subgenre of 3D Metroidvanias, and that can be seen in how you progress throughout the story. While there is a narrative guiding you, the core storyline will focus on recovering all of your platforming abilities, and using these to reach previously hidden or out-of-reach areas.
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These new abilities come in the form of tools, and there is a good variety available to pick up all the way throughout the runtime. While some of these will drastically alter how you play the game and make platforming much more enjoyable, some are a little easier to ignore, but which is the best?
12
Remote Drone Controller
Unlocked In Quasadron IX
The final tool you unlock in Savage Planet is unfortunately the most disappointing. While the prospect of remote-controlling your drone is a cute idea, thanks to just how late it’s unlocked, it just ends up feeling useless outside the few times you’re required to use it.
Having the option to use the drone as recon earlier in the game, when you’re less capable at platforming and in combat, would be a great way to see what’s coming up and what’s out of reach. However, by the time you get the chance to use the remote drone, you’ve pretty much been everywhere, or can get everywhere, so it ends up feeling like a wasted slot.
11
Proton Whip XII
Unlocked In Stellaris Prime
10
Unlocking the whip on Stellaris Prime feels like it would be the perfect way to make combat more interesting with a melee option, but in the end, it feels pretty boring to use. Only a couple of enemies are weak to whip attacks, and, thanks to its limited damage and range, there are very few scenarios where you should use it instead of the pistol.
It’s fun to use the whip to drag creatures close to you and catch them, but it also makes you vulnerable. Because of this, it’s always preferable to defeat every other enemy with a better weapon before whipping out the lasso to catch an enemy. If there were upgrades for the whip/lasso to make it more useful, it would feel much more rewarding to use.
9
Gritworks Magnetic Fork
Unlocked In Xephyr
Metroidvanias, both 2D and 3D, are some of the most satisfying to play thanks to their unique ability-based progression system, but they do have a common problem. While most abilities will feel satisfying to use and have their place within your arsenal, others feel like poorly masked keys simply locking you out of certain areas until you’re far enough.
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The magnet fork is a perfect example of this. Before you have it, you can’t break/move magnet walls. Once you have it, you can. The fact that you can use some magnets as projectiles in fights makes it slightly more than just a glorified key, but most of the time, it unfortunately feels like just that.
8
Stomp Booster
Unlocked In Zenithtian Rift
7
Similarly to the magnet fork, the stomp booster ability is a very clear key for certain locks. If you see a cracked floor or a suspicious-looking trapdoor, you’ll need to use the stomp to break through. What makes the stomp better though, is that it’s a lot more useful in combat.
Even before any upgrades, the stomp is powerful enough to take down weaker enemies in one hit and make stronger ones vulnerable. It’s a great way to start a fight with an advantage, and it’s just a lot of fun to take advantage of. Stamping down on a group of baited enemies and then sliding around in their gooey entrails is a joy only found in Revenge of the Savage Planet.
6
Franx Underwater Scooter
Unlocked In Zenithtian Rift
5
Underwater traversal is a mixed bag when it comes to video games. While sometimes it’s a satisfying way to explore previously inaccessible beautiful underwater scenery, other times it can be an inefficient and unsatisfying way of wading through washed-out backdrops, and having to worry about an extra dimension to traverse.
Luckily, Savage Planet has the former. Using the underwater scooter is satisfying thanks to simple controls and a useful boost, and Raccoon Logic made the smart choice not to include underwater combat but instead gave you rare moments of peace to just explore and harvest resources. The only flaw is that the chances to use the scooter are few and far between.
4
Zoot Jump Thrusters
Unlocked In Stellaris Prime
A double jump is a standard upgrade for a Metroidvania, and a great way to expand your horizons. A triple jump just improves this even further, and is perfect for getting the high ground on enemies. And a quadruple jump is a hilariously game-breaking addition to make you feel like an overpowered titan by the end of the game.
Savage Planet includes all three of these jump upgrades, and after the first, you can pace yourself by unlocking the last two based on when you think you need them. This level of freedom is appreciated and makes the game feel much less hand-holdy than it could. While jump upgrades aren’t particularly flashy, they are still worth appreciating.
3
Drone Glider
Upgrade-O-Rama Unlock
As the only purely optional tool upgrade in Savage Planet, the glider is one you’ll want to get as soon as you can. It does exactly what you’d expect, extending your air time with a slow but satisfying glide. There isn’t a limit on this, and it’s a simple and calming way to see more of the planets from above.
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Since it isn’t a required upgrade, and thanks to all the other vertical traversal skills, there aren’t any areas that need the glider, but that only serves to encourage you to use it in more creative ways. This is also one of the more customizable tools, since it’ll switch with your outfit’s colour palette.
