Primal Planet's Got Me Hooked (and it's Not Just the Dinosaurs, Mate!)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Eurogamer's been playing *Primal Planet*, a Metroidvania with crafting and dinosaurs, and they reckon it's got that special something – namely, lots and lots of secret areas that make exploration genuinely rewarding. Sounds like it could be a real gem for those of us jaded by the genre!
Right, so Eurogamer's been poking around in *Primal Planet*, and fair dinkum, it sounds like something special is brewing. According to their write-up (linked below, naturally), this Metroidvania crafting game isn't just another pixelated jaunt – it's got charm spilling out of its digital ears.
Seethingswarm, the dev, seems to have nailed that 'lush' vibe. Think vibrant foliage, cave people doing their thing, and dinosaurs, big and small, all beautifully animated. (I'm picturing a tiny T-Rex wearing a tiny hat. Just me? Okay.)
But it's not just eye candy, apparently. Eurogamer reckons the crafting system is pretty inventive, letting you whip up campfires and level up your character and dino-pal. And, being a Metroidvania, there's the usual obstacle course of impassable walls – solved, in this case, by turning a spear into a *flaming* spear. Because, why not?
The climbing-spear trick sounds like a nod to *Quackshot*, which is always a good sign. But the real kicker? The secret areas. Eurogamer's contributing editor, Christian Donlan, admits that even a seemingly insignificant secret area can make a game magical. "I love the chance to move past a wall and see something that others might miss," Donlan said. "You feel a bit closer to the design at these points. You can almost imagine the designers tunneling through the game just a bit ahead of you." And I reckon he’s bang on the money!
See, it's that feeling of discovery that keeps me coming back to games. It's not about the biggest explosions or the fanciest graphics; it's about stumbling across something unexpected, something that makes you feel like you're in on a secret. Like you're seeing behind the curtain, if only for a moment. (Okay, maybe *also* explosions and fancy graphics).
*Primal Planet* sounds like it's aiming for that feeling in spades, filling its world with little nooks and crannies just waiting to be found. And honestly, after the Metroidvania fatigue of the past few years, a game that puts that much effort into rewarding exploration? That's something I can get behind.
So, while I'm cautiously optimistic about yet *another* Metroidvania, *Primal Planet* has definitely piqued my interest. The demo's available on Steam, and the full release is slated for later this month. Might be worth a look, eh?
Tags: Metroidvania, Indie Games, Crafting, Dinosaurs, Secret Areas
Original article: Eurogamer