Honestly, I didn’t think we’d actually get here. When Journey to the Savage Planet dropped back in 2020, it felt like a weird, neon-soaked fever dream that might just be a one-off cult classic. Then Google bought Typhoon Studios, then Google shut down its internal development, and for a minute, it looked like the IP was dead in the water. But Raccoon Logic—the phoenix-from-the-ashes studio formed by the original creators—proved everyone wrong. Now, Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5 is finally a reality, and it is every bit as sarcastic, colorful, and mechanically chaotic as you’d hope.
It’s a sequel that feels personal. You can tell the developers at Raccoon Logic have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, and that energy translates directly into the gameplay. You aren't just exploring a planet; you're surviving the corporate absurdity of Kindred Aerospace (the "4th best" interstellar exploration company) while dealing with the fact that you've basically been fired and stranded.
What’s Actually New in Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5?
The jump to the current generation isn't just about faster load times, though those are nice. If you played the original on a base PS4, the difference in fidelity is staggering. We’re talking 60 frames per second at 4K resolution, which is essential because this game is fast. Like, "oops I accidentally jetpacked into a corrosive plant" fast.
One of the biggest shifts this time around is the perspective. While the first game was strictly first-person, Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5 introduces a third-person camera option. It changes the vibe. Seeing your custom explorer (or whatever weird space-suit-wearing freak you’ve designed) tumble through the environment adds a layer of physical comedy that was missing before. It also makes the platforming—which can be notoriously tricky—feel a bit more manageable for people who struggle with spatial awareness in first-person.
Then there’s the world itself. Instead of one giant interconnected biome, you’re hopping between different locations. This keeps the visual fatigue low. You go from a lush, fungal forest to a jagged, frozen wasteland without feeling like you’re just seeing the same assets repurposed. Raccoon Logic leaned hard into the "metroidvania" elements here. You’ll see a ledge you can't reach, or a door you can't melt, and you just know you’re coming back later with a new gadget.
The DualSense Factor
I have to mention the haptic feedback. It sounds like marketing fluff until you actually feel the trigger tension when your scan tool hits a snag or the subtle vibration of a nearby Pufferbird. It’s a small detail, but on the PS5, it makes the world feel more tactile. It’s less like playing a game and more like poking a very strange, very angry alien beehive.
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Is the Humor Still... Like That?
If you hated the satirical, "corporate-mandated fun" humor of the first game, you probably won't find much refuge here. It’s louder. It’s meaner. The live-action commercials return, and they are even more unhinged than before. These bits of world-building are tucked into the UI and the kiosks you find scattered around, poking fun at consumerism and the gig economy.
Some critics might call it "cringe," but honestly, it’s refreshing to see a game that actually has a personality. Most modern AAA titles are so afraid of offending anyone that they end up being bland. Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5 is the opposite of bland. It’s a neon pink slap in the face.
You spend a lot of time scanning things. Everything. The flora, the fauna, the weird rocks that look like faces. Each scan gives you a bit of lore that is usually a joke at your character's expense. It builds a sense of place that isn't just "generic alien world #4." This is a place that actively wants you to leave, or at least die in an interesting way so Kindred can harvest your data.
Tackling the Difficulty Spike
Let’s be real: this game can be frustrating. The combat isn't quite as polished as a dedicated shooter like Destiny 2. It’s a bit floaty. The enemies move in patterns that feel more like 90s platformer bosses than modern AI.
But that’s sort of the point.
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The challenge comes from managing your resources and navigating the verticality of the maps. If you try to play this like Call of Duty, you’re going to have a bad time. You have to use your gadgets—the grapple, the jump thrusters, the "binding bile"—to control the space. On PS5, the stick sensitivity feels tuned for precision, which helps when you're trying to land a grapple mid-air while three angry flying squids are spitting acid at your visor.
Cross-Play and Co-op Shenanigans
Playing solo is fine, but Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5 shines in co-op. The game supports full cross-play, but staying within the PlayStation ecosystem feels the most seamless. There is nothing quite like watching your friend miscalculate a jump and fall into a bottomless pit while a sarcastic AI voice mocks their "unplanned disassembly."
The "Trophy" hunters will find plenty to do here too. The list is filled with "did you really just do that?" objectives. It encourages experimentation. Can you feed a Pufferbird its own kind? Probably. Should you? The game says yes.
The Technical Reality
Since the 2026 update, the game has received several patches that ironed out the initial launch bugs. We’re seeing much more stable performance now. Early on, there were reports of some texture popping in the more densely populated jungle areas, but those have largely been squashed.
The lighting engine is the real star. The way the bioluminescence reflects off the metallic surfaces of your ship or the wet ground after a chemical rain is gorgeous. It uses the PS5's ray-tracing capabilities in a way that doesn't feel like a tech demo—it just feels like a part of the world’s DNA.
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Making the Most of Your Playthrough
If you’re diving into Revenge of the Savage Planet PS5 this weekend, don't rush. The main story is relatively short—maybe 10 to 12 hours if you’re a speedster—but the real meat is in the exploration and the hidden upgrades.
- Scan everything immediately. It’s the only way to unlock the higher-tier upgrades in the 3D printer. If you see something moving, scan it before you kill it.
- Backtrack often. New gadgets open up huge sections of early maps. That weird glowing wall you saw in the first ten minutes? It’s hiding a health upgrade.
- Upgrade your storage. You’re going to find a lot of junk. Being able to carry more materials back to the ship saves you hours of tedious trekking.
- Listen to the AI. Sometimes the dialogue actually contains hints about puzzle solutions. Plus, the insults are genuinely funny.
The game doesn't hold your hand. It tosses you into a vibrant, hostile environment and expects you to figure it out. It’s a throwback to an era of gaming where discovery felt earned rather than gifted. While it might not have the massive marketing budget of a first-party Sony title, it has more heart and weirdness than most of the big-budget releases we've seen lately.
The move from the "Stadia era" to Raccoon Logic’s independent spirit has clearly benefited the franchise. It feels less like a product and more like a project. For anyone looking for a break from the gritty, hyper-realistic shooters that dominate the market, this is a perfect palette cleanser. It’s bright, it’s loud, and it’s deeply, deeply weird.
If you want to maximize your time on the planet, focus on the "Science Rank" missions first. These are essentially tutorials disguised as objectives, and they reward you with the blueprints necessary for survival. Don't ignore the side quests from the weird alien NPCs either; they often lead to the most interesting lore drops and the best gear. Just remember: you're not a hero. You're a disposable employee. Act accordingly.
Actionable Insights for New Players:
- Prioritize the "Launch Thrusters" upgrade. Vertical movement is the core of the game’s late-stage exploration. Without it, you’ll be staring at 40% of the map from the ground.
- Check the "Video Feed" in your ship. The developers hid a lot of the best jokes and some cryptic clues in the background of the in-game TV shows.
- Use the Photo Mode. The game is legitimately beautiful, and the PS5's internal SSD makes entering and exiting photo mode nearly instantaneous. It’s great for scouting ahead without putting yourself in danger.
- Don't fear death. Unlike some survival games, the penalty for dying in Revenge of the Savage Planet is relatively light. You’ll lose some resources, but you can usually go back and pick them up. It’s often faster to die and respawn at the ship than to walk back.