Immortal Planet Reviews
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Immortal Planet, a recently released isometric action-RPG, described by the developer as “a love letter to Dark Souls,” has been out for a little while. A number of outlets have had the chance to write their reviews by now, some of which criticize the game's boss fights and its general repetitive nature, while the others praise its tense moments and setting, leading to an overall Metacritic score of 68. Have a look:
Destructoid 6/10:
Really, Immortal Planet is mostly a game for Souls fans that just cannot get enough of FromSoftware’s particular brand of action. While it could also work as an introduction to the series proper, what with its short length, Immortal Planet doesn’t bring enough new to the table to really justify a purchase for anyone not already familiar with the Souls series. That it starts to recycle content in such a short time frame is also a crime, even if the combat can be engaging.
GameSpew 8/10:
Going into Immortal Planet, I had no idea what to expect, and my first impressions of it had me thinking of it more as a Souls-wannabe than a Souls-like. As it went on, though, enough new mechanics were added to where it eventually came into its own. I even had fun diving into New Game Plus despite its almost infuriating difficulty spike; the final boss from the main game appears right after the first boss in NG+. There are a few moments of frustration, but there are also times where Immortal Planet – dare I say it – surpasses Dark Souls in my mind. At the very least, it’s a colourful, compelling, sci-fi Souls-like, and a great way to pass the time while waiting for FromSoftware’s next announcement.
GameCrate 7.5/10:
Immortal Planet isn’t the best that the Souls genre has to offer, but it certainly makes a strong effort to stand out, and as I mentioned before, it can serve as an excellent starter game if you’re thinking of getting more heavily involved in the genre. If anything, the latest from teedoubleuGAMES proves that the Souls spirit will continue to live on even without the guiding hands of From Software.
Attack of the Fanboy 3.5/5:
Unforgiving and tense, Immortal Planet is the essential 2D Souls-like game. While its boss design falters slightly through repetition, the game manages to create a worthwhile experience that emulates its spiritual successor in an isometric form while still introducing enough new mechanics to set itself out from the crowd.
Metro 6/10:
Immortal Planet is still a fun little homage, and given the sensibly low price we’d still recommend it to Dark Souls fans twiddling their thumbs waiting for From’s next game. But Salt And Sanctuary remains a far better 2D take on the formula. In the world of video game tribute bands both are able to mimic the basics, but only one has the soul of the original.
GameCritics 5/10:
In the twelve or so hours it took me to complete the campaign, I easily spent over half of that time either fighting bosses or performing the repetitive prep work leading up to my attempts, and the bosses themselves are such a mess that I never felt a sense of reward for defeating them.
And in the end, what’s the point? I respect Immortal Planet’s opaque lore and its obstinate refusal to clearly answer questions, but much of that appeal is undone by lousy translations and general visual drabness. This “planet” seems to consist entirely of industrial corridors, its regions distinguishable only by the color of the metal. There’s just “the green level” or “the red level,” and those who do some exploring during endgame can unlock an extra-special purple level. That’s exactly what I meant when I said that looking back on the experience, it wasn’t worth the struggle.
While I admire any indie developer with the ambition to take the Souls formula on, Immortal Planet is a surface-level imitation of an iconic series lacking the polish, variety and painstaking detail of its inspiration. This game takes a lot more than it gives.
