Reimagining Revenge of the Savage Planet: A Sequel That Defies Expectations

As the team at Raccoon Logic showcases Revenge of the Savage Planet, it becomes clear that their aim was not to create a traditional sequel. Despite being formed by veterans of Typhoon Studios, the developer behind Journey to the Savage Planet, Raccoon Logic sought to innovate and surprise. The game retains the colorful alien world, exploration, and humor of its predecessor but introduces significant changes, including a third-person perspective and a customizable colony area. According to studio head Reid Schneider, the goal was to go 'much bigger and broader' while maintaining the core elements that made the first game successful. The shift to third-person perspective was a deliberate choice to enhance comedy, particularly physical humor, and to provide a fresh experience. Art director Erick Bilodeau notes that this perspective allows for more character expression and emotion, which is essential for conveying humor. The story, too, has undergone significant changes, with players taking on the role of an employee of a corporation that has decided space exploration is too costly. This narrative is inspired by the industry's experience with layoffs and studio closures, rather than being a direct commentary on Google, the team's former parent company. Creative director Alex Hutchinson emphasizes that the story is about the broader industry trends, not specifically about Google. Raccoon Logic has also reorganized its development process, adopting a more structured approach with three main phases: conception, production, and polish. This has enabled the team to have a more collaborative and ownership-driven process, with everyone contributing to the game's development. The team's size, around 30 people plus contractors, has allowed for a more agile and responsive development process. Producer Noémie L'Écuyer highlights the benefits of this approach, including having an alpha version midway through development, which has given the team ample time to polish the game. Hutchinson notes that with a smaller team, everyone has a chance to contribute, and the game is more focused and dense as a result. The team expects Revenge of the Savage Planet to be around 15 to 20 hours long, which is a moderate increase from the first game. When asked about the pressure to make a sequel significantly bigger and better, Hutchinson responds that this pressure is not as significant after the second game, and the focus is on creating a more polished and finished experience. The team is hopeful about the game's potential, given the success of the first game, but acknowledges the challenges of the modern market, including subscriptions and changing consumer habits. To address these challenges, Raccoon Logic is committed to supporting the game post-launch and is in discussions with Tencent to explore possibilities for the game's future. The team's goal is to create a game that stands on its own, with a unique identity and appeal, while still honoring the spirit of the original.