The Revenge of the Savage Planet map is a game changer for completionists.

Revenge of the Savage Planet It's taking some big leaps forward over its predecessor, with new tools to unlock, at least four planets to explore, and a focus on dynamic split-screen couch co-op. While the addition of plenty of new content and mechanics is a welcome addition to fans of the Metroidvania sleeper hit, there are a few lessons learned from: Journey to Savage Planet This time we've made some important improvements.

Game Rant recently sat down with Raccoon Logic co-founder and creative director Alex Hutchinson and game design director Steven Masters to discuss some of the game's key features aimed at facilitating open-world Metroidvania exploration. The new maps feature offers tremendous benefits. Revenge of the Savage Planet Completionists aim to point players to the main objective, while ensuring they always have somewhere they can go if they're unsure of their next move.

Savage Planet's Revenge map is perfect for perfectionists

Common criticism among them Journey to Savage Planet We knew that while players could complete the main game relatively quickly, shooting for 100% completion could take a really long time. This is mainly due to the lack of maps or useful ways to track progress on undiscovered secrets, which meant a lot of guide consulting and finding unchecked end chests. Revenge of the Savage Planet We address this by including an information map that allows players to track their progress. It was added especially for completionist players who are experiencing this issue. Explaining the map feature in detail, Masters said:

Now, every area you enter has a stat pool that shows all the tasks you can complete in that area for your completionist goals. As you move around, you can scan the world by clicking the right stick, which will highlight all the chests you can collect. When you get an upgrade, it's noted on the map, and it tells you whether you have the right upgrade to collect it… When you get to the end, you can switch to “Okay, I want it all” after you've played through the narrative. Maps can be a really useful way to organize your world and complete any task.

There was a lot of back and forth about this idea at first, as Raccoon Logic didn't want people to “play the map” like they would in an action-heavy open world RPG. the witcher series. After several iterations, they arrived at an implementation that alleviated the frustration of accomplished players without disrupting the fluid exploration that defines the metroidvania genre.

Players will never get lost in Revenge of the Savage Planet

Metroidvania games can take open-ended exploration too far for some players' tastes, with beloved games like hollow knight All it takes is a nudge in the right direction to drop the player into a huge world. REvening at Savage Planet There are several large planets to explore, each with secrets and side content scattered about, but Hutchinson points out that players will always know where to tackle the next story beat. This helps regulate the pace and helps players explore the breadth of the game without losing sight of the main objective.

Another thing to consider is speed. For example, when is something satisfying and when is it disappointing and frustrating? You don't want to keep your mental “checklist” for too long. But I think, based on Steve's perspective, you have this central goal. Area Scan lets you know where you are. The goal of these level designs is to be distracting, so you have to go there and think, “Wait a minute, what is that? Let me check over there.” If we do that, as Steve said, we're bringing you into the breadth of the game.

As players scan the area on their way to the main objective, there will inevitably be a lot of distractions. thanks Revenge of the Savage Planet's more informative approach makes it easier for players to know if they have the means to complete that side content, so they don't run into issues like stumbling over hidden chests or being unsure if they're accessible. By keeping players on a loosely guided path and hinting at nearby curiosities. Revenge of the Savage Planet It's shaping up to be an approachable metroidvania for both story-driven players and discerning explorers.