Primal Planet

Aside from its prehistoric setting and trappings there are some good ideas that help this Metroidvania distinguish itself from its competition

Seethingswarm and Pretty Soon deliver a bold, charming and enjoyable indie that manages to tell a lot without words, relying on images, grunts and music. Its pixel art can feel rough, but the world still feels lively and adventurous.

Seethingswarm's Metroidvania stands out for offering an adventure with survival mechanics, charming pixel art, and an emotional story that dispenses with dialogue. It's a great addition to the genre's catalog. It's a game that relies on its atmosphere, gameplay, and dialogue-free narrative, resulting in a thoroughly entertaining experience made with an obvious love for the craft.

Primal Planet is not the best Metroidvania you’ll ever play, but it offers a unique blend of prehistoric survival and sci-fi elements, with an emotional wordless story and charming pixel art visuals. Despite its clear issues with world design and map navigation, it remains a journey worth experiencing—especially for fans of exploration.

Primal Planet is a disappointment as its thematical material can't make up for how bad it is to play. (Review in Portuguese)

All in all, Primal Planet is a rare gem, something that looks familiar at first glance but hides a big heart and plenty of surprises. It blends exploration, crafting, and narrative in a way that feels fun and even touching. This is one delightful surprise, and it absolutely deserves attention

With its high points outweighing its low points, Primal Planet sets the platforming action in the harsh survival of a Stone Age populated by dinosaurs and invaded by alien ships. The mid-campaign, with its narrative emptiness and trivialization of some mechanics, gradually loses the emotional strength and gameplay dynamic of the beginning, which is compounded by the poorly functional mapping. However, those who enjoy facing dinosaurs and exploring the corners of dangerous, interconnected 2D worlds will have reason enough to venture into this prehistoric world.

Going against the grain in many aspects, Primal Planet is a self-described "dinovania" that feels more like a classic 2D platformer with RPG elements. Charming, beautiful, and at times intense.

Primal Planet is a pixel-perfect primaeval playground of adventure and exploration. If you don’t mind getting lost now and then, it’s an approachable metroidvania, with generous checkpoints, forgiving combat and no bosses. For some, its lack of handholding might be a barrier, but I was swept away by the vibrant world and the sweet story of community that holds together the people and wildlife of this primal planet. Just look out for those T-Rexes and UFOs.

Primal Planet is an excellent game that efficiently incorporates all its elements to create a highly entertaining experience. Its weaknesses lie in its soundtrack, which, while competent in creating atmosphere, can sometimes be overlooked. Its handling of on-screen elements can also be overwhelming in certain areas.