Planet Alpha Xbox One [Review]: Breathtaking sci-fi exploration

Platforming games are quite common on Xbox One, but typically, you battle enemies with a combat system in them. Atomic number 26, released earlier this twelvemonth, went against that norm, and now it's joined by Planet Alpha, a scientific discipline-fiction championship that focuses completely on exploration and puzzle solving. With superb visuals, beautiful music and engaging gameplay, Planet Alpha is truly peachy and is only held back by the length of the game.

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Notice a new world

There is almost no story at all in Planet Alpha. Yous start the game past waking up as an injured explorer who is traversing across an alien globe for unknown reasons. With no other mode to go than onward, you begin your journey to see what the mysterious planet, dubbed "Planet Alpha", has to offer.

This is done through two activities: platforming and puzzle solving. Platforming is how you traverse the land and its diverse hardships, while puzzle solving allows you to get through blocked paths and reach a new area of the planet. The majority of the game is focused on platforming, which feels fluid, responsive, and fun. In Planet Alpha, controlling your character as you brand him do precise jumps and other movements is a breeze.

Completing puzzles, though, is a footling trickier. Whenever you interact with the conflicting applied science on this earth, you gain the foreign ability to rapidly change the time of day. This is where the meat of Planet Blastoff's puzzle content is, and the unique concept of irresolute between twenty-four hours and dark to alter your environs to your needs is awesome. Sadly, though, there aren't as many of these puzzles every bit I would have liked; Planet Alpha took me simply v hours to finish. For $19.99, I wait more playtime then that.

Immerse yourself

Planet Alpha'south gameplay experience is compelling, just the visuals are by far my favorite thing. The alien world you explore throughout the game is vibrant, colorful, detailed, and gorgeous. Additionally, if y'all're using the time-of-twenty-four hour period shifting mechanic, y'all go the joyous opportunity to view any area in the game earth at any 60 minutes of the mean solar day. I spent 20 minutes just experimenting with how a location looked at dawn, during sunset, in the middle of the afternoon, and in the late hours of the night.

Though not every bit incredible equally the visuals, Planet Blastoff'due south soundtrack is excellent, too. And to top it all off, Planet Alpha runs fantastically on Xbox One with only a few minor framerate drops to speak of.

Should you buy Planet Alpha?

If you're looking for a (more often than not) peaceful gameplay experience that relaxes you and immerses yous into an bogus earth, Planet Alpha is definitely for you. The game'south length is short, and people that want an action experience volition become none of it with Planet Blastoff. But bated from that, it's a game that you shouldn't reject.

Pros:

Unique gameplay concept.
Scenic visuals.
Excellent music.

Planet Alpha is bachelor now on Xbox One for $19.99.

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