There was a time when caveman games were plentiful (the early 90s, specifically), and gamers were blessed with prehistoric platformers such as Joe & Mac, Bonk’s Adventure, Chuck Rock, Legendary Axe, and several others, if you can believe it. However, the caveman craze went dormant well before the nonlinear action/adventure sub genre irritatingly known as “Metroidvania” became so prominent among independent developers. Not that there were many “independent developers” in the early 90s…

In any case, with the newly revealed Primal Planet, the one-man development house Seethingswarm has resurrected the caveman protagonist and paired it with the nonlinear 2D adventure gameplay of a Metroidvania, complete with a retro-inspired aesthetic that will transport you back to those primitive times of the early 90s. Like some of the best games from that era (Super Metroid comes to mind), Primal Planet also aims to tell a cohesive story without the use of words or dialogue. The plot itself is described as “a heart-wrenching story of survival, set against the backdrop of a lush planet teeming with dinosaurs and ancient mysteries.”

Here are the details of Primal Planet from the one-man developer at Seethingswarm, followed by the game’s first trailer:

Primal Planet is my passion project, born from my fascination with dinosaurs and alien mysteries. I wanted to create a game that tells a powerful story without relying on dialogue.

At its core, it’s a heartfelt story about family, sacrifice, and universal themes inspired by timeless films like Star Wars, aiming to evoke strong emotions and create a memorable experience for players.

Key Features:

• Uncover the Story: Embark on a thrilling journey as you follow the gripping tale of a cave dweller fighting to protect his family. Survive a brutal T-Rex attack and unravel a narrative that blends the wild with intriguing sci-fi twists.
• Adapt and Survive: Craft vital tools, weapons, and mixtures for healing and protection. Gain experience and upgrade your skills to overcome the dangers of a primal planet.
• Explore the Primeval: Discover diverse biomes, each with unique challenges and secrets. Encounter a vast array of dinosaurs, each perfectly adapted to its habitat.
• Fight and Be Clever: Experience gameplay blending combat and strategy. Tailor tactics, use crafted weapons, traps, and stealth to master encounters with regular and boss enemies.
• Play Local Co-op: Team up with a friend in local co-op mode, with the second player controlling a nimble sinosauropteryx, your faithful companion. Work together to overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, and battle foes.

Primal Planet is currently planned to release in 2025 for Steam PC.

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