Lovely Planet 2: April Skies
A speedrunning-focused first-person shooter with instant death mechanics.
Lovely Planet 2: April Skies is a first-person shooter platform game from Indian indie developer Quicktequila, published by tinyBuild. It launched for Windows, OS X, and Linux in June 2019 as a follow-up to the 2014 original, Lovely Planet. Critical response was mixed.
In gameplay, the sequel continues the series’ speedrunning focus: players must finish each level as quickly as possible to advance. Levels are divided into larger zones. Instant death results from being shot, falling, or touching enemies, making level memorization essential. The game is considered easier than its predecessor and includes over 100 stages.
The music and overall tone drew comparisons to Katamari Damacy, with composer Calum Bowen returning for the soundtrack. A later entry, Lovely Planet Remix, arrived on November 12, 2021.
Reviewer Scott Ellison of Saving Content gave the game 4/5, describing it as a "fast and fluid speedrunner," though he noted the instant-death mechanic could become frustrating. According to Metacritic, the game earned mixed reviews.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Lovely Planet 2: April Skies
- Developer
- Quicktequila
- Publisher
- tinyBuild
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows / OS X / Linux
- Released
- June 18, 2019
- Genre
- First-person shooter, platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Composer
- Calum Bowen
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Like its predecessor, Lovely Planet 2: April Skies is a speedrunning-focused first-person shooter where the player must complete each level as fast as possible to progress. Levels are split into larger areas. Being hit by a bullet, falling, or touching enemies causes the player to die instantly, making memorization of levels a key mechanic to progressing. The game has been considered easier than its predecessor and contains over 100 levels.
The game's music and tone have been compared to Katamari Damacy, with Calum Bowen returning to compose the soundtrack. Another game in the series, Lovely Planet Remix, was released on November 12, 2021.
Scott Ellison of Saving Content rated the game 4/5, calling it a 'fast and fluid speedrunner' and noting that the mechanic of dying instantly can become 'frustrating'. The game received mixed reception, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Reader's Guide
Lovely Planet 2: April Skies continues the speedrunning-focused design of its predecessor, emphasizing fast completion times and level memorization due to its instant-death mechanics. The game's mixed reception, as recorded by Metacritic, reflects a divide between those who appreciate its fluid speedrunning focus and those who find the instant-death mechanic frustrating. The return of composer Calum Bowen and the tonal comparison to Katamari Damacy highlight the game's distinctive aesthetic. As a sequel to 2014's Lovely Planet, it represents an evolution of the series' core gameplay, with critics noting it is easier than the original. The subsequent release of Lovely Planet Remix in November 2021 indicates continued interest in the franchise. The game's development by Indian indie studio Quicktequila and publication by tinyBuild places it within the broader indie FPS landscape of the late 2010s, where speedrunning and precision platforming were recurring themes.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by Indian indie developer Quicktequila.
- It contains over 100 levels.
- Calum Bowen returned to compose the music.
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