Planet of Lana 2 preview: Children of the Leaf avoids the biggest problem with sequels

Video game developers often hook players by creating a sense of progress, unlocking more powerful abilities throughout the game. That advancement is often undone in direct sequels so that the gameplay loop can be repeated, but Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf bucks the trend by giving players access to the full suite of abilities they gained in the original — along with some new ones. A hands-on demo of the first two hours of the game revealed a protagonist and world that feels far more sophisticated, while still retaining the beautiful allure of exploring the mysterious planet Novo.