Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier
- August 24, 2018
- Imaginati Studios
A glossy though ultimately shallow use of the Planet of the Apes license, Last Frontier stands as an acceptable use of Play Link technology but little else.
Get on SteamPlanet of the Apes: Last Frontier is a narrative adventure game where players navigate a tense conflict between a tribe of apes and human survivors. Through 4-player local multiplayer, players explore the motivations and fears of both species, working towards either a fragile peace or a brutal battle. With 14 hours of gameplay and 19 endings, players can review their relationship choices at the end of each chapter.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and compelling voice acting, making it visually appealing and engaging for fans of the franchise.
- It offers a decent story with multiple endings, allowing players to make choices that impact the narrative, even if the choices sometimes feel limited.
- Fans of the Planet of the Apes series may find enjoyment in the game's atmosphere and references, as well as its interactive movie format.
- The game is plagued by technical issues, including frequent crashes, bugs, and inconsistent performance, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Many players feel that the choices made in the game lack meaningful impact on the story, leading to a linear narrative that can feel unsatisfying.
- The soundtrack and sound design are criticized for being monotonous and poorly executed, failing to enhance the emotional weight of the story.
- story76 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier" is described as compelling yet flawed, with a narrative that unfolds primarily through cinematic sequences rather than player-driven choices. While it offers an interesting dual perspective and some impactful moments, many players feel that significant decisions are often undermined by predetermined outcomes, leading to a lack of engagement and unresolved plot points. Overall, the game is seen as a decent interactive experience for fans of the franchise, but it falls short of the high standards set by its cinematic predecessors.
“Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier is a great story told from two perspectives.”
“Overall, if you're a fan of the franchise, and enjoy a well-written interactive story, I would recommend this game.”
“Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier is a visual story novel, in which your choices and relationships with other characters in the game affect the overall outcome and who lives/dies.”
“While the visuals are pretty good (given the game is just a sequence of pre-rendered cinematics done in UE4), the story falls on its face and doesn't nearly reach the same high points as its theatrical alternatives.”
“Final Frontiers is advertised as 'choice matters', yet the majority of the major plot choices will be made by other characters, or even worse, your own character without you being able to make the call.”
“The main plot point (the lack of food for the coming winter) which sets the entire plot in motion is dropped by the end of the first chapter and is never resolved.”
- music22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in "Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier" has received mixed reviews, with some praising the main menu track while others criticize the overall soundtrack as monotonous and lacking excitement. Many players noted that the music often fails to enhance the game's narrative, with repetitive tones that detract from the experience, particularly during action moments. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity to elevate the game's emotional impact.
“I also loved the music, especially the main menu track.”
“It's like an interactive movie made on the U4 engine, with great music, graphics, and a story that you can choose how it will go.”
“The soundtrack is good; some of the choices don't matter at all.”
“My main point of criticism of the game is the music.”
“For almost the entire game, the soundtrack consists of a combination of three long tones played on a cello, which in many cases prevent any possible upcoming excitement.”
“The soundtrack of 'Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier' turns the game into a less intriguing experience than it could have been.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and quality, particularly as they utilize the Unreal Engine 4 for pre-rendered cinematics. However, some players report issues such as flickering and glitches that detract from the overall experience, alongside a lack of options for tweaking graphics settings. While the visuals are a highlight, they are often overshadowed by shortcomings in the story and gameplay.
“Great choice making game and really great graphics.”
“Beautiful graphics.”
“It's like an interactive movie made on the UE4 engine, great music, graphics, and story that you can choose how it will go.”
“The graphics flicker a lot.”
“The lack of a real options menu to tweak graphics is bizarre.”
“Basically a Telltale game with better graphics, wilder outcomes, and none of the puzzle/time-wasting filler.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a limited number of outcomes despite having impactful choices that can alter the story's direction. While the presence of two player characters and various NPCs adds some depth, others feel that the overall narrative and character decisions lack substance, resulting in a less compelling reason to replay. Overall, it offers a moderate level of replayability, appealing to those who enjoy exploring different story paths.
“You do have choices to make that impact the output of the story, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how it ends. It has a certain degree of replayability.”
“With two player characters, each of whom can be good or bad, and a number of NPCs contributing to the story's outcome (some in cosmetic ways), the replayability value is quite decent.”
“With a high replayability, you only make decisions from the leader of the humans and the leader of the apes.”
“The story is okay, but there is no replayability. The dialogues are average, the decisions are somewhat dumb, and the characters lack depth.”
“With two player characters, each of whom can be good or bad, and a number of NPCs contributing to the story's end (albeit some in cosmetic ways), the replayability value is quite decent.”
“For the price, it only has a few outcomes for replayability, which is disappointing.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while some elements, particularly the ape-related features, perform well, players have reported significant issues such as sound breaks, dropouts, and lip-sync problems that detract from the overall experience.
“Once again though, performance sucks: numerous sound breaks and dropouts, along with numerous lip sync problems.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall enjoyment. Players have noted awkward scene transitions and animations that often feel unsettling, contributing to a frustrating experience.
“The graphics and glitches kill your enjoyment in this game.”
“It's very buggy and glitchy; the scene cuts are pretty weird, and the animations sometimes slip into the uncanny valley.”
“The graphics and glitches kill your enjoyment in this game.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is largely criticized, with players feeling a lack of attachment to the characters despite the focus on relationships. The sound design is perceived as amateurish, further detracting from the emotional experience, leading to indifference towards character deaths.
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally consistent with the latest series installment, maintaining a cohesive tone that fans appreciate. However, some users feel that certain elements detract from the overall ambiance, suggesting that it can be diminished at times.
“You won't find any canon-breaking revelations in the plot, which is good, and the general atmosphere of the title is fully in line with the latest incarnation of the series.”
“It kills the atmosphere.”
“It kills the atmosphere.”
Critic Reviews
Planet of the Apes Last Frontier Review
A glossy though ultimately shallow use of the Planet of the Apes license, Last Frontier stands as an acceptable use of Play Link technology but little else.
65%Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier Review
An ambition cinematic outing that just doesn't have that much to offer.
50%Planet Of The Apes: Last Frontier - Review
50%
