“Added a ton of new trees and foliage to DV based on feedback from the trailer. Looks like a proper forest now.” – SDiDuro on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SDiDuro/status/814705696138792960

// Commentary Corner: 

“[…] looks like a proper forest now.”

Okay, that’s actually pretty interesting. Freedom Planet 1’s Dragon Valley did have some greenery in the later parts of the level, but the heavy increase in greenery suggests that something’s been going on in-world to heavily encourage the plant growth during the two years since the first game. I wouldn’t blame anyone for mistaking it for Jade Creek, which also had a lot of greenery and water (and a lot more bamboo and falling rocks). Incidentally, it also reminds me of how Borderlands 1 prominently started with orange tones, and how it’s very common in games like Shovel Knight, Sonic the Hedgehog, Shantae, Banjo-Kazooie, and Kirby to start with a green grassy level.

Welcome to Avalice, Dragon Forest!