The Observer, February 2, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 15
Lost Planet entertains, but fails to excel
Last year, Capcom's Dead Rising was a summer savior. This zombie-infested action game was one of the only significant releases before the huge holiday season. This definitely worked to the game's advantage, as it managed to sell over one million copies despite being marred by serious problems. Many gamers, myself included, enjoyed having the freedom of running through a mall filled with the undead.
However, the save system was unforgiving, the survivor A.I. was atrocious, and the strict schedule was poorly implemented. Several months later, Xbox 360 owners find themselves in a similar situation. Capcom's Lost Planet: Extreme Condition contains control issues, a pointless story, and zombie-like enemies (a problem for a game that doesn't feature zombies). Even so, this wintry shooter is intense and enjoyable enough to make up for its shortcomings.
In Lost Planet, players take control of Wayne, a mysterious man with amnesia (be prepared for several video game clichés). His world is nearly uninhabitable, as it is covered in snow. At the start of the game, Wayne is rescued by a group trying to restore the planet to its former glory. The story begins promisingly, with exciting fight scenes against frightening, bug-like enemies known as the Akrid. Unfortunately, what happens afterwards is much less exciting. Humans double-cross each other, the main character combats a sinister organization, and predictable sci-fi twists are revealed in the later levels, but none of these events ever become compelling. Whereas Dead Rising's story was suitably campy and didn't take itself too seriously, Lost Planet comes off as an overwrought mess.
Luckily, the game accompanying the story is still fun to play. If anyone was going to try making a 3D Contra again, they should use this shooter as a reference. Akrid of all sizes constantly flood levels, forcing you to keep running and gunning to refill your depleting thermal energy. Wayne has an impressive arsenal, including frisbee grenades and homing lasers, to keep the bugs at bay. He also has a grappling hook, which allows quick getaways. I wish this device had been used more frequently, but it's still useful. When on-foot travel becomes too daunting, Wayne can jump into one of the many massive mechs scattered throughout the game. These "Vital Suits" add variety to the action, since all of them function differently. Some jump hundreds of feet in the air, while others transform into tanks or rocket-powered sleds.
If you're a fan of old-school shooters and the paragraph above sounded enticing, then I suggest you rush out and a buy a copy. However, gamers used to more modern conventions may want to consider renting Lost Planet first. Will it bother you if you can snipe one "space pirate" without anyone else in the vicinity noticing? Do cheap bosses often force you to throw your controller in frustration? Will you be able to cope without a useful melee attack? This game is plagued with these kinds of issues, so be prepared.
The art direction of Lost Planet may make things more tolerable. Though Case students may already be sick of arctic conditions, the snow-covered environments in the game look beautiful. The creature designs, as well as their habitats, do a good job of conveying an alien atmosphere. The snow worm in level three will be enough to give you nightmares.
Multiplayer is fun but does not stack up well against the online play of serious shooters such as Gears of War and Rainbow Six. Still, you'll have several modes to choose from, and the inclusion of the Vital Suits and grappling hook keep things interesting.
It's a shame that the developers did not invest more time polishing Lost Planet, because it falls just short of excellence. Still, if you have fond memories of classic arcade shooters, this game will keep you occupied for a couple of weeks.
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