Sci-Fi Shooter On The Rocks.
Page: 1/2
Supplier: Capcom
Reviewed By: Rogue5
Price: $59.99 (MSRP)
Untitled Document
Mechs, guns, mercenaries, gigantic bugs, snow pirates, a post-apocalyptic ice-planet reminiscent of planet Hoth…Capcom’s 360 exclusive Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a Sci-Fi action gamer’s dream come true. But while it delivers an abundance of the above awesomeness, to its detriment it also wraps itself in a lost-in-translation storyline that uses time lapses, memory loss, and intrigue (dun-dun-duuuun) to maximize confusion.
In regards to gameplay, Lost Planet is a throwback to the sidescroller action games of the 8-bit era (think Contra, Bionic Commando, MegaMan, etc.) Obviously it has been converted to a realistic, beautifully rendered, third person perspective, however the focus of the game remains firmly on your ability to shoot everything in sight, with a bit of platforming (complete with grappling hook) during reloads. And trust us, there are plenty of creatures, both human and alien, looking for a hot lead injection.
If you’re not being flanked by a squad of snow pirates or charged by a mech (called Vital Suits), you’re more than likely getting attacked by massive swarms of Akrid, the insectile natives of the frozen planet E.D.N.III. It’s a good thing too, because you’ll need the energy globules left behind by the recently perforated to replenish your thermal suit’s T-ENG meter. What happens if you run out of T-ENG, you ask? You’d end up looking something like Han Solo…in Carbonite.
If this continuous onslaught of enemies isn’t enough to convince old school gamers of Lost Planet’s veracity, maybe this will: every level ends with a unique, and often awe-inspiring, boss battle! You’ll fight such devious monstrosities as a giant (250ft. tall) worm, a huge napalm-dropping moth, and, the mother of all that is evil, a bug known as “Green Eye.” While most Akrid enemies have clearly indicated weak spots, there are also snow pirate VS bosses that are much trickier to defeat.
