Verdict: Stunning graphics can't compensate for the tedious and confusing plot.
First released on Xbox 360 at the start of this year and now ported over to the PC, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a sci-fi first-person shooter that tells the tale of 'snow pirate' Wayne Holden.
The plot of Lost Planet is quite odd and centres on a group of humans struggling for survival on an icy planet called E.D.N III that's inhabited by the indigenous Akrid, which are 'monstrous' creatures that feed on thermal energy. As the game kicks off, young Holden sees his father crushed to death by a gigantic Akrid called Green Eye. The next thing you know, you're woken up (albeit with some memory loss) by a trio of helpers, and off you trot on a mission of revenge and insect genocide.
However, this isn't a simple revenge story, since there's another layer to the plot that involves the archetypal 'evil corporation'. So far, so cheesy, and it doesn't help that that the plot makes no sense at all.
Plots are often secondary to the action in shooters, however, and Lost Planet is no exception. The baddies come in a variety of sizes, from smallish mobs to gargantuan beasts, all of which have weak spots that are handily (and rather unrealistically) indicated on their bodies.
Once an enemy dies, it releases T.Eng (thermal energy), which you need to replenish your own reserves. The logic is that as E.D.N III is so cold, you need to continually expend energy to keep yourself warm. Each level is allotted a time limit; dawdle for too long and you'll end up a corpsicle. In effect, the timer removes any scope for tactical play, and turns every level into continuous frag fest.
It isn't only aliens that you have to dispatch, since there are other humans too, in the form of rogue pirates and other hostile humans, although quite what they're doing on a planet buried in ice is anyone's guess. There's a wide range of weapons to help dispatch them, though, ranging from assault rifles and shotguns, to rocket launchers, grenades and plasma rifles. There are also mechanised exoskeletons, called Virtual Suits (VS) that enable you to fight in true mechwarrior style. You can even remove weapons, such as a mini-gun, from the VS, and carry them with you, although this will slow you to a crawl.
However, there isn't much opportunity for you to use these weapons, as you can finish the single-player campaign in less than a day. Your only option after this is to play online, but this doesn't add much extra longevity.
Lost Planet is a simple, mindless shooter with a confusing and uninspiring plot. It's a game that grabbed headlines because of its graphics, but it's definitely best left on the shelf.
