Lost Planet is both beautiful and fun, but a few problems get in the way of an otherwise enjoyable game.
The game starts off with a lengthy cutscene explaining the situation. Human-kind has attempted to colonize a distant planet known as EDN III. Everything seemed to be going well until a hostile alien presence, known as the Akrid, started causing trouble. While fleeing, the humans noticed that these alien beings carried a unique thermal goop that proved to be a power energy source. So, instead of leaving the planet, the humans stayed to fight and find a way to use this energy source. This battle has been raging for 22 years when we are introduced to our protagonist, Wayne.
Wayne seems to be your average solider. After seeing his father get crushed by a large Akrid known as Green Eye, he loses conscious and is rescued by a small band of snow pirates. After awaking with little memory other than his name and the fate of his father, he volunteers to assist his new friends in order to track down and eliminate the Green Eye.
This seems like a simple premise, and it does start off that way. However, as the story unfolds, large cooperate conspiracies are uncovered and Wayne’s past is revealed. While many criticisms have been stated about the story, some many actually find it quite enjoyable. There are some plot points that could be better explained and there are a few leaps of logic one will have to deal with, but it is not all that bad.
Lost Planet plays like many other third-person action games. You run around, aim, and shoot. This pattern makes up the entire game. It works well and the controls are responsive, but a few problems really get in the way. The controls will, at first, be awkward for most people. You run and aim alittle slower than you might like, but this can be adjusted in the options menu. Crouching is also awkward, forcing you to hold down the left analog stick. Since you have often have to spin the camera around to see what is happening, this makes crouching all but useless unless you stand still and aim straight. Even with these minor complaints, on foot action controls fine. Also thrown in are small button mashing affairs that allow you to operate data posts scattered around the level. These do not get in the way, but do feel like a last minute attempt to add some extra interactivity to the game.
You’ll also get to control mech-suits, which are known as Vital Suits or VS’s in Lost Planet. These fierce battle machines all control great and each VS has its own feel. The difference between a slow and cumbersome VS and a fast and nimble one is very noticeable. If there is one major complaint that can be said of these power houses it is that the same button that is used for getting out of them is also the button used for picking up weapon attachments. This can lead to Wayne jumping out of the safety of his VS when all you were trying to do is pick up extra ammunition. This flaw is especially problematic during boss fights, where your foes attack often and with great force. A few seconds out of the VS can spell disaster for Wayne.
Lost Planet has some of the most gorgeous visuals on the Xbox360. With all the developers trying make water look as good as possible, seeing that is can be pulled of with snow is a nice change of setting. The environments are an eye-catcher from start to finish and, even though each levels start to blend into one another after awhile, it always looks great. The explosions and smoke effects are definitely a highlight. They are amazing to look at and will probably cause one to blow up barrels just to see them.
The enemy designs are also incredible. While they aren’t the most original models, each one is breath taking the first time you encounter them. On top of that, each one animates smoothly. You really believe that the movements these creatures are making are the ones they would make if they existed. Speaking of animation, Wayne’s movements are some on the best ever seen in a video game. He stumbles as a real person would, falls with a violent thump, and runs fluently. However, the realism of his animations can get in that way. He stumbles more often than he should, leaving you completely helpless as you watch an Akrid charge at you. Plus, once he’s knocked down, it takes him awhile to stand up again. This results in some endless cycles of Wayne falling down and standing up without an opportunity to fight back, which prove to be very frustrating.
Sound design is also solid. The majority on the weapons feel like they pack a punch and explosions are loud and forceful. All the vital suits also sound good as they fire their turrets and crunch through the snow. The voice acting, while decent, could have used some improvements. None of it is painful to listen to, but some lines feel like they are delivered at the wrong tone. The music, on the other hand, fits perfectly throughout. It always kicks in at the perfect time and makes the battles all that more epic.
While the campaign will take the average player 6-8 hours to finish, there is a decent multiplayer component to try as well. It has you and 15 others fighting it out in standard deathmatch, team deathmatch, and territories. One mode, called fugitive, is the most entertaining as it has the host trying to hide from and pick off all the others in the room. The multiplayer has it fun moments and will supply some hours of entertainment, but there are other, better multiplayer shooters out there. The controls take even more getting used to online since you’re fighting smarter opponents. Expect to be killed a lot when you first start out.
Lost Planet is a great action game because of its beautiful graphics and solid gameplay. It will supply plenty of value for those willing to put the time into the multiplayer, but those just looking for a great single-player experience wouldn’t go wrong checking out Lost Planet. It’s not a long as we would have hoped, but for the time it lasts, it’s a blast to play.