Lost Planet

Lost Planet
Review Xbox360
Capcom Eurosoft

The Human Race is looking for a new planet to colonize. Surely there is a better option than a freezing hell-hole inhabited by 100ft tall spiders?

Developed by the team behind such classics as Onimusha and Devil May Cry Lost Planet is a high adrenalin bullet charged romp of a shooter.

In Lost Planet you play as a human snow pirate navigating VS (Vital Suits) through unforgiving arctic environments, fighting against the indigenous Akrid creatures for the precious thermal energy they need to survive.

For one such pilot named Wayne, death almost seemed imminent until he was fortunately rescued. However, he can only remember a few fragments of his past including the slaying of his father by these enigmatic menaces. Yet under the shroud of ice, a devious plan has been set into motion by the Neo Venus Construction Corporation (NEVEC) that plans to sterilize the world of all Akrid and snow pirates alike. What really happened to Wayne and how will his destiny become intertwined with NEVEC's plans?

Lost Planet is a third person shooter with some natty little features. You control Wayne from a typical third person, over the shoulder, view and it's your job to shoot your way to victory. The games layout is the standard - level, boss format with the bosses getting more and more hardcore as the game transpires.

You use the 2 analogue sticks to move and look while the coloured buttons have been put to good use for taking cover and moving from point to point. The control you have over Wayne is very impressive, although it does take a bit of mastering.

Within the levels you get to command highly powered armed vehicles and weapons not only to help you traverse the treacherous terrain, but to eliminate enemies that lie ahead. It is quick and easy to strategically switch from vehicles, including transformable snow vessels, to on-foot game-play as dictated by your situation. Lost Planet is a fast-paced third-person shooter with a science fiction twist but the story doesn't make enough sense for you to care about the finer details.

An array of online game-play possibilities await including Downloadable content such as maps, missions and weapons. There is also online multiplayer cooperative and versus battles with up to 16 players featuring the standard death-match, team and capture the flag type modes. This is where Lost Planet is at it's best but I have to say there is so much "online team-play" available today that I don't know if Lost Planet has what it takes to really compete with the big boys.

Graphically the characters are sweet. Whether it's your team members or the toweringly immense creatures you encounter along the way the design has a feel of originality. Even when your screen is rammed with action there are no graphical glitches to report and some of the bosses are truly scary looking.

The environments are also pretty stunning. You will encounter Snowstorms, arctic winds, towering buildings, mountains of ice and much more as you take the battle to the Akrids. The graphical rendering of the planet is superb and you actually get a chilly feeling from the drifting snow and ice. Battles take place above and below ground as the human race strives to survive the bitter conditions.

SO as you can tell - this game has impact. Lost Planet is a well constructed third person shooter with some impressive graphics. The only things that hold the game back are the staleness of the genre, in real terms there is nothing new here, and a completely convoluted plot - by half way through I had given up on the story line - it is very confusing.

So overall if you are looking to blast your way through some impressive scenery then you could do much worse than Lost Planet especially as the multiplayer section is very good but if you are looking for something more engaging and original then there really isn't anything here you haven't seen a million times before.

8 out of 10