Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
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| Lost Planet: Extreme Condition | |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Kenji Oguro (director) Keiji Inafune (producer) |
| Engine | MT Framework |
| Release date(s) | JP December 22, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Third-person Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 |
| Media | 1 DVD |
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a third-person shooter video game created by Capcom exclusively for Microsoft's Xbox 360. It was produced by Keiji Inafune, the creator of the Onimusha and Mega Man series. The game utilizes both mech piloting and on-foot exploration and features Korean-wave actor Lee Byung-Hun as the model for the main character, Wayne.[1] Lost Planet was released on January 12, 2007, in North America and PAL regions. Lost Planet: Trag Zero, a prequel which focuses on Gale, the main character Wayne's father, is also expected to be released on cell phones.[1]
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[edit] Plot
The game's plot focuses on the amnesiac character Wayne Holden who searches for Green Eye, a large creature that killed his father Gale Holden. The planet of E.D.N III is perpetually cold and snowy, and thermal energy (abbreviated T-ENG in the game) constantly decreases slowly, although more can be gathered from slain enemies and remains of explosions. The plot centers on Wayne and his struggle with both rival Snow Pirate clans (those left behind when the planet was evacuated) and large native creatures called Akrid that inhabit the planet. Wayne is rendered unconscious during the battle with Green Eye, and becomes frozen in his Vital Suit (VS), a walking combat mech used to battle the vicious Akrid. He is found and rescued by a small group of Snow Pirates led by a man named Yuri. His companions are Luka, a spirited young woman, and her younger brother Rick, a computer and mechanical genius. Luka is very suspicious of Wayne early on but grows to trust him. The plot thickens when a shady, paramilitaristic corporation called NEVEC becomes involved. They are leading the Frontier Project, an operation to terraform E.D.N III to make it more habitable to humans. However, there is some kind of conspiracy involving Wayne's father, Gale, and his subsequent betrayal by Dr. Solotov.
[edit] Combat system
Lost Planet has introduced a new style, or genre, of games. It would be best described as a puzzle shooter. While any and every enemy, with exception to bosses, can be slain with head on combat, all of them have vital points which makes killing them much easier. So the game becomes a mix of killing, and learning how to kill more efficiently. Most of the game revolves around combat. Wayne can use a variety of weapons, like machine guns, shotguns, and rocket launchers. In addition to hand-held weapons, Wayne can pilot an assortment of robot suits (mechs), called Vital Suits (VSs). Weaponry is used to combat the planet's native species, the Akrid. The Akrid are a hostile, insectoid species, which come in many forms. They can range from smaller than a person to several times larger than a mech. Wayne also fights groups of enemy human soldiers, called Snow Pirates. The Snow Pirates use the same kinds of handheld weapons and VSs that Wayne does. There are multiple Vital Suits available for use. Also, when on foot, Wayne has the ability to remove heavy weaponry from these vital suits for upgraded firepower. For battlefield mobility, some of these vital suits can "Transform" into a faster, more agile form. For instance, one light-weight vital suit can transform into a Snowmobile-type transport with a chain-gun attached to it. As for weapons, there are some of the typical science fiction weapons such as lasers and slow-moving plasma bolt guns. The main weapon in the game is the previously mentioned machine gun and it is quite effective at both medium and short ranges. Wayne can carry a maximum of two weapons at once. He, and multiplayer characters, are capable of using a grappling-hook type tool to gain vantage points.
In both the single-player and multiplayer game modes, there is a "T-Eng" (Thermal Energy) meter below the character's health. This counter goes down continually in the cold, and can refilled by collecting pools of glowing orange "heat" that drop from dead enemies or other heat sources, such as an explosive barrel. It can also be replenished by activating data posts. The T-Eng is used to refill Wayne's health in the single-player mode, and is used to power energy weapons such as plasma rifles and removable mech energy weapons.
For information of Lost Planet's characters and enemies, see:List of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition characters & adversaries
[edit] Xbox Live support
The game has multiplayer support on Xbox Live with up to 16 players online in a single game. Players can compete through four game types; Fugitive, Elimination, Team Elimination, and Post Grab. Killing enemies, destroying VS, and hacking data posts will add to the players score while getting killed and committing suicide will take away points. The point total at the end of the game will be added to the player's overall score across all of their games. This score will be used to determine the player's level. The highest level is 99. Players can unlock new character models and patterns. There are eight (nine in SE version) multiplayer maps: Crimson River, Dark Town, Diplidation, Training Facility, Canyon 810, Lost Coast, Pirate Fortress, and Frozen Wasteland (plus battleground in SE version).
The weapon variety in Lost Planet becomes obvious when playing in multiplayer matches; the game features 5 varieties of grenade, 15 distinct weapons (7 of which are dual-function in that they can be carried by infantry or attached to a mech), and 6 mechs ranging from transforming tanks to jump-jet walkers. Weapon placements are randomized for each match, as are a player's grenades upon spawning.
On March 2, 2007, Capcom released the first gameplay patch for Lost Planet's multiplayer modes. The patch includes fixes that allow players to easier discern the nationality of their fellow players, to tell who is speaking during matchmaking and gameplay with an added "speaking" icon, as well as a connection speed/strength indicator. This speaking symbol is also added in the results screen at the end of the match. It also contains a number of bugfixes geared to prevent major glitches and exploits during online play. However a few people haven´t been able to enter a match, due to the host quitting the match. This is an error, and more people reports about this problem. Due to the fact that descerning nationality is easier, many people refuse to play with any people not from their country, causing an increase of reports on gamertags for racism.
[edit] Multiplayer Map Packs
Capcom has announced that they intend to release three sets of map packs. The first set included Radar Field and Island 902. It was released on March 9, 2007 for 400 Microsoft Points. The second map pack was released on April 6, 2007 for 400 Microsoft Points. It includes Hive Complex and Trial Point[2]. Battleground, which was only available in the limited edition, will be given out for free in the third map pack. The third map pack has no release date at this time.
[edit] Reception
Lost Planet is ranked at 80% on Game Rankings, based on 64 reviews. The game was subject to a wide range of reviews, from a 95/100 by Gamebrink and an 8.5 by IGN, to a score of 6.5 from 1UP. Despite varying scores, the reception has been positive overall. Game Informer rated it a 8.25 and awarded it the Game of the Month for February 2007.[2] Lost Planet became the top-selling game in the United Kingdom upon release.[3] At the same time, it continues to be running in the Top 10 video game sales charts of Amazon.com and Play-Asia.com.[citation needed] On certain days, both regular and collector's editions of the game occupied the same charts.[citation needed] WorthPlaying.com and QJ.net reports that Lost Planet has "sold a little over one million copies in North America and Europe combined, according to investment firm FISCO."[citation needed] During the month of January 2007, Lost Planet was the top selling game in North America, with 329,000 copies sold.[3]
[edit] Limited Edition
A limited edition of the game is also commercially available, featuring an art book, and an extra multiplayer map (Battleground) not found in the 'standard' version of the game. It also includes a separate CD-ROM that has the complete game soundtrack in .mp3 format, along with wallpapers and quicktime versions of three game cutscenes dubbed "webisodes".
