Lost Planet: Extreme Condition was the third person game released initially only for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows platforms. The game was set in the snow clad regions of the hypothetical planet of E.D.N. III and later ported to the PS3 as well. In the first game, players had to battle huge Akrid creatures with the help of specially enhanced weapons. At the end of that game, everyone was under the impression that the human race had defeated those god-forsaken creatures, and was now free to continue colonizing the new planet.
But when is life ever, even remotely close to the most horrid of fairy tales? And all that was thrown on its head when news of Lost Planets 2, the sequel, emerged. Will we be fighting those same creatures which we had long vanquished in the first installment? Yes! The Akrid are back! And this time stronger than ever! As it happens, the more a game is made to mimic reality, the more demanding it is on the gamer and the less liked it probably turns out. Killzone 2 is the perfect example, except for the fact that it was very well received, by critics and gamers alike. So true to life, but so demanding on the eyes. Especially when playing for hours together.
The movement scheme in the first Lost Planet was a bit tricky, but its counterpart in the second was a little more pleasing, although there are still a few complaints. But it was easier to handle and maneuver a player’s character. Probably one of the first differences that a player would notice is that of the crosshair movements. In the first part the crosshair moved tediously slow. Although they were good enough for racking up those precision shots, the coarser movements were a pain to deal with. The crosshair movements in the second part are much slicker and more refined, making for a more enjoyable shooting experience.
The copy of the game only allowed us to play one mission, and the movement control scheme was not the only thing stepped up. The version had us battling a gigantic, and do we mean GIGANTIC Akrid creature. With six legs and a spiky clubbed tail, it looked like some kind of overgrown salamander, which had been exposed to an untold amount of radiation. The weapons in this mission/game were as nice to look at, as they were to shoot. You can even jump into a VS suit to bring the pain to this huge creature. The shotgun and grenades do the most damage, but require the player to get too close to the live danger. While the automatic rifle can put out many rounds per minute, it comes with its own drawbacks. When the VS suit takes too much damage, you can even jump out and repair it.
We all know that building a forest environment is way harder than doing a snowy one. And this game lives up to all the expectations. In one word, the new environment is stunning. The tall grasses sway with, and are affected by the wind, shock waves and even move as you run through the grassy areas of the map. The water too is beautifully detailed, something similar to that in BioShock. Totally worth it, just to ogle at the game environment. Detailing is the name of the game here, and you can actually see the reflection of gunfire on the rock facade as you fire away at the monster. The mosses and overgrowth are definitely a nice touch too. The Akrid creature that we faced in the one mission game was just something else. Huge as ever. Which brings to mind the saying, “The bigger they are…”, “…the better for gamers.” Its legs are its weak points and can be damaged and even broken off, leaving the creature howling each time you take out a leg. One leg at a time! The creature will fall down! You can even get inside the creature’s body. But you must let it swallow you for that to happen. Inside its digestive tract you will find other weird creatures thriving and ever willing to attack you. As you fight the digestive fluid currents and the other forms of life which you encounter, you see the large creature’s massive core. A glowing heart, so to speak. Destroying that should ensure mission success.
Once the Akrid creature is defeated, it lies fallen and quickly degenerates. Only its highly detailed skeletal remains are left behind to remind you of your conquest. Oh, and by the way, you also have a few human comrades with strange sounding names like, Andou and Kawata. Maybe a reference to members on the development team. But the game’s human AI doesn’t seem all that great, and they are quickly killed off by the monstrous Akrid. Probably, the developer would need to look into camera angles as an area to improve, if the franchise is to join the ranks of the Halo or Gears of War series. Getting stuck helplessly around corners and providing no idea of the character’s bearings, the camera views did leave a sour taste in the mouth. And when you step inside the belly of an enormous dinosaur-like monster, if the tons of creatures popping out of its innards do not lead to your downfall and your need to respawn, then the disconcerting camera angles almost definitely will.
All in all, a small taste of what’s to come and what Lost Planet 2 has to offer.