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By Keith B (19th Mar 2007)

If you're looking for a cozy, inviting, winter wonderland of a game, then Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is NOT for you. This isn't the Winter Olympics, kids, so if you were looking for something tame like skiing or figure skating, have some hot chocolate and stay away from this one. Set in a frozen world inhabited by the ill-tempered Akrid, Lost Planet delivers the feeling of being stranded on an unfamiliar planet, in absolute zero temperatures, with an army of giant insects trying to kill you. You're definitely not in Kansas anymore. With highly detailed graphics, unique gameplay, and a sick arsenal of weaponry, Capcom has provided gamers with a seriously fun, frosty treat.

You start the game as Wayne, a brave soldier, and are quickly plunged into battle with a "Green Eye", a particularly nasty Akrid. You find yourself immediately in the thick of it all, running around trying to learn how to play while this giant alien tries to ruin everyone's day. You'll probably die a few times as you get your bearings and become accustomed to the gameplay style, but this fast-paced beginning sets the stage for the rest of the game and you just know you're in for a whirlwind of fun. You set off on a series of missions to rid the planet of the Akrid but are dragged in different directions as the plot thickens. Think you can handle it?

The graphics in Lost Planet are truly top notch. Despite your frigid surroundings, you're quickly warmed by the detailed explosions that look and sound so real you can practically feel the heat coming off your flat panel. The explosions and smoke effects are second to none, giving this game a well-rounded uniqueness. The action effects are complimented by vast landscapes, icy tunnels, and sheer cliffs that all invite you to look around and enjoy the view. While exploring you may even find a special weapon, a mechanized Vital Suit, or just a really scary Akrid, all rendered in high quality graphics. With the bitter cold, wintry landscape looking this realistic, you may want to throw on a sweater. Not the cardigan your grandma gave you for Christmas either; that would just insult this game. Find yourself a worthy sweater, preferably one with an army logo, a stain from axel grease, and a hole in the sleeve...yeah, that one.

The sound effects in Lost Planet are certainly worth mentioning too. While the full effect of the sound is experienced best during the game's many cut scenes, in-game sound is also amazing and in your face. Weapon sounds, ambient weather and music, vehicle sounds and even the crunching of the snow under your feet as you walk all immerse you into the game. Yet another good sound feature is the voiceovers during cut scenes which provide the story and plot of the game. The acting is believable and realistic which is a great compliment to a great game.

All these bells and whistles are great, but what gamers really play for is the all important gameplay. After all, the original Nintendo games are still very entertaining even with only 8-bit graphics and even after you play Xbox 360 with its "uber-graphics". So how does Lost Planet's gameplay measure up? It's superb. All around, Lost Planet is right up there with Gears of War which is stirring the mud as we speak. You have the standard HUD showing you your health, ammunition, and so on. But what makes this part of the game unique is the health management. Since the planet is basically a giant ice cube, the only way to survive is to collect thermal energy dropped by defeated Akrid or by destroying containers around the level. You have a number gauge that shows you how much thermal energy you have left and when that reaches zero you begin to lose health. This means if you lollygag around the level or don't kill Akrid fast enough, you will quickly become a human Popsicle. Some reviewers have suggested that this feature is annoying and that it does not allow you to search the vast levels as much as they might like. I did not find this to be true at all. It simply forces you to be efficient and stay on your toes. This type of health management makes the game more challenging and adds a unique dynamic, thereby enhancing gameplay.

Another cool feature is your anchor. This anchor acts as a grappling hook allowing you to reach high areas, hidden items, avoid falling off cliffs, and can even be a weapon at close range. The anchor is especially essential when the game switches to a completely vertical level forcing you to hone your anchor skills. This adds so much more possibility to the game where other games are limited to the more traditional horizontal plane.

Let's not forget to mention that you also have access to a variety of mechanized war machines called Vital Suits (VS Suits). These awesome machines have a completely different class of weapon associated with them. While you can pick up VS weapons and use them outside of the VS Suit, you can not run and shoot at the same time like you can with normal weapons. Also, you can't switch between the VS weapon and a normal weapon in your inventory without dropping the VS weapon. This handicap is inherent in the sheer size and power of the VS weapons and makes the game more realistic. When you equip the VS suit with the various weapons then your full power can be realized and any Akrid in your path better watch out. However, some Akrid, like the bosses at the end of each level, are very difficult, if not impossible to defeat without a VS Suit. In the event that your VS Suit is destroyed while fighting a boss, you better have damaged him enough that you can deliver the final blow or you will likely perish. These vehicles are absolutely essential to your survival as well as the full experience of the game and you'll spend a lot of highly entertained time in them. There are many VS models each with their own different personality and abilities which provides even further dynamic to the game experience. The VS Suit is the main element in Lost Planet that provides a high amount of entertainment, gameplay and even story plot.

With all the great features and unique elements, Lost Planet stands to be an award winning game. It's truly a total package combining top-notch graphics and sound, unique gameplay, and an awesome variety of weapons, providing a well rounded gaming experience. Lost Planet is essential to any shooter fan's collection.