Company: Capcom USA
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: First person shooter
Rating: Teen
Buy on Amazon.com link

Before I start my review, let me preface it with the fact that I am a recent XBOX 360 owner, and in so, I am continually baffled by how intense the graphics and sound are.

That being said, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition put my senses in a blender from the minute I turned it on.

The general premise: Humans have colonized a frozen planet in the not too distant future. The problem? The locals, a race of violent bug creatures known as Akrid, are not too happy with our presence there. The pitfalls of trying to survive a well below freezing environment are somewhat overcome by harvesting thermal energy which is used by the Akrid. Throughout the course of the game, the general focus is to kill or be killed, both of which happen a lot, at least for this novice.

The game opens with a flashback scene, in which you are a participant. It is a nice change from the standard “tutorial” sections of most games, because it actually gets you immediately involved in the story. As you are learning your controls, and figuring out the combat system, the vital back story is being told. I had to run through the tutorial area a couple of times, just to get used to the controls, and to figure out how not to die. Anyone familiar with the console series Halo should have no problem picking it up quickly.

Once you have completed the tutorial, you are transported a few years into the future, where apparently you are the only one who still remembers how to pilot the Vital suits; giant Mech type vehicles which you climb into, and nuke the hell out of anything in your path. As you come to find, your energy is constantly depleting, so there is no time for rest. Each bad guy you kill drops a thermal pack that regenerates some of this energy, but you really have to keep pushing forward to stay alive.

One of my favorite features of the game is the fact that you can use multiple tactics to take down the bosses and/or bad guys. There is no “correct” strategy to use, which allows the player a lot of freedom.

Another great part of the game is the sense of urgency. You absolutely have to keep moving, or you will eventually die. This adds to the immersion of the game immensely, and really gets the player involved with the character.

The graphics are incredibly well done. Walking through the frozen mountains and hillsides, I almost felt as if I was freezing myself. Nothing is quite as shocking as trudging through a tranquil snow field, only to have a gigantic, fire truck sized bug jump out at you from under the ground. I don’t think I have been that startled since Resident Evil 2, which I had to stop playing completely due to potential heart failure.

The sound quality is top notch. Hearing bugs in front of you, and all around you, flanking you, is enough to put you on your toes. Each gun has its own, unique and distinct sound that really puts you in the action. My only gripe, sound wise, is the voice acting. I have never really been thoroughly impressed by voice acting in a video game, but this one seemed much less than normal, especially considering the rest of the very detailed and beautiful production.

Overall, this game is amazingly fun, and one that I am proud to have in my growing collection. My next assignment is to hook up to XBOX Live and head into the multiplayer game, just to see if my skills are up to par with the other Lost Planeteers out there. (Although I somehow think I will be continually owned by 11 and 12 year olds from Oklahoma)

Bottom Line: Buy the game, great replay value
Favorite Aspects: No down time, hurry up and kill stuff or you will die
Cheats: Cheating is for queers, learn to play
Overall Rating: