LOST PLANET: EXTREME CONDITION

In the world of sci-fi shooters, Halo has always ruled the roost.
Then Capcom’s LOST PLANET came along and set a new benchmark on the new seventh-generation console machines.
It added depth to the genre, and it also set a new point of reference for how hooters should look on the Xbox 360.
Now, Capcom has added its world-class filly to its PC stable with the release of LOST PLANET: EXTREME CONDITIONS.
The storyline remains the same as before …
Mankind, through his own misgivings, has been forced to look to the stars for other planets to call home., and
And E.D.N. III looks like the best possible option so far.
While it‘s not paradise, mankind believes he has found a planet that could one day sustain life.
There’s just one small problem _ it just happens to be inhabited by giant flesh-eating creatures known as the Akrid.
The solution _ send in a team of soldiers to eradicate these killers so that the NEVEC Corporation can begin its top-secret plan to terraform the planet for colonisation.
The battle against the Akrid has been hard and taken many lives, including that of Wayne Holden’s father, who was killed by the legendary Akrid known only as ``Green Eye’’.
After surviving the fight against Green Eye, Wayne wakes some 30 years later, his frozen body found by a small band of Snow Pirates, led by brother and sisters Rick and Luka.
By joining them, you take the role of Wayne in a bid to uncover the secrets of the evil NEVEC Corporation, and take revenge on the Green Eye, who killed your father many years ago.
For all-intense-and-purposes, the PC version of Lost Planet is a direct replica of its Xbox360 brother. It looks the same, it feels the same … it even sounds the same.
Dang, if you use an Xbox360 Controller for Windows, rather than the clumsy option of using the mouse and keyboard, it even plays the same.
In fact, by taking full use of a real-time loading system, it runs better on the PC than 360.
So why isn’t it as good as its console cousin?
Put quite simply, its live-only play is its Achilles’ heel - you can’t play Lost Planet: Extreme Condition without being linked to the game server via the internet.
While it doesn’t sound overly problematic, consider that any drop-out, reduction in bandwidth from your machine to the server (if you ain‘t got broadband, forget about it), or power failure and you cannot play the game.
That said, it’s still a wonderful game, with stunning backgrounds, visually appealing graphics, and thoroughly enjoyable missions and skirmishes against some of the most diabolical creepy-crawlies you will find anywhere.
Overall, some hard-core gamers may find the 11 missions somewhat restrictive, but an extended multi-player system that can now connect PC gamers with Xbox360 gamers over Xbox LIVE service allows for almost unlimited gameplay.
If you don’t own a 360 and enjoy a decent shooter, then Lost Planet: Extreme Condition may be the answer you’ve been looking for.

WE RATE IT
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 8
OVERALL: 85%