'Extreme Condition reaches 360'
 Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Category: : Third-Person shooter
Official Site
Platform: X-Box 360
Might look like: /
Date posted: 22 February 2007
Written By: Ian
We also test other games on
"PlayDevil.com Game Machine"
Ooooooooh, Shiny!
When the Lost Planet CE box arrived, you cannot help but be impressed by it.
Finished with an embossed metal effect and exclusive artwork on the front, it looks the business, and weighs it too, because of all the goodies you get! The paperwork barely fits in thanks to the hefty artwork book included, whilst you also get a bonus CD with plenty of tools like IM icons and also a complete copy of the game's soundtrack (pretty cool actually).
But does the game deliver as much as the case?
The Story Continues
If you have played the Lost Planet single player demo (if you haven't, where have you been, its been available since May!) you might wonder where the demo fits into the single player.
Well, its basically the first two levels after the training level. Having said that, the training is the most action packed since Call of Duty 2; its tense and full of explosions, even if it lacks the difficulty of COD2.
In between levels, you get lengthy, high quality FMV scenes to set the plot for the next mission and fill out the story. However, if you skip them, you won't be missing too much.
Whilst the plot is interesting, its also very confusing, with a huge roster of characters that come and go as they please. Furthermore, there is actually little link between the plot and the levels, as the action is fairly old-school.
  
This is no bad thing however, although after having played GRAW and GoW, it was quite weird to find linear, level-based gameplay! Its so old school, that the basic idea of the game is this: blast through relatively easy level, take out excruciatingly hard, massive (and I really mean BIG!) boss. Not that it mattered, because the action comes so thick and fast that you don't really care about the plot twists, just surviving in the epic wastelands that you are presented with!
And the scenes really are epic; presented with gorgeous visuals, whether inside or out, with fantastic sweeping snow effects and the best smoke and fire effects seen in a game, ever, and a haunting, equally epic soundtrack.
The only shame is that even on the hardest difficulty, only the bosses pose a challenge, as the AI is really lacking compared to most games out there, relying on their sheer numbers and better machinery to try and take you out.
The bosses, even on normal, however, presents a real challenge, and are really varied in both appearance and attacks, so you will want to play though, just to see them.
And despite the flaws in difficulty and the relative shortness of the campaign, it was still one of the better single player experiences I have played in the last twelve months.
Marvellous multiplayer
This may sound weird, but the surprise of Lost Planet is just how damn good the multiplayer is. This came as a real shock to me.
The demo available was confusing to say the least, but the retail copy is fantastic.
Sure, it might take a couple of goes to work out what is going on, but once you know what to do and how the gameplay works (remarkably similar to the single player, except with teams, to be honest) you will find this to be one of your best experiences on Live!
The system of finding games is excellent, although it takes a little time (Capcom are working on a series of patches as well, two of which are now out). Once you get in a game, 99% of the time you'll be in lag-free heaven, as Capcom's net code is spot-on, even with a full room of 16 people.
The maps are also perfect, with a good variety of small and large maps, with both indoor and outdoor maps too. However, the sizings are just right, because the maps never seem too frantic, nor too leisurely, pretty much no matter how many people you play with.
There are also weather and time of day changes whilst in game which totally change the way you play the map during the game, which is frankly, an amazing edition and serves to keep any match tense and close!
  
The best aspect of the collector's edition here is the free map you get as a bonus, called 'Battlegrounds.' This is an excellent map, reminiscent of the beginning of the second map from the campaign. It's tense and narrow, with plenty of camping locations, and leads to some really tense battles. The only shame is that its not played enough, because as of yet, I guess not too may have the CE.
The achievements for multiplayer are also well thought out, encouraging you to play all of the four game types, and are spread out enough to give you further encouragement to keep playing (as if the great gameplay wasn't enough!)
Conclusion
"Lost Planet: Extreme Edition" for Xbox 360 is a fantastic game, in every respect, which in some ways, is quite a surprise. What is weird is that whilst still amazing, single player was a slight let-down, whilst multiplayer is a real dark horse, surprising everyone at the office with just how good it is.
With gorgeous graphics that nearly rival Gears of War, and frantic multiplayer, Lost Planet should be at the top of your lost, no matter how many 3rd person shooters you have played this year! Just go for the CE, this time it's worth it!
-Ian
Ratings
Manual:
90 % |
Graphics:
91% |
Music & Sfx:
87% |
GamePlay:
91% |
|
This game scores
 
on our 5-point Rating System
Up
Previous Page
If you want to review your favorite game, or if you work with a computer game company and want your products reviewing, mail info@playdevil.com.
All contributions are welcome.
Join Video Game Network Exchange
Any problems and/or suggestions are always appreciated on
webmaster@playdevil.com
Nothing of this entire Site, animation & logo's included, may be reproduced, stored, saved, transmitted, in any form or means, electronic, written or otherwise without the prior permission of PlayDevil.
Other Logos & Names are Copyrighted Material of its respectful owners.
All Rights Reserved.
PlayDevil Productions © 199/8-199/9-200/0-200/1-200/2-200/3-200/4-200/5-200/6-200/7
"rip your own stuff"
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
