Capcom Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

Lost Planet could have, would have, and should have been a Game of the Year contender. The visuals are amazing; the action is fast and furious and has that slick new-gen sheen everyone is clamouring for. I didn't even mind the nonsensical sci-fi back story, which involves a frozen planet, aliens that bleed valuable thermal goo, and a shadowy organisation that's up to no good. Why? Because the cinemas are done so well.

But ultimately, it falls oh so short. Over time, the gorgeous graphics and interesting gameplay concepts give way to some frustrating quirks that seriously bend, and will occasionally break, your patience.

Cold As Ice

Lost Planet offers a schizophrenically uneven gaming experience. It's a frustrating balancing act as expansive levels require you to be patient and methodical in your approach, but a ticking energy meter forces you to stay constantly on the move. It was only during certain, all-too-rare moments when abundant energy levels and a manageable number of enemies allowed me to sit back and enjoy Lost Planet's unique flavor of action. The game isn't challenging, it's just plain hard. I don't mind a challenge, but I do mind a game where you have to repeatedly fight the same boss over and over again because of unfair deaths due to limited weapon stock and ridiculously difficult environmental hazards.

There's also the aforementioned energy meter. Your health is sustained by a special suit powered by special thermal goo dropped by fallen enemies. The game's emphasis on running around in a desperate attempt to pick up every little droplet of goo the aliens spill is frustrating and should have been handled with an auto-collection option.

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Throughout the game, the gunplay is fast-paced, satisfying, and ammo is plentiful. Ironically, Lost Planet has a decidedly futuristic sci-fi flavour but the game's arsenal is mostly composed of standard armaments. Let me get this straight: Humanity has conquered the stars, but isn't able to design a weapon more advanced than a shotgun? To be fair, though, one of the coolest play elements is that you can hop into a variety of big mech suits and get your gun on.

Then there are the explosions. While they're incredibly impressive visually, the explosions kick up a crapload of smoke, which looks great, but ends up obscuring your vision during the heat of battle. Regardless, when you see that orange plume of fire blossom in front of your eyes, you can't help but smile.