The storyline of Lost Planet 3 is surprisingly one of its most important features this time around. The game shows the earlier moments of human settlers making a new life on what they believe to be an uninhabited planet, but more importantly, it tells the story of Jim Peyton and his family. Peyton takes a job on E.D.N. III for its good pay and promise of a new life for him and his family. Much of the storyline revolves around the personal messages sent between Jim and his wife back home, as they discuss the colonization, their child's first steps and their hopes and fears. All of the storyline is very well acted with William Watterson turning in a wonderful performance as the star character that is a very believable every man and loving father and husband. Likewise, there are some strong performances given by the support characters in the game, as players discover the secrets the planet hides including a group of adversaries that fans of the series will be sure to recognize.
Combat on foot in Lost Planet 3 hasn't changed all that much from previous titles; the game is still a large mixture of third-person, cover-based encounters that isn't so much tactical as it is running in guns ablaze most of the time. Fighting the larger Akrid monsters that inhabit the snowy landscape is as simple as rolling out of the way from their lunging attacks and retaliating with some quick shots to glowing weak spots. Fighting against human enemies is nearly the same as any other shooter though. There is a typical array of firearms to use in the game including snipers, shotguns and more. Where things have really changed is in mech combat. The game still features large, single pilot machines, but the action now switches to first-person view while riding, and the mechs feature drills and claws instead of high powered weapons, as they are intended to be used for mining instead of combat. This leads to some awkward moments in combat though that feels like a bizarre mixture of BioShock 2 and Mike Tyson's Punch Out where the player is constantly blocking and moving around only to land a drill to the face of enemies as a counterattck. The new idea is definitely unique, but fans of the series will be missing their VS mechs really quickly upon jumping in one of the new rigs.
Multiplayer has been removed for Lost Planet 3's campaign, opting instead to leave the awfully emotional campaign a single player experience only. Players can team up and head into some online versus modes in the new release however, and there are a nice variety of game modes and unique ideas incorporated into the experience this time around. Matches can have up to ten players and include modes such as the popular Alpha Lair mode where teams work together to defeat a powerful Akrid boss only to turn on each other and fight for control of what remains of the fallen beast. Another mode called Akrid Survival works out more like a classic Horde mode with Team Deathmatch elements mixed into combat with waves of enemies. Multiplayer in Lost Planet 3 includes that standard level progression system complete with plenty of unlockables, player levels and classes. Lost Planet 3 multiplayer won't break any new ground, but it does add some longevity to a game that already features a meaty campaign of well over 10 hours.
The graphics of Lost Planet 3 have been dramatically improved since the release of its predecessors. Character models are larger and more detailed than ever before. Peyton accurately resembles his real life counterpart, and the facial animations in the game are spot-on with some of the best in the business including Halo 4 and L.A. Noire. This helps make the experience that much more immersive to help the player truly appreciate the writing of the game and the stress the characters are feeling in these harsh environments, far away from home. The levels themselves are designed pretty well, though snow storms will pop in at inopportune times to make visibility a struggle, while invisible walls, or the lack thereof, can lead to some unfortunate deaths. The game's soundtrack is right on par with what you'd expect from the series and doesn't do anything wrong or produce any classic themes.
Lost Planet 3 offers a fun prequel for a series that Capcom and loyal fans refuse to let die. The series isn't the most popular, which is largely due to being part of a crowded shooter genre. There is plenty of good shooter action in the game, and having showdowns with some of the massive Akrid bosses can provide some of the more epic encounters in gaming. A few changes have been made to the series, and not all are changes that needed to be made or that improve the game's quality. The game doesn't do much to stand out above the rest of today's shooters and suffers from repetitiveness and awkward combat. Still Lost Planet 3 is a fun title that offers a lengthy and touching campaign and includes some decent multiplayer action as well. If you're looking for a new shooter to play this weekend, strap on your snow gear, and jump into a session of Lost Planet 3.
Lost Planet 3 is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Lost Planet 3 is rated T by the ESRB for Blood, Mild Language & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Lost Planet 3 website.
Game Features:
Game Information:
Developer: Spark Unlimited
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewed) & PC
Release Date: August 27, 2013
