Lost Planet: Extreme Condition wiki

From Software Informer

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
Lost Planet box art
Developer(s)	Capcom K2 LLC (PS3 port)
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Distributor(s)	Valve Corporation (Steam)
Designer(s)	Kenji Oguro (director) Keiji Inafune (producer)
Composer(s)	Jamie Christopherson
Engine	MT Framework[1]
Native resolution	720p (HDTV) 480p/576p (EDTV) 480i/576i (SDTV)
Platform(s)	Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	Xbox 360[2] JP December 21, 2006 NA / PAL January 12, 2007 Microsoft Windows[3] NA June 26, 2007 PAL June 29, 2007 PlayStation 3[4] JP February 21, 2008 NA February 26, 2008 AUS February 27, 2008 EU February 29, 2008 Lost Planet: Colonies Windows, Xbox 360 JP May 29, 2008[5] NA May 27, 2008 EU June 6, 2008
Genre(s)	Action, third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T OFLC: M[6] Lost Planet: Colonies ESRB: T OFLC: M[7] PEGI: 16+[8]
Media	DVD, DVD-DL, Blu-ray Disc, Steam
System requirements	Operating System Support Windows XP/Vista 1.5 GHz single core CPU (2.8 GHz single core CPU or faster recommended) 512 MB RAM (1.0 GB RAM or greater recommended) 8.0 GB hard disk space 128 MB Video Memory * Pixel Shader 3.0 * GeForce 6600 or greater DirectX 9.0c sound card Internet (TCP/IP) and LAN (TCP/IP) play supported.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. The game was produced by Keiji Inafune, the creator of the Mega Man and Onimusha series. The game utilizes both vital suit (also known as VS, which is like a mecha or robotic armour) piloting and on-foot exploration and features Korean actor Lee Byung-Hun as the model for the main character, Wayne.^[9] Lost Planet was released on January 12, 2007, in North America and PAL regions. Lost Planet: Trag Zero, a prequel which focuses on the character of Gale, Wayne's father, has been released on cell phones. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition was released on Windows in June in Europe and North America. The Windows version includes DirectX 10 support, when run in Windows Vista,^[10] and enhanced graphics.^[11] A demo for the Windows version was released on May 15, 2007, which was the first playable game to showcase DirectX 10. On October 17, 2007, Capcom announced a PlayStation 3 version, including all 360 downloadable content and PC bonus characters, it was released on February 29, 2008. The game offers 16 player online play.

[edit] Combat system

Most of the game revolves around combat. Wayne can use a variety of weapons, like machine guns, shotguns, and rocket launchers, but can also pilot an assortment of robot suits (mechs), called Vital Suits (VSs). When on foot, Wayne also has the ability to remove heavy weaponry from these vital suits for upgraded firepower. Wayne can carry a maximum of two weapons at once, allowing the player to prepare for the challenge ahead. Weaponry is used primarily to combat the planet's native species, the Akrid, but some levels require their use against rival snow pirates and mechs. In both the single-player and multiplayer game modes, there is a "T-Eng" (Thermal Energy) meter below the character's health. This counter goes down continually in the cold, and can be refilled by collecting pools of glowing orange "heat" that drop from dead enemies, activating data posts, or from other heat sources found in the environment, such as explosive barrels. The T-Eng is used to refill Wayne's health in the single-player mode, and is also used to power energy weapons such as plasma rifles and energy weapons.

[edit] Background

Lost Planet takes place in a dystopian future (the year is given as T.C. -80) where planetary conditions on Earth have become too hostile to support human life. A scientific enterprise known as Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC), led by Commander Dennis Isenberg, spearheads a colonization effort, ultimately choosing the planet of E.D.N III. E.D.N. III is perpetually cold and snowy, originally inhabited by a species of aliens known as the Akrid, who forced humanity to abandon E.D.N. III by strength of numbers and surprise. Initially, the Akrid deterred humans from colonization, but this changed when T-ENG was discovered. Thermal Energy, or T-ENG, is a powerful energy source, found only in Akrid bodies, which made humankind determined to fight the Akrid, for which purpose NEVEC created the Vital Suit, or VS, technology, essentially mechs powered by T-ENG, carrying mounted weapons.

[edit] Plot

As Wayne, Luka, and Rick continue on their journey, they meet a woman named Basil, who has VS piloting skills and an arm-mounted device similar to Wayne’s Harmonizer. She's looking for Yuri, whom she blames for the death of her husband. She reveals to Wayne that 30 years have passed since Gale's death; the Harmonizer technology slows the aging process. Shortly afterwards they find Gale's VS, described by Rick as possibly the most advanced VS ever produced, and use it to defeat Green Eye. After the battle, they are surprised by a NEVEC patrol led by Isenberg's second-in-command, Shane Bandero, who also has a Harmonizer-like device though far more crude. His appearance triggers Wayne's memory, granting the realization that it was not Green Eye that killed Gale, but soldiers under Bandero's orders. After a short battle between Wayne and Bandero's troops, Wayne is forced to retreat on Luka's scooter. They leave the dome to discover that their trailer has been destroyed and Rick apparently captured by NEVEC troops. To compensate for their losses, and continue hitting NEVEC, they resort to guerilla-tactics, hitting NEVEC convoys and the like. After one of their raids, they discover Rick and Basil in a small shelter. Rick was actually attacked by NEVEC, but Basil rescued him and helped him though the year following his separation from Wayne and Luka. Shortly thereafter, the group captures a NEVEC soldier named Joe and, after negotiating with him, they learn more about NEVEC's Frontier Project; a terraforming operation to make E.D.N. III habitable by humans without the aid of T-ENG. At first, it seems harmless enough, though the truth is far from benign. The Frontier Project will not only wipe out the entire Akrid race, but will also kill any human beings left on the surface of the planet. The Frontier Project was to use a nearby volcano's T-ENG to warm up the entire planet, and NEVEC forces were supposed to go to the orbital elevator which would protect them from the energy of the system while they hibernated. Wayne battles Bandero a final time and, after killing him, reclaims Gale's VS. Rick and Luka find Yuri, who has been imprisoned and tortured by NEVEC for "sniffing around too much". Before succumbing to his injuries, Yuri hands Wayne an attachment to his Harmonizer, allowing him to realize the true power of Gale's VS. Their plan to take down the Orbital Elevator goes into action. Basil sacrifices herself to hold off NEVEC troops, while Joe plants high-powered charges to take out the Elevator itself. At this point, Wayne is seen installing his Harmonizer's attachment, which causes great transformations in his VS that, amongst other things, allow it to fly, and use dual energy swords. Wayne then flies up the elevator and battles Isenberg in the skies around the Elevator. Isenberg's VS is also top-of-the-line, second only to Gale's. After Isenberg is defeated by Wayne, Wayne's memories are erased again by the attachment. A year later, Luka is seen driving through a snow field on her scooter. She drops a small device which attracts several specialized data posts from the trailer. The data posts were developed by Luka and Rick after analyzing the data Yuri researched. The devices start and the snow in the area melts, revealing dry, warm ground with grass on it. While Luka is thinking about Wayne, he suddenly appears, surprised by the grass and dirt. Wayne has lost his memories, but survived, and Luka introduces herself to him once again.

[edit] Downloadable content

Capcom has announced that they intend to release three sets of map packs for 400 Microsoft Points each. The first set included Radar Field and Island 902 and it was released on March 9, 2007. The second map pack was released on April 6, 2007 and includes Hive Complex and Trial Point.^[12] It has been announced that Hive Complex, Trial Point, Radar Field and Island 902 will be available free on Xbox Live Marketplace on July 20^th along with extra content for PC and a new patch addressing connectivity. The third map pack featured three new maps on June 21, 2007 and included "Ice Drop", based on a glacier, "Ruins", based in a jungle, and "Lost Technology", described as "a throw-back to the good ol’ days of pixelated 8-bit gaming."^[13][14] Additionally, Battleground, a map which was only available in the limited edition version of the game, was released for free download on June 7. On August 16, 2007 the third map pack became available free on Xbox Live Marketplace.^[15]

[edit] PC

On July 16, Capcom has announced extra content for PC^[16][17] which includes:

• Over the shoulder style view mode
• A wide view
• Movie mode for watching the game's cut-scenes back to back
• Multiplayer updates to allow you to see connected players
• Four multiplayer maps which contains: Trial Point^[18], Hive Complex^[19], Radar Field^[20] and Island 902^[21][22]
• Three new characters, each character featuring unique weapons and characteristics:

1. Joe from Lost Planet (NEVEC soldier)^[23]
2. Mega Man^[24]
3. Frank West from Dead Rising^[25]

All the extra content comes in a form of a 400 MB patch. It became available on July 20 from Steam.

On August 9, Capcom announced second extra content for PC which includes^[26]:

• Four multiplayer maps which contains:

1. Battleground: An abandoned town populated with rubble and ruined buildings. Indoor and outdoor areas are available and offer multi-level vantage points^[27].
2. Lost Technology: Inspired by 8-bit gaming^[28].
3. Ruins: Ancient temples buried deep in a jungle^[29].
4. Ice Drop: A frosty glacier bursting with peaks, nooks, and crannies^[30].

• A simple chat system which is implemented including four default messages that can be sent to other players in the lobby or during a multiplayer game.
• DX 10 technology and utilizes Geometry Shader to improve the game's visuals with greater depth of field, improved motion blur, and fur shading.

The extra content became available on August 16^[when?]

[edit] Limited edition

A limited edition of the game is also commercially available, featuring an art book, and an extra multiplayer map (Battleground) not found in the 'standard' version of the game. It also includes a separate CD-ROM that has the complete game soundtrack in .mp3 format (see track listing below), along with wallpapers and quicktime versions of three game cutscenes dubbed "webisodes".

[edit] Lost Planet: Colonies

Lost Planet: Colonies is a gold edition version of Extreme Condition for the Xbox 360 and PC.^[31] The game includes new multiplayer maps, a Human vs Akrid multiplayer mode, and a selection of new multiplayer characters and weapons.^[32] Colonies also introduces four new single-player modes: Score Attack (points are given for each kill dependent on kill type and weapon used, akin to the co-op mode in Halo 3), Time Trial Battle Mode (similar to the Arcade mode of '), first person shooter mode, and Unlimited Mode (which must be unlocked).^[33] The game also includes cross-platform play between Xbox Live and Games for Windows - Live users.^[34] The Colonies edition is not compatible with the original Lost Planet save games or multiplayer game, so players of each release may only play with others who have the same release.^[35] The game was released in Japan on May 29, 2008;^[34] in North America on May 27; and Europe on June 6.

[edit] Feature film

In July 2008 it was announced that Metal Gear Solid voice actor and X-Men screenwriter David Hayter was in talks with Warner Bros. to write and direct a film based on Lost Planet.^[36] On July 15, 2008 at the 2008 E3 Expo, Capcom announced their partnership with Warner Brothers to make the film based on this game,^[37] with father and son producing team Avi and Ari Arad (The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man) also having been tapped to work on the project.^[37]

[edit] Tatsunoko vs. Capcom

The Vital Suit PTX-40A is featured as a playable character in the Japan-exclusive Wii fighting game . Because of its size, PTX-40A cannot be teamed up with another character. Its theme is a remix of the Lost Planet main theme.

[edit] Reception

Lost Planet is ranked at 79% on Game Rankings, based on 88 reviews. Its Metacritic score is 66 (PS3 version) based on 23 reviews, while Colonies Edition scored 73, based on 6 reviews, and 80% on GameStats based on 46 reviews. The game was subject to a wide range of reviews, from a 95/100 by Gamebrink and an 8.5 by IGN, to a score of C+ and C for the PS3 and PC respectively from 1UP. Despite varying scores, the reception has been positive overall. Game Informer rated it a 8.25 and it was also awarded Game of the Month for February 2007.^[39] Lost Planet became the top-selling game in the United Kingdom upon release.^[40] On certain days, both regular and collector's editions of the game occupied the same charts. During the month of January 2007, Lost Planet was the top selling game in North America, with 329,000 copies sold.^[10] As of December 31, 2007, the game sold 1.45 million units on the Xbox 360 alone according to Capcom.

[edit] Sequel

A sequel to Lost Planet: Extreme Condition was announced on February 23, 2009, as an Xbox Live video that shows a whole new world. Developers say that there has been major changes in the gameplay, but no major news yet,^[41] entitled Capcom Top Secret Game Announcement.^[42]

[edit] References