Inside Scoop on “Lost Planet”

I kept to my promise and I rented “Lost Planet.” I got through a good chunk of the story, and I’ve played for a couple of hours online. Now, reviews of the game are all over the place and a lot of sources say that “Lost Planet” is a great game, and I have to agree. It really is.

When I first played a couple of months ago via a Marketplace demo download, I loved it and I was set on buying it because of all the explosions. They weren’t the little dust cloud and sparks explosions that I’m used to. I mean, these were quick intense moments as the “frag” propelled anything in range a couple of feet in all directions.

 “Lost Planet” is set in the future, when humans are leaving earth and seek colonization elsewhere in the universe. They find a suitable planet, but the climate is extremely cold and is inhabited by deadly insect-like aliens called the Akrid. At first, the Akrid will remind you of the grunt aliens in “Starship Troopers,” but they vary as you face off against gigantic worms, moths and other creatures that resemble insects…and are a lot more sinister. Humans stay on the planet and develop VS (Vital Suit) technology and defend themselves against the Akrid in hopes to harness the abundant thermal energy found within the planet, and the Akrid themselves.

 I don’t want to give that much away, but trust me when I say the story is engaging. Gameplay is incredible. The excitement and explosions you’ll witness are breathtaking. You have an interesting arsenal of weapons and grenades ranging from your everyday machine gun to the unique disc grenade. Also, you have the powerful and larger variety of VS’ at your disposal. Enemy AI is challenging enough. Enemy Akrid will constantly attack you and slowly bring you down, and enemy human soldiers will charge in groups and flee when alone.

I enjoyed the online play because it’s perfectly balanced out. It will definitely take a team effort to win any team match type, and a strategic mind to win any free-for-all. I totally recommend this game.

In other news, I was checking out “Crackdown” on EB GAMES and I saw that they’re offering a Halo 3 Beta invitation to all pre-orders. Now, “Crackdown” seems like a really fun game to play, but any opportunity I have to play “Halo 3” I’m taking. So now, I can expect to be receiving “Crackdown” on February 20. Hopefully, I’ll be playing “Halo 3” that same day. (Hopefully…)

Gaming Dictionary
AI: Artificial Intelligence.
BETA: Pre-production test where people play limited or early versions of the game and provide copious feedback.
Disc Grenade: A disc shaped grenade that when thrown glides through the air and sticks to any enemy soldier, Akrid, or VS.
EB GAMES: Local Game Retailer.
Free For All: Match type where you alone against all other competing players.
Frag: Fragmentation Grenade (a regular grenade).
Marketplace: The Xbox Live service that provides free and priced downloads to all Xbox Live subscribers.
VS: Vital Suit. A large mechanized mobile suit for soldiers that is capable of equipping large weapons and many other features. (i.e transforming into a snowmobile, drilling, high speed dashing and strafes, and flight) All VS are customizable with any available with VS weapons.

Currently Playing:

• Lost Planet

• Gears Of War

Most Recent Gaming Moment:
I’m facing off against the gigantic moth in Lost Planet. I’m in my VS low on health and out of ammo. I’m dodging the moth’s explosive projectiles making my way to the closet VS weapon I see. The moth flies back far away from our plateau battlefield getting ready to charge into destroying my VS giving me next to little hope of victory. As I reached that VS weapon, which happens to be the shotgun, the moth starts its charge towards me. I thrown down my gattling gun and equip my VS and get off one shot with that shotgun point-blank before I’m hit with its charge, and it falls for good. OHHHHHHH YEEAHH…