E3 Showfloor Impressions: Lost Planet

Graphically, Lost Planet looks great, a real showcase of the Xbox 360’s raw power. The main character is nicely detailed and animates very fluidly. The demo had you running through a snow covered environment in the middle of what looked and sounded like one hell of an arctic snowstorm (very reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Thing). Gusts of frigid air blew by, causing your characters lapel and clothing to ripple in the wind as he crunched through the knee high deformable snow.

Before long you come across what looks like a deserted outpost, as you near an entry point that leads to the buildings underground parking area you’re attacked by a small number of human size bug looking creatures reminiscent of the movie Starship Troopers. Thankfully your high powered sub-machine gun makes quick work of the pesky critters, the weapon sound effects are thundering and do a good job of making you feel like an absolute badass… and then the ground begins to rumble and the snow caves in beneath your feet. The mother of all bugs crawls out of the ground, rearing and screaming, her carapace is shiny black and her abdomen glows like living lava. She’s at least the size of a house, flailing her pincers this way and that, ready to rend you limb from limb. It’s all you can do to remain out harms reach… stay alive! But not for long. Pretty soon the entire area is once again swarming with more bug creatures, tons of em just crawling out of the woodwork and despite the firepower at your disposal (which includes a grenade that does some wicked area effect damage, and a healthy littering of uber-explosive barrels littered around the environment, they begin to close in.

Pretty soon the swarm has driven you into the underground parking area. Thankfully there’s a bit more cover here… and loads more barrels to shoot and cause a fair amount of collateral damage. A steady stream of bullets and some well placed grenades bring the bug mother down, but her minions just keep piling the pressure. You find temporary sanctuary behind an old rusted car, take a deep breath, reload and go out guns blazing.

At least I did. The demo was short but sweet, and very intriguing. It was a real treat how smoothly the character moved, and the visuals as mentioned were absolutely gorgeous., all this without even a hitch in the framerate.

Graphically, Lost Planet looks great, a real showcase of the Xbox 360’s raw power. The main character is nicely detailed and animates very fluidly. The demo had you running through a snow covered environment in the middle of what looked and sounded like one hell of an arctic snowstorm (very reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Thing). Gusts of frigid air blew by, causing your characters lapel and clothing to ripple in the wind as he crunched through the knee high deformable snow.

Before long you come across what looks like a deserted outpost, as you near an entry point that leads to the buildings underground parking area you’re attacked by a small number of human size bug looking creatures reminiscent of the movie Starship Troopers. Thankfully your high powered sub-machine gun makes quick work of the pesky critters, the weapon sound effects are thundering and do a good job of making you feel like an absolute badass… and then the ground begins to rumble and the snow caves in beneath your feet. The mother of all bugs crawls out of the ground, rearing and screaming, her carapace is shiny black and her abdomen glows like living lava. She’s at least the size of a house, flailing her pincers this way and that, ready to rend you limb from limb. It’s all you can do to remain out harms reach… stay alive! But not for long. Pretty soon the entire area is once again swarming with more bug creatures, tons of em just crawling out of the woodwork and despite the firepower at your disposal (which includes a grenade that does some wicked area effect damage, and a healthy littering of uber-explosive barrels littered around the environment, they begin to close in.

Pretty soon the swarm has driven you into the underground parking area. Thankfully there’s a bit more cover here… and loads more barrels to shoot and cause a fair amount of collateral damage. A steady stream of bullets and some well placed grenades bring the bug mother down, but her minions just keep piling the pressure. You find temporary sanctuary behind an old rusted car, take a deep breath, reload and go out guns blazing.

At least I did. The demo was short but sweet, and very intriguing. It was a real treat how smoothly the character moved, and the visuals as mentioned were absolutely gorgeous., all this without even a hitch in the framerate.