So many people out their swear that graphics don’t make a game, and while that may be true graphics easily add to the experience and cause it to become more than just a game for the player. Taking a cue from Gears of War, Capcom has included some of the better smoke and explosion (see I said lighting rocks) effects seen anywhere out there. I found myself blowing up gas barrels simply for the fun of watching them explode, and to see the smoke drift off towards space eternity. At the end of the day Lost Planet is a joy to look at, from the amazing lighting features, to the super backdrops or lifelike enemy boss characters, this game is covered with polish and graphical love.
The audio department is as polished as the graphics are, nothing over the top here but all sound effects are accounted for and sound great, especially booming from a 5.1 surround sound system. I am going out on a limb and stating that for you to really appreciate the sound of Lost Planet you need a 5.1 system, the subwoofer makes the explosions sound as good as they look, as do all the other surrounding speakers. Hearing a scream from your back right corner can also be helpful on those maze-like cave levels scattered in between the snow environments.
Overall Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a mixed bag, filled with more good features than bad ones. The storyline and cg movies are confusing at best and some of the camera issues can cause more than a few irritating circumstances. On the other hand the amazing gameplay, mech battles, graphics, and online modes each have their own amount of greatness that makes Capcom games so damn fun. Personally I am having more fun with this game than I have with others in a while, and cannot wait to go back and play some more. Have no second thoughts about this one, it is a winner hands down.
