Lost Planet 3

🎮 Steam ⏳ 20 hours ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

A Different Direction #

The third Lost Planet entry takes the series in a different direction, focusing less on over-the-top action and more on atmosphere and narrative. he MC is called Jim Peyton, a blue-collar worker contracted by the Neo-Venus Construction company to mine resources on the frozen, hostile planet E.D.N. III. This change was due to the Dead Space popularity at the time, similar to what Capcom did with Resident Evil and Call of Duty back in the day, making RE more action-focused to try and make it more popular since COD was becoming big.

Human-Centered Storytelling #

The story leans heavily on Jim’s personal life and video messages exchanged with his family back home, giving the game a more grounded, human touch compared to the bombastic style of its predecessors. And although the previous games had very little focus on the story, it was still an enjoyable experience Capcom was never known by complex and unique game lore anyway, so nobody expected much out of them on this regard.

Slower Survival Gameplay #

Gameplay mixes third-person shooting with exploration in Jim’s massive utility Rig, which feels weighty and practical rather than like a pure combat mech. It really felt like you were playing a spin-off of Dead Space at this point. The frigid environments and dangerous Akrid creatures create a tense survival atmosphere, though missions often boil down to repetitive shootouts and fetch quests. The combat system itself, now more cover-based (another trait of the time due to Gears of War), is serviceable but lacks the distinct flair of earlier entries.

Ambitious Yet Average #

Where Lost Planet 3 shines is in its world-building and narrative tone, which deliver a sense of isolation and corporate exploitation wrapped in a personal story. So I got to admit that, even for Capcom’s standards, the characters are very good on this one. Unfortunately, uneven pacing and dated mechanics prevent it from fully realizing its potential. It’s an interesting but divisive entry, more of a sci-fi survival drama than the high-octane action fans might expect. I would skip this one if you are not a fan of the Lost Planet franchise, I enjoyed it but I don’t consider it more than an average entry.