Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition – Colonies Edition builds on the original’s adrenaline-fueled action with a diverse suite of new modes that cater to both solo players and competitive groups. The core mechanic of battling the colossal Akrid in your Vital Suit remains as thrilling as ever, with tight shooting, dynamic cover systems, and the constant pressure of environmental hazards on the ice planet E.D.N. III. These elements create a solid backbone for the additional content, ensuring that every firefight still feels strategic and intense.

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The three new single-player modes inject fresh challenges into the campaign loop. The boss tournament mode pits you against every major Akrid boss in succession, testing your mastery of each Vital Suit’s weapons and special abilities. Its ladder-style progression rewards precision and resource management, making each victory feel earned. Meanwhile, the high score hunt transforms familiar levels into arcade-style arenas, incentivizing aggressive play and combo chains that can dramatically ramp up the excitement when you’re chasing a new personal best.

On the multiplayer front, Colonies Edition offers a staggering twenty maps and seven distinct modes, most of which Xbox players may recognize from prior DLC releases. Whether you’re launching orbital strikes in Team Elimination or scrambling for energy drinks in Inferno, the varied objectives keep sessions fresh. The standout is undoubtedly Akrid-hunt: swapping roles between human hunters and hulking Akrid creatures yields a thrilling asymmetrical warfare experience. Surviving as an Akrid showcases the series’ deep combat design from a whole new perspective.

Graphics

Visually, Colonies Edition preserves the stark, frozen beauty of E.D.N. III, with icy wastelands lit by harsh sun glare and the roving shadows of Akrid leviathans. Character and enemy models retain a surprising level of detail, capturing the weather-beaten armor of each Vital Suit and the jagged carapaces of alien foes. The re-release smooths out some rough edges, offering improved texture streaming and more consistent framerates compared to the original launch.

The new weapons and playable characters receive thoughtful graphical polish, each boasting unique visual flourishes that help them stand out in the heat of battle. Whether you’re wielding an experimental plasma shotgun or piloting a heavier-class VS variant, every asset feels distinct and purposeful. Environmental effects—like blizzards that obscure sight lines and explosive ice shards from fallen foes—add dramatic flair without overwhelming the action.

Multiplayer maps demonstrate careful level design, balancing sightlines with natural cover and verticality. From sprawling research outposts to tight canyon passages, each stage looks well-worn and lived-in, telling silent stories of previous battles. Particle effects during combat—smoke trails, tracer rounds, and ice shrapnel—remain crisp and evocative, ensuring that even after dozens of matches, the visual spectacle never grows stale.

Story

The narrative of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition revolves around Wayne Holden and his fight for survival on a hostile ice world plagued by monstrous Akrid. Colonies Edition doesn’t alter the core plot but enhances the immersion through five additional playable characters, each with their own motivations and backstories. Experiencing the campaign from different perspectives deepens the lore and makes familiar encounters feel fresh again.

These new characters bring subtle shifts to cutscenes and dialogue, highlighting the fractured alliances of the Extended Deep Space Colonies. While the main story still follows Wayne’s quest to rescue his comrades and uncover corporate conspiracies, the supporting cast adds shades of moral ambiguity. Interactions between colonists and mercenaries flash hints of betrayal and sacrifice, enriching the overall narrative tapestry.

The single-player tournament and score modes prioritize gameplay over storytelling, but the familiar environments and recurring boss designs maintain narrative continuity. Battling through each boss in isolation emphasizes their roles as apex predators of E.D.N. III, reinforcing the feeling that humanity is perpetually at odds with this unforgiving ecosystem. For players invested in the world’s backstory, Colonies Edition offers both continuity and expansion.

Overall Experience

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition – Colonies Edition feels like a comprehensive package that marries the original’s high-stakes combat with a bounty of new content. Veteran players will appreciate the challenge of the boss tournament and the addictive nature of the high score hunts, while newcomers can dive straight into the core campaign knowing they’re in for a well-rounded shooter experience. The expanded multiplayer suite ensures longevity, whether you prefer cooperative hunts or competitive matches.

Despite its age, Colonies Edition holds up as an engaging winter-war saga, thanks to nimble controls, inventive level design, and a relentless enemy roster. The addition of ten new weapons and five new characters offers tangible variety, and the 20 new maps underscore the developers’ commitment to fleshing out the online component. The asymmetrical thrills of Akrid-hunt, in particular, may be enough to justify the purchase on its own.

For anyone seeking a robust third-person shooter with memorable boss battles and a memorable icy setting, Colonies Edition represents strong value. It honors the spirit of the original while delivering enough fresh content to warrant a return trip to E.D.N. III. Whether you’re storming frozen battlefields solo or squad-based skirmishes, this edition ensures that the fight for survival never grows old.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10