In Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, players assume the roll of Wayne Holden -- an amnesiac on an alien planet who survives a big battle against bug-like aliens called Akrid. In a lost-in-translation storyline, Wayne can only remember his dad getting killed by a monstrous bug alien called "green eye," and sets out for revenge.

Convoluted plot aside, this sci-fi shooter comes with all the standard accoutrements: shotguns, sniper rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, energy weapons, and grenades, but the line of various mechanized battle suits (which can be outfitted with different armaments like Gatling guns and rocket launchers, all of which can also be used on foot) adds a new level of fun to the mix. These high-powered mechs turn Wayne into a futuristic Orkin man, and the many mission -ending boss battles often require using more than one Vital Suit. Some of the boss battles are so difficult that they'll take many attempts, and in some cases will last long enough to watch an entire episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Players can switch their point of view from the standard third- to first-person, as well as a few "zoomed in" perspectives that help improve aim. When ammo runs low or rebel rousers get too close for comfort, the butt of most weapons can be used as a melee attack. A grappling hook allows for a much greater range of exploration, making this lost planet feel far more open ended then a typical railed shooter.

In what amounts to a rather ingenious twist, the elements (i.e., blinding snow amazingly recreated to near perfection) play a huge role in the game. Due to the freezing temperatures, Wayne must wear a thermal suit that keeps his body warm. The caveat: its juice, Thermal Energy (T-ENG), must be replenished constantly. If the suit runs out of heat, Wayne has about 30 seconds before dying from cold exposure. So in addition to battling snow pirates, mechs and 20-story Akrids, there's a persistant race against the clock to find more T-ENG. This orange goo can be obtained by killing Akrids or blowing up random objects. While normally not hard to find, there will be plenty of close calls before the game's over.