Lost Planet 3

Name: Lost Planet 3
Item: Lost Planet 3
Rating: 3
Author: Marc Saltzman

Game review by

Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 14+

(i)

Mediocre sci-fi shooter doesn't do much for the series.

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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 5 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Educational Value

Lost Planet 3 wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

Positive Messages

There aren't many positive messages in this game. You're on an icy planet, looking for an energy source, and killing insect-like creatures and other humans. That said, it's mostly in self-defense.

Positive Role Models & Representations

You play as an average guy, a miner who is searching for a valuable energy resource on a distant planet, and have family back home waiting for you. But you do obtain a number of weapon and climb into a 'mech' to kill aliens and other humans who are out to harm you.

Ease of Play

The game isn't too difficult to control -- if the PC version we reviewed is any indication -- utilizing a mouse and keyboard combination. We did not try the console versions of the game.

Violence

While not overly gory, Lost Planet 3 does let you shoot and kill a number of insect-like aliens and humans, using a number of weapons including machine guns, crossbows, grenades, and big mechanized machines you can climb into. There is blood and realistic screams of pain. The game switches from third-person action outside of the 'mech' to first-person shooting.

Sex

Language

The game contains some mild profanity in the dialogue sequences, including words like "ass," "bitch" and "damn."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Lost Planet 3 is a third-person shooter. The violence is mainly towards giant alien creatures. Players wield many weapons, see some blood splatters, and hear mild profanity. Online gamers can talk with each other via headset microphone, if desired, but no one is filtering or monitoring the chats.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byCommonSenseReviewer October 7, 2013

age 13+

Lost Planet 3 is a functional, but unimaginative shooter

LostPlanet 1 and 2 were popular, but since then, standards of what video games should be have changed, and it's no longer acceptable to just churn out a ge... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written byjonathanw1 August 31, 2015

age 12+

Overall, a pretty fun game

The game had a fun story, but slightly difficult game play. It's a game that's fun to play once, but hard to come back to. The violence is pretty mild... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written bySaad1Khan November 13, 2014

age 13+

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What's it about?

The last in Capcom's Lost Planet series, LOST PLANET 3 is an action-heavy adventure that once again drops you onto the icy planet of E.D.N. III, where Jim Peyton, a Utility Rig pilot for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC), is looking to tap into the planet’s "thermal" energy source. It is believed this valuable resource will be the solution to Earth’s energy crisis. Much of the game is a third-person shooter as Peyton uses a number of weapons to ward off the giant insect-like indigenous creatures called Akrid, as well as human soldiers also out to colonize the planet. The protagonist can also climb into his Utility Rig, a big 'mech' shell, to shoot down enemies from a first-person perspective.

Is it any good?

While the premise is interesting, Lost Planet 3's action grows repetitive after a short while -- and the environments all tend to look the same, too. Sure, some of the sequences can be thrilling -- taking cover from the Akrid or rival soldiers while experimenting with ways to diffuse the situation -- plus there are a few modes and multiplayer options to give some extra bang for the buck, but overall there isn't much here that's memorable, nor does it do anything to push the game series or genre forward. Only those who love the Lost Planet series should consider picking up this disc (or opting for a digital download) and be sure to wait until the price drops significantly. It's not a hot mess, but one can't help feel disappointed with this long-awaited sequel.

Talk to your kids about ...

Lost Planet 3 takes place in an alien world and with a sci-fi premise, so does that make the realistic violence less impactful?
What makes you drawn to sci-fi worlds?

Game details

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
Subjects: Social Studies: exploration, geography
Skills: Collaboration: cooperation, teamwork
Self-Direction: achieving goals, work to achieve goals
Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, investigation, strategy
Price: $59.99
Available online? Available online
Developer: Capcom
Release date: August 27, 2013
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Bugs, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Robots, Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
ESRB rating: T for Blood, Language, Violence
Last updated: November 11, 2020