Lost Planet 3

Common Sense Media says

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

Age(i)

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Quality(i)

 

Learning(i)

(i)
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Lost Planet 3 gallery

What parents need to know

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

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
Not applicable
Language

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

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable
Privacy & safety

Serious privacy & safety concerns. The game can be played online for all versions and it supports open chatting. Because there is no one monitoring what is said, it's not recommended for young teenagers as they may hear inappropriate words from other players. They could also be asked inappropriate questions from strangers.

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.

What kids can learn

Subjects

Social Studies

  • exploration
  • geography

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • strategy
  • applying information
  • investigation

Self-Direction

  • achieving goals
  • work to achieve goals

Collaboration

  • cooperation
  • teamwork

What Kids Can Learn

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

What kids can learn

Subjects

Social Studies

  • exploration
  • geography

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • strategy
  • applying information
  • investigation

Self-Direction

  • achieving goals
  • work to achieve goals

Collaboration

  • cooperation
  • teamwork

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

This Learning Rating review was written by Marc Saltzman

Parents say

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AGE
13
QUALITY
 
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Kids say

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AGE
11
QUALITY
 
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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?

QUALITY
 

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.

Families can talk 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
Price:$59.99
Available online?Not 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 (PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360)

This review of Lost Planet 3 was written by

Marc Saltzman

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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Parent Written byCommonSenseReviewer October 7, 2013
AGE
13
QUALITY
 

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 generic shooting game where there are plenty of other action games which have added more depth to the formula. The violence is not excessively gory, making it a good fit for a teenager, but your teen probably has a lot of better options to play (such as the Uncharted) series.
What other families should know
Too much violence
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Kid, 11 years old January 4, 2014
AGE
10
QUALITY
 

This Game Should Be Rated E 10+!

I haven't played Lost Planet 3, but I have played LP 1 & 2. They are nothing like Gears of War where you stick a chainsaw up an alien and watch guts and blood explode all over the place and your screen. This is, like the review said, a mediocre sci-fi shooter. In LP 1 & 2. I heard an occasional h*** and d**n. Never heard the F-word. Shouldn't be that bad. I played LP but lost interest and started playing Halo, then thought that sucked and went to Call of Duty.
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Teen, 15 years old Written bySaad1Khan November 13, 2014
AGE
13
QUALITY
 
What other families should know
Too much violence
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