Lost Planet 3: 'only one playable mech in single-player campaign' - Capcom

Lost Planet 3 publisher Capcom has revealed that players will only pilot one Rig mech in Spark Unlimited's darker take on the franchise. So don't expect to be piloting the same wide range of wacky contraptions that you used in Lost Planet 2.

Speaking with VG247, Lost Planet 3 Producer and Project Lead at Capcom Andrew Szymanski explained that because this is a more personal than previous Lost Planet games, giving Jim a single Rig in the campaign made sense.

"As the Lost Planet 3 mech - the Utility Rig - is designed as a piece of construction equipment, used to help build and maintain the colony," Szymanski explained, "That’s exactly what Jim has been sent to the planet to do, and initially Jim - and the player - will be using it for that purpose."

It won't all be handiwork and maintenance however, as Szymanski discussed, "Soon after arriving, however, Jim and the player will need to improvise to use the tools on the Rig to fight attacking Akrid. One of the key features of Lost Planet 3 is the dichotomy between being out of the Rig - in which Jim uses standard firearms - and inside of it - where Jim must use its construction tools to defeat enemies in melee combat."

"We like that this turns standard convention on its head," Szymanski added, "Also, crushing giant insects with a massive drill never gets old."

But giving Jim one single Rig throughout the single player campaign gives rise to upgrade trees and a sense of ownership over the vehicle. This means that players should feel more obliged to protect it, rather than the expendable Rigs found in Lost Planet 2.

Szymanski continued, "For the single-player campaign, Jim - and the player - will only be using one Rig. This is important as that Rig is Jim’s personal property and it factors in very heavily to the narrative. That is not to say that other mechs won’t appear piloted by other characters, however."

"In terms of handling," Szymanski added, "the Rig is deliberately designed to be a huge, lumbering, tough, durable piece of machinery that is built to take the harsh conditions of the planet and keep on going and thus its abilities, upgrades, and attachments all keep that in mind."

"So far we’ve shown the Claw Arm on the left side of the Rig that can be upgraded with a Winch to allow the claw to be shot out like a projectile, as well as the Drill Arm on the right side of the Rig that is, of course, used to destroy chunks of ice as well as fight Akrid. There are many more upgrades and attachments to be discovered," Szymanski concluded.

So there you go. While Lost Planet 3 will have just one single-player Rig, it will eventually grow into something badass. Let's not forget multiplayer too.

Lost Planet 3 is out on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013.