Lost Planet 2 Review

Lost Planet 2 has been released with a lot of hype as well as hopes that it was better than it predecessor. While the game is visually stunning, some of the problems that existed in the first game are still apparent in this game as well. How this affects fans of the game will depend greatly on their own opinions.

GamePlay
The story takes place 10 years after the last game. After years of terraforming, the ice of planet EDN III has finally begun to melt… revealing vibrant jungles and scorching deserts. Pirate factions are fighting to gain territory as well as the planet’s valuable resource, thermal energy. There is also a military organization call NEVAC that will stop at nothing to get all of the planet’s resources for themselves. You start the game as a snow pirate.

The alien creatures called akrids make a return. They wreak havoc across the planet. Some are:

• Baiztencale: A huge spider like akrid with no fear of enemies large or small.
• Queen: Another huge akrid that can freeze enemies with her ice breath.
• Trillid: A flying akrid that overwhelms you will it huge numbers as it travels in swarms.
• Dongos: A heavily armored akrid with only one hard to reach weak spot.

There are numerous factions found in the game. These include: Carpet baggers, Snow Pirates, Mercenaries, Jungle Pirates, Femme Fatales, Sand Raiders, and more. Each faction has their own intentions.

Aside from numerous and devastating weapons, players also can make use of the huge mechanical vital suits found in the previous game, as well as the grappling hook. The vital suits are tons of fun. Some allow multiple characters to ride in it. One player controls its path, while other players can fire the weapons! There are various types are vital suits available for use throughout the game.

The game spans 6 episodes, each shown from different perspectives. Each episode has various chapters. Unfortunately, you can’t save your game in between chapters, so you better hope you don’t get killed. Otherwise you have to play the chapter all over again. It gets frustrating.

Which brings me to the fact that this game often doesn’t tell you what you need to do to proceed. You may make it to the end of a chapter and engage in an epic boss fight… and have no clue how to defeat the boss. It’s all trial and error. And if you screw up, you have to play the long chapter all over again.

While you can play a single player campaign, the multiplayer campaign is where this game will entertain the most. Various co op modes are available as well as oodles of multiplayer maps and additional content. Competitive multiplayer has various modes that allow you to hash it out with your friends. These modes are an absolute blast and include: Fugitive Mode, Akrid Egg Battle, etc.

Lost Planet 2 is made to be played with friends. Playing it alone can be annoying and flat out difficult. If you play with your friends, they will battle along with you and you can plan your attacks together. If you play alone, you get to play with a squad of AI morons. The AI never do what you need them to do. They often run off at the worst possible moments, or they stand still while they take a barrage of bullets from your enemies. They don’t help much when you try to battle the akrids either. It should probably just be known that Lost Planet 2 is not made to be a one player game.

To keep players amused, the game offers a reward system. As you play you gain points that can be used in a slot machine. Here you can win various new weapons, upgrades, customizations, and even titles.

The controls are terrible and at times, unresponsive. In fact, they were terrible in the last game and they are probably even worse in this game. It can often get frustrating and sometimes feel like button mashing that gets you no where.

Lost Planet 2 is absolutely beautiful to look at. All of the environments are breathtaking and full of vibrant colors. The character designs are also well done and so are the designs of the wide array of akrids appearing in the game.

The sound track is well orchestrated. It fits in well with the current mood of the game and changes flawlessly when things go from bad to worse as you fight your way across the planet. However, the game often has no back ground music at all. Instead you get to walk around hoping an akrid doesn’t creep up on you and attack!

Conclusion
Lost Planet 2 can be a fun game if you play it with friends. It is far too complicated to play alone. If you can get past the clunky controls and often confusing game play, you can actually have a fun time playing it. Taking down a huge akrid boss is as satisfying as it is thrilling. Also, just taking in the enormous and beautiful environments is well worth it.

Lost Planet 2 is available for the XBOX 360, Playstation 3, and PC. It has an ESRB rating of T for teen. This is because the game features: violence, language, suggestive themes, and animated blood.