Lost Planet 2: Ridiculously Extreme Conditions

Available: PS3/Xbox 360
Game Type: 1-4 Player Action, 4 Player Online
From: Capcom

The original Lost Planet, a game I was fortunate to play on both 360 and PS3 when it was finally ported of course, was by all accounts a launch a game. Mind you, a launch game to is not just a game that was literally released at a console launch, but a game I remember long after the initial release date (in this case late 2006, i.e. The Xbox 360's launch) and one that becomes a staple in my mind in regards to that launch: Final Fantasy X, Super Mario Bros./Super Mario World/Mario 64. That being said, Lost Planet Extreme Condition was a game that stuck in my mind as the "next-gen" system rushed into our lives with breathtaking and groundbreaking visuals and sound, textures we had never seen before, and controls so refined that you suddenly forget about the chunk of plastic in your hands. So to get back to the point, the first Lost Planet fits all these notions and has stuck with me for the last four years, so much so that after two playthroughs on the 360 I purchased it for the PS3.

So after probably five total playthroughs (yes including that frustrating boss battle in the highest powered VS at the end... Still frustrated by that) I was absolutely blown away by the grandeur of the newest incarnation of this franchise. Anybody that played the first game will be right at home with the mechanics, although a few nice touches were added such as the ability to fire gained Thermal Energy at teammates with a low supply or at special crates that use the T-ENG as a key. Another new mechanic that I really enjoyed was the implementation of a manual use of the T-ENG to replenish the life meter; as you'll remember, in the first game if you had any T-ENG your life bar would be refilled automatically. In LP2, you need to hold the start button (yup, finally a game that doesn't think the start button means ONLY pause), which I feel added a nice degree of difficulty, or rather negated the simplicity of the first game. It must be said, though, that when you do die, you respawn at any activated Data Post of your choice, which becomes a total pain during a train level where only a couple Posts exist.

As far as the story goes, it's an odd mix of good and flat out terrible. Wayne makes no appearance, in this case the game cycles from faction to faction on each chapter. You'll play as Snow Pirates, Nevec Agents, another Pirate Faction from the desert, and a Jungle Faction. So like I said, the story comes off as disjointed and fragmented, but it also comes together in the end.

A new form of Akrid, the "Over Cat-G" shows up and could lead to a loss of new found thermal energy and thus usher in another Ice Age. Throughout this story, you will experience some of the largest battles I've ever seen. The only game that rivals this scope would be Resistance 2, however the enemies are not as large in R2, just the scope of battle. That aside, some of these Akrid are so astronomically, fantastically large, you will undoubtedly stare in awe before they rush after you for the kill and your thermal energy.

Silly, fragmented story aside, the action proves to be the core of the experience. Upgraded maneuverability in VSs allows for less frustrating use thereof, and the welcome addition of grenade types and the ability to detonate then with a well placed shot makes strategy more than run and gun. As in any great Capcom game, the graphics are smooth and colorful, not to mention flat out fantastic, but the dialog is equally ridiculous. In fact I once heard "sh*t! I'm gonna shoot the sh*t out of your sh*t!" Come on, that's stupid guys.

All in all, fun, beautiful, well playing game. All I can say is I can't wait to see how big the scope is expanded in LP3.

Graphics: Excellent, just excellent. The frame rate never waivers, baddies are larger than life, and the colorful environments pop off the screen. With so much action taking place at any given time it's a surprise jaggies don't pop up or textures get delayed. Well done Capcom.

Controls: Same as the original LP, but better. The 90 degree turn is still used, but additions like run are more than welcome.

Story: The weak link in a stellar game--it's utterly foolish. But seeing as the point is to go out and slay gigantic thermal beasts, who cares right? Unfortunately the score will suffer because of this problem.

Multiple Play: There is more than enough content to keep you going. Multiplayer has a ridiculous amount of content to unlock, such as the ?? boxes you get in the campaign that give you credits to purchase new guns, outfits and emotes (lame) to use in multiplayer. Furthermore, as you complete a chapter of each act you can replay it at any time, enhancing your ?? box collection and the credits thereof or to increase your B ranking to an S.

Total: 80, B-