Lost Planet 2 Demo Impression

While the first Lost Planet contained many good elements, it was hampered by some glaring problems. Even so, I did find myself enjoying the game. I bought not only the original but the revamp Colonies edition (though I’ve sold both since).

Recently, Capcom released a multiplayer demo of the sequel, aptly titled Lost Planet 2. I went into the demo with, well, I’m not sure what hopes I had; just a simple hope that the game would be good and even better than the original. I started the demo and joined up with a crew of three other players online. Starting the level, the first thing I noticed was the landscape was devoid of snow, as was shown in many of the trailers. You can really tell they upped the fidelity of the game when it comes to looks. The new graphics engine, called MT Framework 2.0, really adds a new level of detail. The first game looked great, but the sequel should be an even better looking game. As you run into a clearing, which is now its’ own separate button “B”, you are greeted by a huge salamander like enemy rising from a lake below. Let me tell you, this thing is HUGE. If you thought the bosses in the first game were big, then you’re in for a treat. Think Shadow of the Colossus big, but without all the slowdown. And if what Capcom says is true, this is supposedly one of the more average size bosses. After I activated the first data post, I took control of a familiar VS seen in the first game and went to work killing this monstrosity. What really sets this apart is the feeling of teamwork. Having three other players in the thick while you’re throwing everything you’ve got at this 20 story boss is epic to say the least.

One of the coolest additions is a three person mech. You heard me right, a three person mech. One person controls the mech, while two others act as gunners. The gunners themselves can pick up any weapon a normal VS can, but can rotate 360 degrees. So even if the mech you’re in has its’ back to the enemy, you can still unleash a flurry of bullets at the enemy. Needles to say, it’s very cool. There is another VS that feels more like a huge body suit cage then clunky VS. It moves quick, and very human like, and allows you to throw any grenade you have equipped. When you’ve shot the big old baddie up enough, he’ll fall to the ground and you can enter his mouth! You then go inside and start blowing the living crap out of him, only to be processed and throw out like some human turd. Oh yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds.

One of the best changes from the first game is your thermal gauge. In the first it would constantly drain, supposedly because of the extreme cold. While I understand why, it was a pain to always be afraid of dying, no matter how well you did because there wasn’t enough thermal energy. Now it doesn’t drain unless you use a VS or an energy weapon. Also, instead of automatically being healed like in the first game, which drained your thermal gauge whether you wanted it to or not, you can decide when, if, and how much you want to be healed by using a “harmonizer”. This puts energy from your thermal gauge into your life bar and is easy to control depending on the situation. You can now give teammates some of your thermal gauge if they are in need of some assistance.

The salamander himself has some surprisingly good AI. It’s adaptive and doesn’t just go along the same beaten path. If you start pissing it off too much, trust me, it will come after you.

I’ve played this demo close to a dozen times because it’s just that fun. It has really raised my expectations for the game and the Lost Planet franchise as a whole. If all the rumors and statements coming from Capcom are true, this is only a glimpse of all the goodness in store. I could go on about this demo, but I will say it has made me want to buy this game day of. It’s really good to see co-op games coming back in a good way, and this looks to be one of the better ones. Unlike RE5, the co-op feels natural and unforced.

So what are you waiting for, go download this demo!

–Jedah Doma