I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the first Lost Planet. The gameplay mechanics just doesn’t suit my playing style all that well. When Capcom announced the sequel, I didn’t get very excited, even though I’m a huge fan of co-op gameplay. After getting some hands on time with the game at Capcom’s booth, my mind has been changed on the series.

Graphically, the world looks much better than the first Lost Planet, mainly due to the lush color palette being employed now that the snow has melted. More colors and textures means things pop that much more. The controls haven’t changed much, which is okay. I’m not a huge fan of the layout (particularly the 90 degree quick turn buttons), but it works.

What struck me with Lost Planet 2 was the level design and enemy battles. During the demo, we got to fight a massive alien creature, similar to what was shown in the debut trailer for the game. Working as a team, we had to take out the glowing spots on the monster’s legs, then head, then work our way into its mouth, further battling enemies along the way. It reminded me a lot of some of the battles in Gears of War 2, which is definitely not a bad thing.

The way Capcom implemented co-op in Lost Planet 2 is close to perfect. This game screams to be played with friends, so don’t go at it alone. From my hands on time, it looks like Lost Planet 2 will surpass the original on the fun scale. I’m looking forward to playing more of the game in the future.