An overall improvement for fans. Hard but entertaining for newcomers. In depth review
Game-play: A total improvement over the original, the guns are much more equal in their effectiveness (although im a little disappointed in the watered-down shotgun.) On top of that there are many new guns and grenades added to the game. To top all of this off you are also allowed to pick many different abilities and cutomize your character. There are still some flaws with grappling sometimes, and you are now able to dash in the game which is very effective when trying to get to or away from something (like a near invincible mech with 3 people in it.) Some flaws they have already fixed (such as being knocked through the air by the giant sand-worm boss whenever he hits the train your fighting him from.) The online play is absolutely addictive. Co-op is fun with friends and strangers alike, especially taking care of giant bug bosses together. Co-op can be fun but challenging to newcomers and veterans of the first game. Competitive multiplayer on the other hand is a little hard to get into and requires quite some skill to get good at. I remember when I started playing the first Lost planet I would most likely agree with the bad reviews on here, you do get stunned when even on the edge of an explosion that didn't even hurt you, and yeah sometimes you really do get screwed and can't even move. After playing this game for a long time I have come to realize that this game is like that on purpose. You have to be smart enough to read your enemy and avoid getting caught in a situation in which you are stunned, while at the same time getting the upper hand and trying to stun or kill them.
One flaw I do find is that there is only one type of recovery item on the entire game for competitive multiplayer, regeneration grenades. In the campaign you have a device called a "harmonizer" which you activate by holding down start. It uses up T-energy which is something you use in the game to operate machines, open item boxes and is also used as ammo for some weapons. If they allowed you to use your harmonizer (maybe even slow it down some) during competitive play the game would be more challenging in some respects. But the lack of one requires you to play better and be more careful.
You do not start off with everything in this game and have to unlock most of the weapons, character parts, and other such things which will leave you playing the game for hours upon hours, which isn't a bad thing because it does have a very high replay value if you give it a chance and figure out how to do things correctly (like fighting bosses.)
Like I said, this game is a gigantic improvement and despite what most people say, there are very few flaws in the game-play, it is purposely set up the way it is (don't listen to the reviews) and to really get to appreciate the game and get good at it, you will have to clock a lot of hours into getting your butt beat in competitive multiplayer. It really pays off when you hang in there and are eventually getting score kill death spreads around 24-4. Yeah, you'll catch yourself fist-pumping......
Graphics: The graphics in this installment are double-fold it's predecessor. I played LP1 on both 360 and ps3. It might has well have been a original xbox game when I played it on PS3. I have heard rumors that once again the graphics are worse on ps than on 360 but have not seen it with my own eyes. Regardless, the environments are absolutely stunning and interactive. There are times when you can shot overhanging street signs onto opposing enemies, and there are multiple barrels and other such objects to destroy. If you are a fan of cool looking explosions and general destruction like I am, this is a great game. The visuals are simply stunning. I will admit though, shooting a VS in the weak points does not produce half as much smoke and sparks as it used to :(.
Sound: There are some new sounds and some old sounds that will make you reflect on LP1 and "the good ol' days" if you have played it. The sounds are really cool and each guns fire is unique. Some of my personal favorites are the gun sword slicing, the flame sound of a incendiary grenade and of course, the classic machine gun.
One thing that is a little funny to me and a big design flaw is that you are allowed to play the campaign with a custom character after you have cleared it once. If you choose the Femme Fatales faction (which is all female in case you havn't guessed) and play through the cut scenes fail to change the voices to female. It is a funny to see a female with a macho voice but at the same time it makes you a little sad that they didn't get a little extra voice acting done to fill in the part.
Story: No story really here. EDN III has been Terri-formed and you change between factions stories to ultimately save the planet. Shoot now, ask questions later.
Popularity: I feel like this is an important thing to address with a game like this. As with part one there are many die-hard fans. I used to pretty much know all the people who played LP1 on Playstation Network. It has already begun with the sequel, this is a great game which I feel is ignored or given up on because of the difficulty in learning how to play. There is a competitive faction mode I have never even gotten to play because there is not a large enough population to play it. There are plenty of people who play co-op multiplayer, so newcomer don't be afraid.
Overall: This game is amazing and an overall improvement to the first. There are some significant changes, but they are ultimately to me for the better. Newcomers who want to get good have a lot of work ahead of them. Veterans of the first have some new things to get used to, but for the most part will have fun blowing apart new people until they catch up in skill.