Nov 23, 2012 -- 5:33AM, Espiownage wrote:

I noticed that too, I got Lost Planet 2 in a bargain bin that was marked down even cheaper because it was costing the store more money to carry than it was to sell.  It's a fun co-op game, and it was actually fairly successful in sales, but the game was given very mixed reviews, most credible sources being on the lower end of the spectrum.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad game, I'm just saying that perhaps the developers are looking to make a game that would be universally praised by critics by listening to the criticisms of the game before?

I mean fans might not always agree with critics, but sometimes that 9/10 score helps a game get more notoriety.

I understand business, and while it may be a good excuse to sell out for some, it's not for me. I'm not gonna support that excuse or that habit. It's the same when reviewers try to fall on the defense of "posting opinions" and claim to not be journalists, when gamers go to their website to be informed about a game. A lot of reviewers aren't even honest or apologetic for their own shortcomings and expect most videogames (that aren't fighters) to make up for them instead of trying to understand the system and getting better at it.

I don't think it's fair that every game must be dumbed down just because people don't want to actually deal with challenges anymore. I like the option of playing something different. You can't possibly look at LP3 and say it hasn't been nerfed big time. No one would've been upset if they made a deeper story campaign instead of tossing all of the signature gameplay mechanics of the first two games into the abyss, but now we got another game trying to be something it isn't.

(and don't get me started on the shameless marketing on FB to try to get people hype about the game. "Put a beard on it"? Really? Attack the orange?) 

But it's cool. Anarchy Reigns is coming, and I could always play Battlefield 3 and LP2 instead. They should go ahead and release the demo, it's going to be the same one they've shown all year. 

Nov 24, 2012 -- 2:39AM, Espiownage wrote:

Nov 23, 2012 -- 7:11PM, YOUNG ANTI wrote:

I understand business, and while it may be a good excuse to sell out for some, it's not for me. I'm not gonna support that excuse or that habit. It's the same when reviewers try to fall on the defense of "posting opinions" and claim to not be journalists, when gamers go to their website to be informed about a game. A lot of reviewers aren't even honest or apologetic for their own shortcomings and expect most videogames (that aren't fighters) to make up for them instead of trying to understand the system and getting better at it.

I don't think it's fair that every game must be dumbed down just because people don't want to actually deal with challenges anymore. I like the option of playing something different. You can't possibly look at LP3 and say it hasn't been nerfed big time. No one would've been upset if they made a deeper story campaign instead of tossing all of the signature gameplay mechanics of the first two games into the abyss, but now we got another game trying to be something it isn't.

(and don't get me started on the shameless marketing on FB to try to get people hype about the game. "Put a beard on it"? Really? Attack the orange?) 

But it's cool. Anarchy Reigns is coming, and I could always play Battlefield 3 and LP2 instead. They should go ahead and release the demo, it's going to be the same one they've shown all year. 

I don't see how it's selling out.  I myself prefer the first LP over the second one.  Both were very different games IMO, and the third one seems like it's looking to experiment a bit with the formula.

As for the marketing, I wouldn't call the beard stuff shameless, especially considering that Movember/Novembeard is a very serious cause.  Is it any more shameless than Sir Om Nom Nom?

I get people that walk into my store all the time and they watch the trailers I use to promote upcoming games, and the Lost Planet 3 one, people watch and they're surprised it's Lost Planet, but not because of how different it is, but because they were interested in it after being disappointed with LP2.  LP2 sold well, though I don't think it was generally liked by most.

It's not just reviewers with criticism, it's fans.

I always ask, "Besides improvements with multiplayer and online connectivity, and the discarding of single player campaign what was so different?"

Well I'm a fan and I enjoyed LP2 more than Colonies. Most reviews stated that it was decent but didn't recommend it because they weren't focused on Single Player. I stand by what I said earlier, if all people wanted was just a single player story mode to identify with then how come Capcom couldn't just not toss the gameplay elements from the first two games and just give them the narrative like they had in the first game while improving what they had done with the first two? 

I find it hard to say that LP2 was so different then see LP3 as the great change we were all waiting for. 

Nov 25, 2012 -- 2:35AM, Espiownage wrote:

Nov 24, 2012 -- 2:15PM, YOUNG ANTI wrote:

I always ask, "Besides improvements with multiplayer and online connectivity, and the discarding of single player campaign what was so different?"

Well I'm a fan and I enjoyed LP2 more than Colonies. Most reviews stated that it was decent but didn't recommend it because they weren't focused on Single Player. I stand by what I said earlier, if all people wanted was just a single player story mode to identify with then how come Capcom couldn't just not toss the gameplay elements from the first two games and just give them the narrative like they had in the first game while improving what they had done with the first two? 

I find it hard to say that LP2 was so different then see LP3 as the great change we were all waiting for. 

I don't feel like LP2 was the great change we were waiting for either.  I find all the LP games different in their own way, which isn't a bad thing always. I feel like Capcom's is probably trying to give the franchise an iconic character, as LP didn't really have one to begin with.  It was always Vital Suits and Akrid.

I disagree and willing to argue that it's more than a factor of taste because  LP2 improved the gameplay in everyway. I don't get how it's possible to enjoy LP1 then hate LP2, it's more of the same thing but now to be played with friends. (Unless you really had no one to play with at the time or something) As for an "iconic" character I would've preferred to see more of Wayne, if not they could've continued to focus on the factions of Snow Pirates, Carpetbaggers (although well disliked in the universe because they're dicks) have a very identifiable design, or the Snow Pirates that first appeared in the Pirate Fortress of LP1. PTX appeared in Tatsunoko vs Capcom. If that's not Iconic I don't know what is. 

Lost Planet's gameplay is truly unique, but if they're willing to trade that in for what LP3 brings, I'll just take my money somewhere else. Not that my one opinion bothers great Capcom. :/

Nov 25, 2012 -- 4:25PM, HiPOL wrote:

I decided to join this topic again. Hope it won`t turn in to argue what is better, because like it or not : it is matter of taste. 

LP2 gameplay wasn`t improved. It was changed. Some say for good, some say for bad. I say it was changed for bad. I love LP1/LPC very much, more than any other game ever. I only like  LP2 a little. I understand that Espiownage is trying to explain CAPCOMs decisions. But i`m afraid nobody at CAPCOM really knew where to go with LP series and what to do with it. Many reasons caused this. I follow this topic for almost 5 yeras now. It looks like series just don`t have luck. Maybe i want to see thing this way, cause other way i should think that they want to crash it, what would be ridiculous.

It looks like marketing strategy at CAPCOM to change every next game in series. Just take a look at some other CAPCOM titles. I`m not a big fan of their other games but read forums sometimes and check ratings and reviews I have no idea why they do it. Games like COD, Gears or BF show that what is good remains good for long. And there is no reason to exchange it with "better".

Now about your last sentence YoungAnti - what is unique for you, me and many other players who love LP is annoying for many others. Many times i`ve heard from people that rolling, grenade shooting, stunn or penalty animations are not for them and should be canceled.  It looks like CAPCOM wants to please these people now and is changing unique game in typical TPS

It is big mistake in my opinion, cause i think the critics CAPCOM probably wants to buy with it will write that its just another shooter on the market who lost its identity.

Last hope lies in multiplayer. What i saw in background on one of game presenations scarry me like hell. I hope they don`t show it up cause they know it sucks. And are still working on it, changing it back to Lost Planet , cause now it looks more like ugly Warhammer 40 000 Space Marines.

@ Espiownage - i cant agree with you about Lost Planet not beeing iconic. It is iconic like hell. Its world wide known of Extreme Conditions, Snow Pirates, Nevec, Akrids, VSs ,unique gameplay mechanics, big bosses and bigger-than-you weapons (VS).

I can agree with this. I've had a couple of friends that used to hate playing it due to the stunlock and penalty animations, but once they grew an understanding of it, they loved it. There are many complaints about it being bad design when in reality it isn't, it's something that feels natural (imo). I understand if the curve is too high for most, but I really wish Capcom could find a legitimate way to bridge the gap instead of dumbing down design literally nerfing everything that makes this game unique and awesome. Right now reviewers seem to be playing the PR game, one of the most annoying statements I've read was when the guy who reviewed it for IGN barely spent anytime on the game and just wrote it off,  "I barely played the last two games but LP3 looks awesome and it's going back to the style of LP1." (I hate it when they say that, I constantly raise my eyebrow.) 

As for LP2, I'll admit, it took me a second to get used to at first with all the changes but the only thing I really didn't like was that we couldn't pick up alternate weapons unknown to our customization list, especially if you haven't unlocked anything, gaining a new powerful weapon may have been more helpful to newcomers instead of being limited to basics. As for "fans" if you check most comments on the FB page, and even on some of the gameplay vids, I've noticed a lot of people are asking for the co-op to return, even those who are excited for LP3 seem to be looking forward to it.

I agree that Capcom, just like many other Japanese Publishers, (look at Sega's marketing, they're making great games now, but don't know how to sell it.) doesn't know what to do with a franchise with such a niche base (sadly). But it makes me wonder how do so many people get these jobs in their department. I used to want to try PR because I always wanted to represent video games I loved until I realized how **** of a job it has to be to try to pass on some bs to get sales and interest, I have too much integrity to tie my name onto something I don't support or believe in. 

Everyday I wake up and hop online to study comments and the replies of people, and it's really shown me a lot of things about reviewers, advertising, buyer's opinion, and where Gamestop fits in this. When you have so much information right in front of you, it's easy to wonder why is the company so disconnected from the public. 

At this point, I'm content though. I'll still check out the demo, but I plan to invest in Anarchy Reigns in the upcoming year. Knowing that since there being so many comparisons between Dead Space 3 and LP3, if Dead Space pulls in stronger reviews, people will ignore LP3. (Which is also a reason I assume they decided not to port EX Troopers, with possible chance that it will compete with LP3. 

I'm hoping the Wii U is successful, because I used to wonder how to save video games from being dumbed down or ignored for AAA titles. I see some potential in the Miiverse.  (I'm serious)  If a game isn't critically acclaimed by critics, their rants may be cancelled out by actual customers and fans. 

 I wouldn't say that it looks bad.  But it seems like it flopped back and forth about what it was going to provide for the fans.

 I could hope for a lot from Lost Planet 3, and while a couple of times the representatives have tried to say that it will be what I want, I am not expecting adventure from Lost Planet 3.

 Luckily the pre-order bonuses pretty much have no value in my eyes, so I don't have to get it before I look at it.

 Getting the chance to look at the game before buying it will be very helpful in making a final choice one if or when to buy the game.