The hate that the Lost Planet franchise gets saddens me.  I was a huge fan of the first, despite the single-player campaign being extremely difficult.  I, too, experienced my share of "cheap" deaths, but it really came down to playing the game intelligently and well, a requirement that has been all but lost in modern-day games. Most games these days are designed to cater to the lowest-common-denominator, the difficulty balanced to provide a slight challenge at best for an experienced gamer.  Personally, I play games to be challenged, and the feeling of satisfaction that results after overcoming a significant challenge is a large part of my enjoyment of the medium as a whole, and finding that these days is harder and harder.

Even so, I can understand reviewers being frustrated--being used to beating the vast majority of games with a modicum of effort and in a matter of ten or so hours, the game that comes along and makes you work more hours for the same pay is obviously going to stick in your craw.

The first LP was a tough game that required skillful play to do well, and I expect LP2 is the same.  Keep in mind, though, that being bad at a game and a game being bad are not the same thing.

Looking at the reviews already up, the common complaint does seem to be that the single-player is too difficult with AI companions.  Considering the game was designed to be played co-op, though, I'm not sure how much impact that complaint should have on the game's review score.  Personally, I feel that a compelling co-op exerience and a compelling single-player experience are mutually exclusive.  And don't cite GoW--the Gears games had a solid single-player experience, but the "co-op" experience wasn't very "co-op"--it was more like two people playing the same single-player game at the same time.

A truly co-op experience must feature interdependency--that is, my success is partly dependent on my teammates, and vice-versa.  If a game is designed with that in mind, replacing human teammates with AI isn't going to work well.

It's a funny thing--Left 4 Dead has the same problem, but a big issue wasn't made of it.  Maybe Capcom just needs to add more zombies, or maybe LP is just too dissimiliar from Halo and Call of Duty to deserve a fair shake.

Screw innovation! Can I has moar Haloz, plz?

*weeps*



What i dont understand is, how can it be justified as a 5.5 or such. Are you kidding me? Avatar game recieved a 5.5. So what does that say? Lp2 is as bad as Avatar or any of the other low ranking games.

I liked GameInformers review. They gave it a 8 or 8.5 i believe. Lp2 should be auto 7-8 and nothing lower.

So what i wanna know is, why do games like Gears of war 1 and 2, LBP, Army of Two,Re5 and L4D get good reviews?

They all have the same flaws. A.i sucks in single player for the most part. LBP there are alot of areas you can not access alone. L4D is 25times better to play with real people. Gears1/2 i much rather have a real player rather then a Ai who will not revive me. Army of two really? HEY AI REVIVE ME. Drags me around for 2 mins then either dies or revives me in the worst spot imaginable. Re5 is so much better with co op, i could not see myself playing alone.

LP2 is a amazing update/upgrade to Lp. All of these new added elements and coop ex is well noted in my book.With the new customizing your weapons and look is always a plus. Also the Monster hunter type mode, which i will playing the most.

I am tired of trying to recommened "coop shooting games" to people with only to reply with, Well ummm army of two which isnt that good, ummm Gears and re 5 would be your best bet and i guess L4D. Oh you played these games already? Oh then theres nothing else really thats gonna catch your eye. Then if LBP is recommened, its looks to kiddy or i only play Cod. ( so play your dumb cod and put yourself in a corner).

What amazes me from playing the demo is, the vast varity of things to do and the team work you can make up. I think my friends and i played a good 2-3 hours stright for the co op demo. AND the best part is they basicly added another francise into the mix with its Monster Hunter type fights. So in conclusion I have my copy payed off in full and will be playing LP2 for a long time coming. I think i will write a review also. From what ive have seen in the videos and read online. I give Lost planet 2 somewhere between a 8.5. ( Maybe even a 9).