I was considering the same thing so I bought LP1 at gamestop for $2.00. And so far I am really enjoying it. I was considering LP2 but there were a lot of okay reviews. LP1 got better reviews so I got that one and it is a fun, difficult game. The only complaints I have about LP1 is the voice acting. But still the voice acting isn't as bad as some games out there. I also heard the campaign lasts 8 hours, but i'm a slow gamer. I like to take in the environment alot. I'm on mission 8 right now and it is very fun so if you can find LP1 in your local gamestop, they should have it pre-owned for $2.00. Oh and I can't really find anyone online so don't expect to play online to much. Hope this helps!

Lost Planet Extreme Condition (LP1) and enhanced version Lost Planet Extreme Condition Colonies Edition (LPC) are best in the series and i would recommend it to every player not only LP fan. Lost Planet 2 is also not bad but overloaded and glitched in my opinion. If you`re not hardcore player you can have some problems playing LP2 campaign alone. It`s designed for coop, but i personally didn`t have any problem to finish it alone on extreme difficulty. LP1/LPC has identicall campaign but different multiplayer. Multiplayer in both of it is alive (~500 players a week), LPC has more maps, more weapons, more characters (including Akrids as playable characters online), more match types and allows XBOX & PC players to play together. I would choose LPC.

LP1/LPC and LP2 are similar long. Depending on difficulty settings 10-20 hours. On extreme mode it can take even 50-100 if you`re new to the game. You can easy finish both games before LP3 premiere.

My friends who started with LP1/LPC enjoy it more than LP2. But these who started with LP2 enjoy it more than LP1/LPC :). Buy both games and judge it by yourself. Probably there will be some connection in story and characters between LP1/LPC and LP3 so if you can`t get both  then focus on LP1/LPC