Sixteen Years On, Lost Planet 2 Still Makes Snow Run Cold

Lost Planet 2 arrives a decade after the events of the first game, and the world of E.D.N. III has changed. The climate has shifted, splitting the planet into wildly varied environments: lush jungles, harsh deserts, and everything in between. The native Akrid creatures have mutated into new and far more dangerous forms, with the colossal Category G Akrid reshaping the land around them simply by existing. The human factions who fight for control of the planet’s Thermal Energy have fractured further, each with their own objectives, technology, and methods.

Capcom built the sequel around a simple idea: the warmer climate means Thermal Energy no longer drains constantly from players. That single change alters the rhythm of the whole game. The action is fast, brutal, and frequently overwhelming, but the pacing suffers for it.

Trailer, via IGN.

Warm Climate, Fewer Worries

The first game drained players of Thermal Energy constantly, a constant threat that forced players to seek warmth or die. Lost Planet 2 changes that. Because the climate is warmer, Thermal Energy presence lasts longer than a cold climate, which drains energy over time. The game no longer constantly drains players of Thermal Energy.

Instead, energy can only be drained when the player pilots a Vital Suit and uses a weapon that requires energy. Even then, thermal energy is still constantly lost unless a specific ability is equipped, despite the ‘warmer climate’. A player can also lose thermal energy by completing one entire sprint with a character.

That shift is the game’s central gamble. It removes the constant pressure of the original, replacing it with a simpler system where energy loss happens only during combat. The result is a game that feels less tense and more forgiving, but also less memorable.

Vital Suits and the Bosses

Many gameplay features from the original return. Major boss battles, extreme terrain, and the ability to pilot mechanized armor suits, known as Vital Suits (VSs), all carry over. The biggest addition is the cooperative mode: players can now ride on the sides of some VSs, with one player controlling the suit while two others hang on by the sides and shoot. Flying VSs were also revealed, featuring unlimited flying time.

The boss fights remain the highlight. The Category G Akrid are monstrous giants whose sheer presence reshapes the land around them. Facing one of these creatures is a spectacle, and the game delivers several of them across its episodes.

The Factions of E.D.N. III

The story is told across the perspectives of competing factions. The Snow Pirates return, along with New NEVEC, a colonial military force, and Ex-NEVEC, defectors from the former. The Waysiders are mountain-based survivalists, and the Vagabundos are roving packs of desert bandits. Other factions, such as the industrious Carpetbaggers, are encountered and fought.

Each faction has its own objectives, technology, and methods. The game shifts focus between them, showing how each takes steps to ensure their continued survival and vie for supremacy. The episodic structure keeps the narrative moving without repeating itself.

The Campaign and Its Experience Points

The campaign earns players experience points. Completing missions in a unique manner or finishing extra objectives rewards more points. Once the game has been beaten on any difficulty, players are allowed to use this character for the campaign. These points can then be used to unlock costumes and attachments for the player to customize their Pirate.

The campaign is not the strongest part of the game. It is competent, well-paced, and full of spectacle, but it lacks the depth of the multiplayer modes. The story is serviceable, and the episodic structure keeps things moving, but it never reaches the heights of the best shooters of its time.

Multiplayer and Its Legacy

Multiplayer remains the heart of Lost Planet 2. The cooperative VS mode is where the game truly shines. Piloting a Vital Suit with friends, hanging on the sides while shooting, and facing off against the Category G Akrid creates some of the most memorable moments in the game. The ability to give energy to a teammate who has lost all of theirs keeps players alive.

The game was originally set to be released in early 2010, but Capcom delayed the console release to May 11, 2010, in North America and Europe, May 13 in Australia, and May 20 for Japan. The BlackBerry version was released worldwide on April 28, and the Microsoft Windows version followed in October that year. The title sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

The Pull From Sale

On November 9, 2021, the Steam version of Lost Planet 2 was pulled from sale due to some underlying issues with the game’s Games for Windows – Live features. Capcom stated that it is “investigating the matter further,” but has not given any updates on the matter since.

The game remains available on other platforms, including Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles through the Xbox backwards compatibility program. The pull from Steam is a notable moment in the game’s history, but it does not define the product itself.

Final Word

Lost Planet 2 is a solid shooter with a strong multiplayer core and a campaign that is adequate rather than exceptional. The warm climate change is a bold decision that pays off in cooperative play but weakens the tension of the single-player experience. The boss fights are spectacular, the factions are varied, and the customization options are generous.

The game is not without flaws. The campaign is uneven, and the constant energy drain from the original is missed by some players. The story is functional rather than memorable, and the episodic structure sometimes feels like a structure without a center.

Taken as a whole, Lost Planet 2 is a competent, enjoyable shooter with a strong multiplayer focus. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a game worth playing for those who enjoy cooperative play and large-scale battles. The game’s strengths are its multiplayer modes, its boss fights, and its varied factions. Its weaknesses are its campaign and its energy system.

Capcom · co-op games · game review · Lost Planet 2 · Xbox 360