On the plus side, the looseness of the plot does enable the game to lurch between a broader range of locales, with the snowy wastelands of the original quickly giving way to lush jungles, rust-encrusted industrial zones and arid deserts. At their best the various locations are solidly rendered and do an excellent job of showcasing Capcom’s self-developed MT Engine. The same can be said of the various creatures that populate E.D.N. III – whether large or small, they are generally convincing and have an almost photographic quality that is only undone by some slightly jittery animation.

As Lost Planet 2 falls some way short matching the cinematic thrills of recent third person big hitters such as Uncharted 2, there is a lot riding on the game’s multiplayer, but this is something of a mixed bag as well. While many of the aforementioned problems with the campaign mode remain when playing with three other human players, the increased degree of team work online play offers undoubtedly make for a more satisfying experience. Although the shockingly poor enemy AI can diminish the importance of robust tactics, storming bases and squabbling over the spoils of war can be a lot of fun. In true Capcom style, where team play really comes into its own is in some epic boss battles that have clearly been heavily influenced by the success of the Monster Hunter series. A particular highlight sees you and your team facing off against a breathtakingly huge salamander – an encounter that conjures up memories of classic Ray Harryhausen monster movies. It really is a sight to behold and there are numerous other equally noteworthy events scattered throughout the game.

The competitive modes on offer, though fairly standard in structure, are embellished by the verticality enabled by the ever present grappling hook and mechs (known as Vital Suits) that leap around the arenas of combat. Supporting 16 players, Lost Planet 2 carries over most of the game-types from the original (Elimination, Team Elimination, Post Grab, with the omission of Fugitive mode) that play out exactly as their titles suggest. Most interesting is the introduction of ‘Faction Matches’. Much like the recent MAG, players must select from one of five factions with the outcomes of battles being recorded and contributing to an overall power struggle. Results are tallied on a weekly basis and this, coupled with the character customisation option awarded as you level up, proves to be a great way to incentivise play. In terms of mechanics, the competitive multiplayer mode isn’t earth shattering original, but it is a solid addition that clearly benefits from the not having any half-witted AI’s present to spoil the party!

Lost Planet 2 is an ambitious and enthusiastic title that is sadly lacking in focus, with a single player experience that falls some way short of the competition and a multiplayer campaign that is diminished by unconvincing AI opponents. And yet…it still manages to be strangely endearing – never knowing where you’ll end up next or what bizarre creatures lie in wait proves enough incentive to put up with the many flaws. Leaping into a Vital Suit to empty your machine-guns into anything that moves is absolutely as fun as it should be and dealing the killing blow to bring down one of the monstrous bosses is definitely worth a fist pump or two. Levelling up your character and joining a faction will also no doubt prove to be a hook for many, and we’ve not even mentioned the training mode (reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid’s VR missions). Unfortunately, despite the breadth of features on show, Lost Planet 2 instils a feeling of slight disappointment – disappointment that its ambition often isn’t matched by its execution; that for every one hundred foot long salamander there are a hundred brain-dead machine-gun toting grunts. And that, despite flashes of brilliance, it just isn’t quite the game it could have been.

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