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Lost Planet 2 Multiplayer Demo - Hands on Impression

 

Being one of the lucky few able to get hold of a code for early access to the Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demo, I thought it would be a useful/insightful to share some details of my experiences with the demo so far. The following does contain some spoilers with regards to weapons and features, so think carefully before you read on.

The demo comes with a single playable map set in a jungle environment, and includes three  game modes, including:

  • Death Match
  • Team Death Match
  • Team Post Grab

Team post grab is similar to 'king of the hill' type modes, where there are a series of data posts dotted around the map. These posts need to be captured by standing next to it and repeatedly tapping 'A', much like in the co-op demo. The more players you have tapping away around the post, the faster you capture it.
The aim is to capture all the posts, or have the most posts when the time runs out.

You can also utilize these data posts in the death match scenarios, where not only do they give you experience points when you capture them, but they also give you access to radar information on your HUD. Moving players appear as red circles on the map and Vital Suits appear as larger triangles, with no distinction between teams. The layout of the posts can change between two or three sets, depending on what is specified by the host in the match details.

One of the nice things about lost planet multiplayer has been the use of the grapple, which allows level designers to create layers within the map. Buildings and other structures add these new layers, meaning combat can take place at different vertical levels, which further increases the playable area in what is already a very large map. Some of these areas are on accessible using the grapple, but a new mechanic has been introduced in the form of climbable sections of buildings (i.e wire mesh, plant ivy, ladders). Given the grapple can only reach so far, these new climbable sections tend to be used for accessing very high areas, which act as great cover, vantage points or hosts to rather nice weapons.

The large maps also tend to result in what I refer to as a roller coaster type game play, where at one moment you could be in an intense fight, and the next in silence. This means there a fluctuations in the intensity of the game, giving you time to compose yourself and find new weapons. More often than not you have to move large distances to find the fighting spots. This gives you more control over your approach to entering the combat zone. The map size also gives plenty of room for manoeuvrability in VSs, of which only one is available in the map (dependent on the game mode)

One of the major new features to the game is customisation. Unfortunately this isn't available in the demo for the character models. However, there are 16 character models available (randomly selected) which show the potential for this customisation, ranging from different back backs, clothes, accessories, hair. Each character really does look unique. In addition to this, weapon customisation (present in the demo) allows you to select which close, medium and long range weapons you would prefer to use. Your weapon choice will then appear to you in the weapon spawn point for that type of weapon e.g. plasma rifle vs sniper rifle, both appear in the same spot in game, but only the type you've chosen will be available.

 

 

Some new items in the already large armoury include:

  • Support Weapons: deployable shield, repair gun
  • large defensive/offensive stationary gun turrets (repairable)
  • personal vital suit (adds an extra health bar, but slows down mobility and climbing)

While no new grenade types are available, they deserve on honourable mention. There are several types, including standard, disc, dummy, gum, energy etc... each of which supports different play styles and strategies. I'll let you figure these out for yourselves.

Finally, the cross hair movement has been slightly improved over the previous game, with a smoother horizontal and vertical movement, but still in the slow way players have come to love and associate with the game.

Overall the multiplayer is definitely an improvement over the first game, which was superb in itself. As with anything, whether or not you like the game and its multiplayer mode will be a matter of preference. Although I think this, more than other games, will be either a case of you love it or hate it.

The demo is available to the public from April 21st on Xbox 360 and PS3. The game itself is available from May 11th - a day one purchase for me.