First and foremost this is a really attractive looking game that is a welcome mix of set pieces. Thankfully every level isn't draped in snow and ice, and there is a real sense that the worlds you explore are filled with life; Albeit in most cases, life that would like nothing more than to kill you. While the developers have seemingly substituted variety in monsters for sheer volume, there are still a lot of enemies to encounter. Each character model is really well done, and it is really just a flat out great looking title.

Why you are going to encounter these enemies is loosely tied together through a largely forgettable narrative. In the first Lost Planet there was a central character whose journey was wrought with peril but ultimately you had some reason to trudge through it. An amnesiac trying to decipher the clues to his past isn't the most original of tales but it works a little bit better than this game's story.

In LP2 you will be taking the role of several different factions, ten years after the events of the first Lost Planet. As the titular Lost Planet, EDN III, has begun to defrost and reveal some more lush and scenic terrain, these different factions are all seeking to exploit the planet for their own uses. As none of the factions are particularly likable, you are really playing from set piece to set piece with no real cohesion. I don't mind the fact that there is no central character, but I at least want to care, somewhat, about why these people are doing what they are doing. While each part of the campaign, which is split up into episodes, will show you some shiny new scenery and occasionally some really look looking Akrid designs, ultimately it feels like going through the same motions over and over again.

Additionally, as you're going through these missions there are no checkpoints; You have to complete a mission to save. Now some of these missions are about 30 minutes long, and others are over an hour. So if you ended up catching a plasma grenade to the chest, or a flamethrower through a wall, or just a swarm of Akrid that don't seem to die, you are going to have to start from the beginning of the mission. For the most part, the game does show you fairly clearly where you need to go and why. However, there are going to be some moments where you are literally just wandering around hoping to run into some enemies just to let you know you are in a new area.

You may say to yourself, "Well, what else will accompany me during my Lost Planet II experience?" Well, clunky controls and some great music. The controls are functional, but they still feel like you are controlling a rusted mech as opposed to a trained soldier poised for an intense firefight. The fact that you can do a quick right or left turn is great, but if the characters were actually easy to control then that particular button function probably wouldn't be necessary.

The music of Lost Planet II is one of the highlights of the game. Sweeping scores and really well composed pieces compliment every facet of the game. When you actually hear it. There are going to be a lot of moments where you just hearing nothing but the cold slap of your characters boots against whatever terrain they are moving over. If this was done to heighten the moments where the music is used fine, but it does feel like missed opportunities to set a really tense ambiance.

It almost feels like the campaign really is just multiplayer with more cut scenes. This isn't the worst thing, but if that was going to be the case then Capcom could have simply done away with it all together in the form it takes now and really made this game explore the idea of land control and factions. Just like multiplayer, expect to have your enemies during the campaign stalk your spawn points. Also through your campaign you will be accompanied by three AI companions, if you don't choose to play online with others. This group will usually do their job. Usually. Other times they are distracting by such things as walls, or standing still and dying. This crack team of battle hardened warriors are really good shields when you are under fire though.

Speaking of the multiplayer, there's really nothing too different. It's fun and there are some awesome moments to be had as you hop in a VS Suit and curb-stomp your adversaries, but it's largely unchanged from the first game. That isn't a bad thing in so much as the first title had some solid multiplayer offerings. But if you're making a sequel, the fanbase is going to want more.

Capcom has done an admirable job of introducing a large amount of customization for your multiplayer avatar. Points earned during the campaign can be used to unlock new weapons, skins, nicknames and bonuses for your character via an interesting roulette system. While I would have preferred spending points the way I want, I can see the advantage of leaving it to chance and possibly coming across some really cool items without having to save up for one specific thing. I will say the anti-gravity level is a heck of a lot of fun though.

I don't know if I'd call this an outright sequel as it feels like it could be just DLC for the first game, but for fans of the first game that might be all you need. It isn't the experience I was expecting from the sequel, but it is a fun ride for the 15 hours or so that it lasts.

Also of note, for PS3 players: Helghast Skins are on the way In June:

And why not throw some Monster Hunter skins in there too Capcom:

These exclusive characters follow in the footsteps of the XBox 360-exclusive Gears Of War characters, Marcus and Dom.

Lost Planet II is available for both the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3. This title was purchased from a video game retailer for the purposes of review. It is rated "T" for Teen audiences by the ESRB and carries an MSRP of $59.99.