Splatter aliens and explore lush jungles in Lost Planet 2, the sequel to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 adventure. This time, Capcom ditched the prequel's lead character, Wayne, and replaced him with customizable characters (pirates, to be exact). Even better, you can play through the campaign with up to three other players through Xbox Live. We recently caught a glimpse of this ambitious adventure and, like the first, it's a stunner.

Whereas the original takes place on a snowy planet, this one whisks you off to jungles and deserts divided into six episodes. And instead of choosing to play solo, you'll always have your buddies alongside you, controlled by humans, the computer or a combination of both. Together, you'll team up to tackle the game's creatures, the Akrid, some of which take up a hefty piece of screen real estate. With one battle, it's possible to climb into a Vital Suit (VS) and pelt the monster with gunfire while another player attacks from up high while another actually climbs inside of the beast and shreds its insides. That alone has us itching to hop online.

Let your friends know how much you mean to them by killing this gigantic monster.

To make the game user-friendly, Capcom added a new sprint ability that'll probably get us out of jams more often than we'd like to admit. We'll probably use that in tandem with the new shields to protect us from damage. We also like the new perspective that allows the camera to follow closely behind our character. This, however, doesn't restrict our view of the gorgeous environments. Lost Planet 2's jungle features plenty of plant life that reacts to every living thing's movements.

Similar to the previous game, you'll still need to grab thermal energy that dead enemies leave behind; you will also find it in various objects. Weapons and shields need it in order to work, so it's in your best interest to collect as much of the stuff as possible.

When it comes to customization, Capcom has thus far done a cool job. In addition to being male or female, you can select various body types (for example, fat or skinny), adjust the head, legs armor and different colors. Keep in mind, however, that you'll need to unlock a lot of these things by playing the game.

With 16 player versus battles, intriguing co-op play and plenty of monsters to slaughter, Lost Planet 2 could become a guilty pleasure. Look for more Akrid stomping details in the coming weeks.

Related Links

Lost Planet Xbox 360 Game Guide