Another mode that's reappeared, this time from the Colonies expansion, is Akrid Egg Battle, which plays like capture the flag only with red and blue eggs that spawn at random locations. In my personal experience it makes a nice change from Team Elimination but lacks its universal appeal, and it's definitely frustrating when you're completely unable to locate the egg. Other modes are promised but have yet to be revealed.

One match in multiplayer is now often made of two rounds, with both teams getting a chance to spawn on each side of the map. The game keeps an aggregate score and declares an overall winner at the end, which neatly manages to sidestep any potential complaints about one side getting access to the best vehicles or most advantageous positions. It's a simple touch that adds a lot to the game and also makes me wonder why so many other big-name titles, such as the recent Bad Company 2, don't do it nearly as well.

It also means the developers can have some fun with the VS's. It's now possible to ride giant insectoid Akrids - with a few mechanical implants to keep them obedient - and the aggregate feature means maps can pit a team armed with Akrid against a team sporting VS's whilst knowing full well they'll get to swap in a few minutes. A clever touch. There's also new VS's that can be piloted by two (or more) players - one drives whilst the others shoot - and even some that can be combined, like Transformers, to create monstrous killing machines. It's fancy, but a bit cumbersome to actually get working.

I get the distinct impression Lost Planet 2 understands the nuances of online gaming far better than the original. Matches feel like they're just the right length of time to stay interesting, for instance, and are always moreish enough that you'll want to launch another straight away. I played for two hours and completely lost track of time; probably a good sign. One thing I did notice, though, was that the frag limit on Team Elimination - set to 50 by default - would very rarely be reached, but it's entirely possible the 16 of us playing were just terrible.

The maps are generally excellent, too. One of the highlights was Friction, set in a smoky factory, which was a daunting mass of pits and conveyer-belts liberally sprinkled with industrial gears, pistons and fires almost as dangerous as the steady flow of enemy grenades. NEOS, a space station, also stood out, lowering the gravity and providing launchers that fling you across the map. But the undisputed star of the show was Cube, a simple map set in a humongous over-lit arena with an exuberant announcer and a cheering crowd. I haven't had as much fun with rockets since Quake III Arena.

In many respects Lost Planet 2's multiplayer is similar to its predecessor, but to say it's the same experience as the original wouldn't do it justice. It's a tighter experience that exhibits a greater sense of control. Capcom do their best to understand multiplayer, and Lost Planet 2 is a game that feels far more aware of its audience. It probably won't be able to dethrone Modern Warfare 2's stranglehold on the online world come its release in May, but it should definitely be able to give it a good run for its money.

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