I formally take up the challenge.RJ 17 said:"It's like the first game, but better" without clearly being able to define what "but better" means.
The game is better because it adds onto already existing gameplay mechanics, story elements, and environments. Additionally the original quirks that defined the original game were improved rather than removed.
Time for some depth: The original game had little variation between guns and almost no variation between manufacturers beyond stats. The second one has a tremendous number of variations between how guns function, look, and handle with additional properties to certain weapons that make them one of a kind (a bazooka that spins in the air and fires all of its missiles in random directions after being reloaded when already full). Furthermore the difference between gun manufacturers is unmistakable with both appearance and performance being a dead give away. It does suffer from the issue of there being way to many guns that are completely useless throwaways but that feeling you get when you come across a unique railgun or plasma sniper rifle that fires faster than most assault rifles leaves you ecstatic. Lastly the shooting carries significantly more weight with easily discernible differences governed by their stats and manufacturer.
When it comes to enemies what can I say? There is a tremendous variation between them with many requiring vastly different strategies for dealing with.
The NPC are for the most part completely voiced with unique personalities that balance style and substance. Additionally many are not static and while very bland, they perform actions that imply they are working in some way or just outright shooting everything in sight from a high perch.
The story is always present with character disposition, environmental evolution, mounting challenges, and escalating side quests. This is complemented with solid characters and their respective development. The side quests themselves offer challenge, variation, and optional objectives that sometimes encourage exploration or adopting a different play style. Lastly the story carries weight and in turn the plot twists are all the more effective.
The environments themselves are often open, beautiful, while generating a natural compulsion to explore.
The vehicles are supposedly a challenge to use but I personally found them much more fun to use than the bricks that dominated the first game given their physics overhaul. (minus they cannot flip)
When it comes to the quirks themselves that plagued as well as defined the first game, they improved rather than removed them. There are too many to list but the most glaring issue being the poor vehicles, which are now fun albeit flawed.
Lastly, the art style not only improved but evolved and complemented the game and its atmosphere as well.
Lastly, lastly the pop culture awareness of the game gets and respects its source material given that it encompasses the developers themselves to varying degrees.