OK, the story is more cohesive in the first installment, but the play and level design are a lot more fun in this one. No timed 'maze of death' and the bosses are a lot less annoying. I also found myself getting lost less. The alternate weapons are different enough taht your choice will be meaningful and if you buy one that you end up hating, there are enough perk points in the game to replace it with something else.
