While there are a few cool moments in this game (there's one boss fight that involves a bit of lateral thinking with the fall mechanics that gets a star all on its own) the storyline isn't half as engaging as the original game, and the combat isn't as fun as the third. If you're a diehard completionist go for it, but if you're new to the series just pick up Sands of Time.
I want to love this game, I really really do. The storyline is refreshingly original, the characters are compelling, and Kate's development throughout the story is incredibly well done. I loved every bit of the plot. That said, as an adventure game, it falls flat. The puzzles aren't puzzles so much as fetch quests. Almost every problem boils down to "x is missing! go find it!". The only challenge lies in scouring each screen for items - the game tells you, each time, exactly what you need to find or do. There's very little lateral thinking involved. This is incredibly frustrating given the setting - you're on the trail of a mad toymaker, surely there should be some kind of fiendish mechanical puzzle to solve? - and left me with an overall feeling of wasted potential.
