in an already crowded year lethal company stands out for actually being unique

Sure you might say it didn't age well but it plays like it was even aged when it came out.

I think a lot of people are overhyping the game currently. Insomniac does take the criticism of the first game and improves that. The gameplay and side activities are better and because the game is short it doesn't get repetitive until the endgame. And the best part of the first game (the narrative) is absent now its just a bunch of ideas but no execution.