A step up from the first in all the best ways. The enemy variety feels fleshed out with the introduction of the Brutes. Every different faction feels unique in their fighting style, the Covenant focus on ranged battle while still being able to pack a punch up close, the Flood being very hands on with melee attacks that hit hard and fast, and the Brutes being a mix of both. The variety in playstyle also proves to be superior here. The advent of duel-wielding brings so many new possible routes for gameplay. Mixing the different styles of gunplay leads to tons of new ways to take down enemies and it's also balanced by the loss of grenades. The Energy Sword also makes melee a viable option in combat. Everything here just feels like an EVOLVED version of everything in CE. That goes for the story too. I didn't know what was happening, and I had to read up on it later, but someone who's dedicated to the story would find tons of enjoyment in it. My biggest gripe is that the level design felt very samey throughout the whole game. Big open space or narrow corridor, that's really it. That is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme and the game remains great overall.