A case study in how to do a sequel. Iterates and improves on literally EVERY single mechanic and element from the first game. We start to get something approaching a real narrative, the character moments are actually funny this time, enemies are even more over the top and animated. Weapon upgrade system gives you an incentive to actually use everything, and some upgraded weapons are definitely prerequisite to beating the game. The gladiator fights are a great addition, the racing sections are straight up just improved, the flying sections are.... There. Weapon black market upgrades are a fun wrinkle to add but don't do much. If you're looking for Beholders, guess what? This game's got em. Play this shit!

Edit: my biggest complaint with this game besides the kind of shitty final boss is that some zones have sections with endlessly respawning enemies that you're apparently just supposed to run through, which is never directly communicated to you in any way and is PRETTY confusing in a franchise where the goal is often blowing up wave after wave of enemies. It isn't fun to try to avoid being shot in the back as you flee from these endlessly respawning guys, and there's no real reason why these few encounters made it into the game. There's also an issue with the second planet where you can collect crystals for bolts, which is that the yeti enemies are absurdly fast and tanky and make searching for crystals extremely tedious and deadly, as opposed to a difficult challenge. This is, again, heightened by the fact that they endlessly respawn in huge hordes!