Despite losing the grunge that I think defines the first game, this game felt like a fairly direct improvement in almost every aspect.

Level designs are continuously fun and creative, psychic abilities felt far better utilized, upgrades and pins helped to freshen up gameplay, and I felt like I vastly prefer the narrative and its themes in this entry compared to the first.

Small complaint though I did feel like the side cast I loved from the first game got sidelined for most of it. Also the combat is definitely more varied than in the first game but it ultimately still felt a bit stiff and bland.