This game isn't as off-putting as it's predecessor which is worth talking about.

I'm not a heavy fighting game player with my only experiences being this game and Melee but if one game is more successful in making you want to learn it's intricacies I don't think that should be a knock against it. This game is a lot more accessible than a fair bit of fighting games (exception for Street Fighter) and might make the gameplay a bit more 'shallow' for that reason but if you keep a player interested you must be doing something right.

So many people I've met that aren't too interested in fighting games regard this game highly because it makes something that feels unapproachable feel so comfortable, it may not be the deepest or most rewarding fighting game but if you can get people interested in your genre in such a strong way that surely is worthwhile right?

Even to this day I can't get so deeply invested (I've spent a few hours practicing I-No and that's it) but still this game feels more rewarding than other fighting games to try and pick up, and if that isn't worth praising Iunno what is.

Much more ambitious and interesting story, and the movement is a lot more refined. Personally I think the movement is maybe a tad too polished for my liking, to a point where it feels hard to do a whole lot that is really interesting. The level's visited all are very charming but in terms of the gameplay feel a bit more washed than the predecessor, with at least one of the level's being a complete wash after the first playthrough.

The writing is still very solid luckily, and while it never quite reaches the peak of it's predecessor it's a very worthy successor. Well worth your time, whether you've played the original or not. (Though you really should go n play the original first! C'mon it's been seventeen years!)