Improves on Crysis in so many enjoyable ways, it doesn't take long for you to forget about the things it has lost...
Cloaking/combat mechanics are much improved, gunplay in particular is noteably more fun than Crysis
Story has more cinematic polish and is generally more entertaining in the generic cinematic sense but lacks the epic quality of the first
Combat with the Aliens isn't as weak a part of the game as it was in Crysis
Despite the size and relative linearity, the level design is excellent.
Bad
Doesn't look quite as good as Crysis (I'm running on the highest settings 1080, still looks decent)
"Aim assist" was available in options and even enabled as default -.-
Areas seem smaller and linear, definitely less open.
Could stand to be a little longer.
My first impressions weren't so good, instantly I could see that the game did not look as good as the first Crysis and the fact that it had "aim assist" under options made me shudder. If I was going to play the multi on this game I would be very upset about that.
However the more I have played, the better and better the game has gotten. Whilst it doesn't have the beauty or open world quality of the first game what you do get is a more focused and immersive story along with gameplay that is undeniably more enjoyable than the first game. In terms of pure fun this is definitely a step up from the first.
It seems that sequels seem to be getting a lot of stick right now. I'm as critical as anyone of the dumbing down games receive from being developed with consoles in mind. However I'm also open minded to change, especially when in terms of gameplay the change improves the game. That is the case here. Whilst there have definitely been steps backward in some respects I don't let my desire to cling to those things ruin what is quite obviously a very enjoyable and in many ways improved game.
In other words the game has taken enough steps forward for you not to dwell on what it has lost.