The combat hasn't been refined by much, it's too short and the story isn't as compelling as it's predecessor.
That being said, it's almost like the developers of the sequel said to themselves, "Let's take what we did right with the first game, and get it wrong on the second without addressing the previous issues!". Because in short, that's what has happened. The combat hasn't been fixed at all. The targeting is still imprecise, but more importantly the game's story is just not at all interesting compared to the first.
The previous game had an epic story to be told, and really set the game apart from every other one being realized at the time. It had a fantastic story worthy of Hollywood. That's rare in a videogame. This time around, we find Starkiller (whom may or may not be a clone) who was escaped Vader's clutches and has to save Eclipse who has also imprisoned by Vader for some reason. That's the basis of the entire game. Yup. Not even a bag of potato chips. On the "Hard" difficulty, I finished one playthrough in a little less than six hours. Pathetic.
The story feels like part one of a three part, even bigger tale worth being told. Worse than that, there's no variation in the enemies you'll defeat, and the environments in which you face them. Again, the first game had you traverse the galaxy visiting various planets and solar systems that were epic, elaborate and gave the film environments a total run for their bling. In FU2, you only ever really see three distinct different environments. This is Star Wars people, you have the entire galaxy at your disposal. Use it!
Like the environments, the enemies are also mundane to say the least. Not only are their variations shortcoming, by their methods by which they attempt to dispose of you is obsurd. You'll either be facing brainless AIs that will wait for you to kill them, a certain type of enemy that you have to use "the force" to do-away, or bigger baddies that just need a good saber-spanking. There's no challenge to face when you can predicate the enemy layout of the entire game within the first hour of play.
The few boss fights included here (all three of them), while they begin marginally epic and are fun, they go on for far too long and they pose almost zero challenge. By the time you defeat them, you are relieved. Not because they were difficult (not even the final boss fight), but because they are so labor intensive in their ridiculous length, that your just glad to be done with it.
It's almost not even worth mentioning that the game is gorgeous, but it is. The character models and facial animations are spectacular and really push the limits of what these machines can do. The environments, while repetitive are also pretty darn epic. It's just a bloody shame it's put to use on such a poorly executed game. And the sound design is classic Star Wars. It's fantastic obviously.
Don't get me wrong though. After all this ranting, the gameplay itself remains wholly fun to play. Dual lightsabers is a stroke of genius and added dismemberment is just a thing of beauty. If you did enjoy the first game, the combat won't disappoint. It's the same basic gameplay design and layout. Of course, that means the negatives have not been addressed.
The targeting is still imprecise. Whatever Starkiller is looking at is what you'll be aiming for, as oppose to your screen being the targeting system. It's harsh, and you'll probably never grab what you'll be seeking. Though it's not like the game ever puts a real challenge in front of you.
What's more, is that you don't have a whole lot to upgrade Starkiller with. You begin the game with all your powers, and you only the four to upgrade. Plus they only have three classes to spend your force points on. There's nothing to unlock other than costumes and sabers.
It's not worth going through the game a second time with new awesome powers, because you don't have anything more impressive than what you started with. Not to mention that the game is, again, so simple that it's not even worth looking at any upgrades to waste your time on. You'll spend more time with loading screens than actually playing the game if you do.
Overall, while the game does have a bit of fun to be had in it, though all those few moments serve is to remind you have all the fun you had with the first game and not this one.
6/10
Zee Bottom-Line:
Graphics - Just about the only thing the game does perfectly. It's gorgeous. - 9/10
Sound - Classic Star Wars. Duh. The voice acting is also decent, though the writing is awful. - 7/10
Gameplay - It's still fun and seems to be slightly refined, but it still is repetative. - 6.5/10
Value - It is insanely short, the story is awful, there is a few challenges to try and conquer. But there's not much else, there's very little replay value. Not worth the retail price. - 3/10
Overall - 5.5/10