I played the first one on the recommendation of most of my friends so I thought |I would try out the sequel.
That's not to say it doesn't have its flaws. You cannot allow your characters to die (I used to do this when I wanted a replacement) and you cannot customise the weaponry and specialisation of your squad members. I personally prefer to use my squad as a squad, rather than individuals who are all way too specialised.
On the plus side the focus of this game is on strategy rather than just shooting things to pieces. The missions are diverse and challenging and it is enjoyable to virtually anyone.
If you could customize your characters and their equipment and skills then this thing could have been a lot better, especially if combined with a more cohesive and involving story.