It is a lot different from the first F.E.A.R., but it is not as bad of a game everyone says it is.
Let's start off with the things that I didn't like. There weren't many recognizable characters from the original F.E.A.R., and it felt like you were playing a totally different game. The scary elements are still there, and the A.I. isn't any different, but the gameplay itself is a lot different. They took out the leaning mechanics, which doesn't help especially since the enemies could still do it which kind of pissed me off. The aiming is better this time around, as you actually aim down the sight instead of just moving the gun closer to your face from your hip like in the first F.E.A.R. The environments are more varied and more well done. That's one thing that was better than the first F.E.A.R., as the art design in F.E.A.R. was boring, dull and grey. All the levels took place in offices or industrial buildings, and it felt all the same.
The graphics are much more up to date and look alright, but not the best. The music and sound effects in this game is quite similar to the first game. The atmosphere I found to be same as the first game. It gives you a paranoid feeling that someone is watching you.
The multiplayer in this game is plain, boring and pretty much dead. I won't go into that any further since I didn't get to play much of the multiplayer.
Overall, if you liked the first F.E.A.R., you may be a bit disappointed with this game, but it is by no means a bad sequel, and there are way, way worse games out there. If you have spare money to spend on extra games, and you liked the first F.E.A.R., then I recommend checking it out.