Iron Man 2 provides high-octane ground and airborne combat-for a little while, anyway.
However, Iron Man 2's gameplay is a definite improvement over that of the first game. Iron Man and War Machine feel like two separate characters to control. Iron Man is faster and relies more on energy weapons, while War Machine uses heavier, conventional weaponry. The graphics are relatively poor for a next-gen console, but while cutscenes aren't pretty, the game itself looks well enough.
The only problem with gameplay is flight-the maximum speed feels and looks inappropriately slow. Blasting enemies is far more fun-up to four different weapons can be loaded into each character, and they can be switched around in-game, resulting in more diversity. Weapons can also be upgraded with points collected during each mission, new ammunition and modular enhancements can be invented to make for a better fight the next time. Melee has also been significantly improved, as Iron Man and War Machine can now pull off cool melee combos with finishing moves-there are even multiple melee routines for each character. The destructible environments are fun while they last, and the few bosses and mini-bosses provide some good battles. This game would definitely be quite easy if not for the final boss, which is the size of a skyscraper and will give players a challenge.
All in all, Iron Man 2 has some solid and entertaining combat, though the short story means players will probably arrive at the game's end just as they are starting to really enjoy themselves. This game is probably more fit for a rental than a purchase, as it can be finished quickly, but the fun combat might have some players replaying the story multiple times.