I think the fact that the first game was such a masterpiece is part of why I rate the second one so poorly. The first game does everything so much better that it’s hard to believe it’s 7 years older. The camera work in the cutscenes, the physics, the inclusion of firearms, the fact that you, Crane, and the game itself all give a shit about the story.
Contrast that with DL2’s bethesda-ass cutscenes, the zombie animations taking priority over physics, the lack of firearms, and the fact that the game doesn’t give a shit about anything in its own story. I played the whole game with the objective of wanting to save my sister, and in the end I blew up the city for her, and Aiden just dips? He just fucks off not caring that his sister is… dead? The game never even makes says what happened to her! Aiden just came in, ruined the place, and leaves!