The short of it.
I've played through the game a couple of times already. RSV2 is very much like the original. In fact I'd say it feels like an expansion pack with slightly better graphics. The visual improvements are primarily in areas of sharpness and saturation, but detail is still crude and rudimentary. Less foggy with brighter colors in a nutshell.
The maps are of a smaller scale than before overall, which does make for a slightly shorter game. I would say COD4 is longer.
The controls are virtually identical to RSV, though the blind fire accuracy is so poor it is basically worthless with most weapons from anything beyond a close distance. The shotgun being the major exception, which is annoyingly overpowered. I'd go so far as to say the blind fire is broken and needs a fix.
A major complaint is the lack of four-player story coop which is now just two-player. The downgrade to two-player is inexcusable.
Some of the achievements do not work, as in you achieve them but they aren't rewarded. I was able to overcome some of the achievement problems by spending an hour or so online researching how you can circumvent their inexplicable lack of triggering by playing as a guest, but otherwise they are broken.
As before the realistic difficulty is challenging. The game includes a bevy of foul language so be warned, though that may be the least of your concerns. If you don't swear you may start, if you do swear you'll need to make sure the kids are out of the house. This game will likely pish you off! The respawn locations on this game are ridiculous. AI always seems to get behind you, and charge when you are reloading, the AI definitely knows you are reloading. Overall I'd say RSV1 is more difficult, but only because it is longer and you seem to be forced into more compromised positions.
Minor improvements are the ability to shoot through some types of cover, stolen from COD4 obviously, and also the leveling has improved. RSV2 provides more opportunities to rank up offline and rewards you with the A.C.E.S system by being more diversified in your warfare: long range, close range and assault. (grenades and gadgets) which unlock weapon, equipment, and XP upgrades. Again, these new features appear stolen from COD4.
Terrorist hunt mode includes a couple of the older maps including killhouse as well as many new levels that occur throughout the story. It is pretty fun to play with friends as it does include four player. It's also short enough you can squeeze in several games at bedtime.
The story end is certainly more exciting, but that is more and indictment on the poor ending of the first game than an endorsement of this one. Overall, there's not enough to make this game worth 60 dollars for me, and as a result it left me wanting. If you weren't crazy about the first, know thats this is basically more of the same. Yes, it is a sequel, but even so it seems thin. A cash rehash if you will. Multiplayer may be its saving grace, but until it is ironed out, that won't happen either.
