I'm 30hrs into the game, and I'm now wondering : is DS2 better than DS1? My on the fly answer would be yes.
It's DS1, but better in many aspects. Incredible weapons and armors. More flexible and complex builds. Less abysmal gear upgrades. FAR BETTER online play : this is where I think it shines the most. Wanna coop? Put your sign on the floor and you're in. Want help? Same thing. Summoning is the mechanic i think that's been very much improved over the first games, and that makes DS2 a very unique and fun game.
DS1 was my all times favorite game. DS2 is a serious contender...