Better than most reviews give it credit for.
The gameplay from the first title is back, and players who are familiar with the original can jump right in. The graphics, sound, and voice acting are solid. The upgradable and unlockable weapons are also back in this installment.
The backgrounds in some levels are a little repetative, but they are still better than most action games. The boss battles are a little easier, but are still visually impressive.
The game also adds a lot of extra content, making it worthwhile to play through the title multiple times. The second disk with a playable female character adds a lot of value for those who purchase the title.
While I am not saying that this game is as good as the first, I think that fans of the first will still enjoy the game. In my opinion, this game would've gotten rave reviews if it had featured an original character and title, but suffered from following up such a classic game. Worth at least a rental to everyone, but a good purchase for any action fan.