Singles 2 doesn't address all of the issues of the first game, but it retains all of its charm.
Similar to the Sims, in Singles 2 you have to take care of your character's basic needs such as hygiene, hunger, comfort, energy, etc. In practice this means performing all sorts of regular daily activities. It's kind of ironic that emulating the most monotonous parts of our daily lives can result in a fun experience, but that's the way it is here. But while taking care of the Singles necessities is important, the real progress in the game is made by interacting with the other characters in your surrounding.
Just like the first game, Singles 2 includes a story mode where you have to complete certain tasks to achieve the ultimate goal of consummating the relationship between two characters. However, whereas in the first game you could select any two characters to play the story mode (and those two characters would be the only ones involved in the story), here there are 3 predefined characters that will already be living together, Anna, Josh, and Kim. The relationship between Anna and Josh (who were a couple but broke up) is the focus of the game. While you're free to choose one of those two characters to control, the story is exactly the same regardless of who you choose. Roles are simply reversed depending on who you chose, which is kind of disappointing since it eliminates any potential replay value the story mode might have had.
If there's one problem with the story mode is that it doesn't mesh well with the freedom the game gives you. You're supposed to be someone that's desperate to gain back their ex, yet you'll have the option to bring people home to befriend or flirt (or more) while your ex just sits around contemplating their loneliness. Worse, there are hardly any consequences for making out with different lovers right in front of your ex, aside from the occasional outbreak of jealousy, which only disables more intimate actions temporarily. In fact, it'll be easy for you to get more attached to other characters than your ex who you're supposed to be hell bent on getting back. I for one developed much deeper relationships with 2 other characters than with the ex. This issue doesn't kill the appeal of the story mode, but it doesn't help sell it either.
Unlike in the first game, the story mode gives you very specific goals to complete, such as buying certain items to prepare a social event or romantic dinner, or improve your skills in certain aspects. I really liked this approach, as it gives the story mode a more complex and involved feel. Still, completing objectives is pathetically easy and there's really no way to "lose" in Singles 2.
To counter the simplicity of completing objectives are the skill points (a feature that was in the first game), which can be used to improve the characters traits. How you spend your skill points depends on what goals you want to reach first. For instance, spending skill points on your career will allow you to earn more money daily, so that you can speed up the process of improving your apartment. On the other hand, enhancing your romantic or friendship skills will allow you to develop relationships much faster. In theory you can play long enough to max out almost all of your skills, but the limited amount of skill points at the early stages of the game does force you to select your options based on your immediate priorities.
As mentioned before, you can interact with other characters foreign to the main story, and for the most part you'll do this in the local bar. Being able to get out of the house (something that wasn't possible in the first game) is a great enhancement to the game, but it would've been better if you had more options such a local malls or theaters where you could take your Singles on "dates".
Aside from the story and character interaction, the other big attraction of Singles 2 is the ability to customize your apartment however you like. I'll admit that I really enjoyed playing a home decorator, because the game gives you a plethora of options to customize the apartment any way you want. From entertainment devices, to kitchen appliances, to garden furniture, to carpets and wallpapers, Singles 2 will spark your creative juices to come up with the most stylized apartment possible.
Technically, Singles 2 is essentially the same as the first game. The graphics engine is virtually unchanged which is fine when you consider the graphics in the first game were already excellent. Characters are extremely detailed from head to toe (yes, even in those areas), as well all the objects lying on your apartment. The sound didn't receive any major changes either. Some songs are recycled from the first game, while there are a few new tunes that fit the game's theme very nice. Character speech is the same incomprehensible gibberish from the first game, which can be disturbing, annoying, and strangely charming all at the same time.
Though hardly a step forward for the series, Singles 2: Triple Trouble retains all the good qualities of the first game while enhancing the gameplay just enough to make it appealing for people who liked the original one, as well as those with an interest in life sims.