"This game was good."

I dont know why I have to type that out for myself to believe. I think the only reason I have hesitancy with that statement is because of how much I just LOVED Talos principle 1. I went into that title knowing NOTHING about it. So everything was so different and inspiring.

And in Talos Principle 2 I wasn't nearly in a place in time that left nearly that same impression.

Now that's the most subjective, inner personal, (World revolves around me), take I think I've ever written. Like who am I to judge an entire game based off just because I'm older and was exhausted while I was playing this one. I do plan on returning to it potentially one day to try a different ending.

Some positives
I enjoyed was that the puzzles were an absolute high point here. leagues is better than Talos 1 and those puzzles had some highs as well.

The graphics were jaw dropping, and the environments were bigger than ever. Which of course feed into the narrative it was to tell (Which I wont get into because of spoilers), But I will also talk about this... "Bigness" in the negatives to.

I really enjoyed the story it had to tell. I will leave this here, because its at its best the less you know.

Negatives I had:
Its too too big. I have completionist brain. I have to get all the shiny tokens and coins and bits and bops. So having to wander around these GINOURMOUS maps for sometimes over and hour just for one level is not enjoyable. Especially when some puzzles are just "Find the switch hidden in this huge desert." Having beautiful vistas is wonderful, but after some time they become annoyances and background noise while you chase after the same Star for the collectible.

The lack of reason to explore these large Vistas.
They are OH SO PRETTY. Like easily in the top ten on the PS5. BUT like there is nothing... Any and all secrets of Talos principle 1 have been stripped and simplified to finding cardboard cutouts or purple rings with cute animations. Another thing is The City. I wish the City just had more to it.
The coolest part of the city is the museum where they have an entire section dedicated to Talos 1. Outside of that, there are some NPCs to talk to, 5 data logs to listen to, and 3 interactive adventure computers.

Side content that went nowhere.
Specifically, I want to criticize a side story in this game with Robot 666. There are light spoilers...
She asks you at the beginning of the game if you would like to enter into an underground discussion with members of the City who have great influence. You then answer a survey to find out which of the 4 influences you will match with. All representing different takes on different philosophical beliefs. Then you will go a Long long time without hearing from this group. Only to get one interaction with them. Only for them to never message again.

This feeds into my next complaint, the NPCs. They do talk... a lot. To go from Talos 1 with a very solitary world, you now have a party with you who can have some fun dialogue and moments. I found myself losing interest in them more and more as the game continued. None of them outside of the main two party members Byron and Alcatraz. The others I grew tired of ... and felt less and less likely to search for them in the large open world to get some dialogue and updates on their opinions on philosophy.

All in all, this is a GREAT puzzle game that's beautiful. And the story it tells is amazing. But there are small dings and bumps that make it a very taxing experience.