I feel that HM1 had a more unique and subtle tone with its storytelling. 2 just goes really hard on the nihilism and the melancholy of the story that it desperately wants gameplay to reflect that (lol killed off screen by silly russian man).
HM2 can get monotonous, frustrating, and depressing, and it drags a lot in its pacing and combat but eh, I still had some fun, I just won't be in a hurry in coming back to it, unlike the first game.