zeno clash II is a significant advancement from the first game is many ways. the world is larger and less linear, there is more enemy variety, the combat is more interesting and the story (despite having pretty awful voice acting) actually has hooks and feels less meandering.

sadly that isn't enough. the combat is very lacking in dynamism, and its rote and samey nature offsets the weird and alien vibe that they're going for. the design of the world and its inhabitants is far better than anything in the first game, but you can only fight the same enemy ai so many times before it gets boring. a pretty objective improvement over zeno clash, but not by enough