Let's start by saying that I don't normally review or write anything about the games that I purchase on Steam.

I was very very very hesitant in purchasing this game considering my experience with the first game. I would be considered an impulsive buyer in any other situation but with this game, it took me days to decide if I wanted to purchase this game. I only read a few of the exisiting reviews just to see what the feeling was like but I mostly just paid attention to the "Overall Rating" value this game had been listed as.

I finally decided to grab it while it was on sale and let me just say this game is a breath of fresh air. It is nothing like the release of the first chapter in the game. The game started up and I prepared for the micro stutters that the first game was released with but I did not have any. I'm terrible at being stealthy in games and so it took me a moment to warm up to the playstyle again. Everything was going smooth. They really have released a well working and visually appealing game.

The multiplayer is lacking the free roam aspect that comparable titles have, it isnt a huge drawback but it definitely is holding back the multiplayer experience. While doing the single player experience sometimes you are forced into the multiplayer instancing missions, not a huge big deal since you can just continue on your path but sometimes you'll get the ones where you'll have to kill the target and that target sometimes kills you instead while you're trying to solo play. Not a huge drawback since you can just quit and stop the multiplayer instancing. Can be annoying to the unsuspecting person.

I actually started to get invested into the single play experience with doing the Dedsec missions and also just some of the other quirks like taking the pictures for the random areas on the map. The inner city experience is great, detail is definitely there. The vehicles are well performed but still have some of that "arcade" feel in turning and acceleration. There could be a better variety of vehicles in my opinion but the selection is by no means limiting. The map size is a little underwelming and I was a tad dissapointed that when you reach the edge you'll find the "you are leaving the area" thing that developers do and it times you back into the playable area, not sure how else that could have been handled. I really feel like the map could have overall been a lot larger and would hope to see new areas introduced at a later time by way of DLC.

There are some stunt jump situations around but no real reward to doing them, wheelie-ing down the street does not provide any kind of achievement for longest distance.

I am definitely satisified with this release and I will definitely be finishing the game.

Pros:
Game works in comparison to the original title.
Visually appealing
A Complete Game; This isn't one of those games that a publisher releases and expects the community to complete the game via Mods and DLC. This game is full featured and and full story.
Voice acting is great
Comical
Hacking.
At my time of writing this review, bug free gameplay. I found absolutely no game breaking glitches or bugs in my 10 hours of gameplay so far.


Cons:
Auto-Detected my video as low for everything. GeForce Experience loaded a optimal profile after my first run of the game and it set me at the perfect settings.
No Free Roam multiplayer; This isn't a huge bust but I would like to see it introduced into the game at a later date.
Small Map
Cars drive arcadey
Limited selection of vehicles
Not much stunting going on.

Let's start by saying that I don't normally review or write anything about the games that I purchase on Steam. I was very very very hesitant in purchasing this game considering my experience with the first game. I would be considered an impulsive buyer in any other situation but with this game, it took me days to decide if I wanted to purchase this game. I only read a few of the exisiting reviews just to see what the feeling was like but I mostly just paid attention to the "Overall Rating" value this game had been listed as. I finally decided to grab it while it was on sale and let me just say this game is a breath of fresh air. It is nothing like the release of the first chapter in the game. The game started up and I prepared for the micro stutters that the first game was released with but I did not have any. I'm terrible at being stealthy in games and so it took me a moment to warm up to the playstyle again. Everything was going smooth. They really have released a well working and visually appealing game. The multiplayer is lacking the free roam aspect that comparable titles have, it isnt a huge drawback but it definitely is holding back the multiplayer experience. While doing the single player experience sometimes you are forced into the multiplayer instancing missions, not a huge big deal since you can just continue on your path but sometimes you'll get the ones where you'll have to kill the target and that target sometimes kills you instead while you're trying to solo play. Not a huge drawback since you can just quit and stop the multiplayer instancing. Can be annoying to the unsuspecting person. I actually started to get invested into the single play experience with doing the Dedsec missions and also just some of the other quirks like taking the pictures for the random areas on the map. The inner city experience is great, detail is definitely there. The vehicles are well performed but still have some of that "arcade" feel in turning and acceleration. There could be a better variety of vehicles in my opinion but the selection is by no means limiting. The map size is a little underwelming and I was a tad dissapointed that when you reach the edge you'll find the "you are leaving the area" thing that developers do and it times you back into the playable area, not sure how else that could have been handled. I really feel like the map could have overall been a lot larger and would hope to see new areas introduced at a later time by way of DLC. There are some stunt jump situations around but no real reward to doing them, wheelie-ing down the street does not provide any kind of achievement for longest distance. I am definitely satisified with this release and I will definitely be finishing the game. Pros: Game works in comparison to the original title. Visually appealing A Complete Game; This isn't one of those games that a publisher releases and expects the community to complete the game via Mods and DLC. This game is full featured and and full story. Voice acting is great Comical Hacking. At my time of writing this review, bug free gameplay. I found absolutely no game breaking glitches or bugs in my 10 hours of gameplay so far. Cons: Auto-Detected my video as low for everything. GeForce Experience loaded a optimal profile after my first run of the game and it set me at the perfect settings. No Free Roam multiplayer; This isn't a huge bust but I would like to see it introduced into the game at a later date. Small Map Cars drive arcadey Limited selection of vehicles Not much stunting going on.