Okay at best.
Where to start. Graphically the improvements are noticeable. Much detail is involved in environments. Cyclops can knock over trees during combat and other details are appealing. That said, the terrain can be your enemy. Uneven ground causes your character to slip and slide, stumbling around often during combat which makes you take hits. Jumping is nonexistent, but you can climb most surfaces in the open environment fairly easy. Haven't unlocked any dodging abilities so try to fight your enemies on flat ground as charging attacks will give you or your enemies the ability to go up inclines or off edges, where you stumble or regain your footing, in a very long animation that leaves you vulnerable to hits. Enemies will mostly focus on attacking your character running past others, using lomg range jumping attacks or very accurately throwing items at you. All of the above has a chance to stagger your character easily. You will get ganged up on al lot, I moved the camera back as far away as I could, and it really stays close, limiting your view which allows ambushes from out of view. I originally started out as an archer, which was a modified class from Dark Arisen. You only use a bow and can kick, greatly limiting your abilities for one, and the controls have a one button aiming and attacking with the bow that takes time to get used to, making it more difficult to be accurately hitting weak points and moving safely. Character speed is on the very slow side, even when running. You have one save spot, like previous titles. I deleted my archer and remade a fighter which is better, you still get a beating in fights. Taking damage also limits your maximum health, forcing you to camp or rest at an inn. Pawns are literally everywhere amd often you will see them fighting enemies, or will join in to help you, which is a huge feature. However if you encounter a pawn out of combat, you are forced to talk with them unless you're far enough away. Pawns do much more in this game than Dark Arisen, they tell you clues quite often, they also run into you randomly and have pushed my character of edges, bridges, narrow paths and into water, which ended my game. Game is large, 63 gigs or so and takes a lomg time to install which I found odd. The story of the game has a few changes, but it's mapped out like the first one. Overall gameplay is similar to Lords or the Fallen or Dark Souls. It's a punishing as Dark Souls till you level up enough, then you can become very powerful. The first Dragons Dogma allowed you to play as many different vocations, each allowing a different Stat growth. You could develop your characters as you wanted, part 2 has fixed stats for all classes. Meaning each class grows differently and when you switch classes, your health and stamina, strength and magic, change to your current vocation. I was let down by this sequel, I didn't expect it to be mimicking so many other titles. It will keep you occupied should you like slower paced games, but much better titles are out there.