So I'm now rank 4th in the world, which means pretty much through the game or whatever, and it is a huge improvement over the first in some regards, but also took out some of the cool stuff from the first.
First, the negative
-Maybe I wasn't paying as much attention to the first, but parts of this game looks rough, I mean I still like the style, but some of it is weird.
-Some of the mini-games are bonkered, and really no reason to play them since you don't need to pay for rank matches anymore and you get an upgraded sword for free like half way through the game.
-Less upgradeable overall, you still learn new wrestling moves, but not new sword techniques and the sort.
Now for some improvements,
-Since you don't need to pay for boss battles, no pointless grinding if you don't want to, but still can be fun.
-The 2D of certain elements are pretty cool. The mini-games, the ranking animations and the like.
-The boss battles are still the highlight of the game, it offers more battles than the first, but you will tear through the ranks.
-Hmm, Travis isn't the only character/thing you control and shall leave it at that.
-More enemy variety and sort of priority of disposal, I tend to go after the dudes with guns first since they have longer range and are a bigger hassle.
-Dual wielding swords... nuff said.
-Oh and the game still remains its charm and over the topness.