A Hong Kong action-style action game
People love to hate this franchise, but from my perspective, this game is an awesome shooter.
I didn't really like the first Kane & Lynch game; the controls felt very clunky, the companion AI behaved very annoyingly at times during combat, and there was a weird jump in the narrative and setting towards the end.
This sequel however, is really good. My only complaint is that it is rather short for the asking price (at the time). Today though, in 2020, you can get it at a very affordable price. So this is not an issue today.
What I like about it, is the brutality and rawness of it, combined with the non-stop action. It really reminds me of the Eastern action movies I grew up watching, most notably Hong-Kong action (esp. John Woo). Not to mention early Tarantino films. There are also modern equivalents I could refer to, like The Raid and The Night Comes for Us. For me, Kane & Lynch 2 really captures the feel of these types of movies.
In addition to the above, you experience a whole range of settings, as one action scene quickly flows into another one. It all makes for a very cinematic and memorable experience. The combat felt much smoother and better than in the first game, the weapons very satisfying to shoot with.
The storyline? well, with these kinds of games it's not really my priority. It was suitable for the gameplay, and personally I liked the story and setting. It was entertaining to see how these two misfits could get themselves out of this hole they find themselves in. In general, we don't have that many games that take place in Asia.
For me, this is one of the very best action games you can play. It's right up there with Bulletstorm, Stranglehold and Shadow Warrior.