Everything you loved about the original and then some
I loved No More Heroes, which made me nervous about playing this game. Since this game doesn't do much different than the first one, I was worried that I would experience franchise burnout as I have in the past on other series. Luckily, this game was a blast and really delivered in the way a great sequel should. Sure, the original game had it's shortcomings, but there are few times when I sit down and have as much fun as I did throughout the entire game. What fails to get mentioned in the reviews of this franchise is the near perfect pacing of these games. You quickly get into a rhythm of going around Travis' apartment, doing a couple of mini games, doing some shopping, and then tackling one of the signature ranked battles. All the while, you are unlocking upgrades such as new clothing, new weapons, and new wrestling moves. While the first game had much of this same rhythm, the universally maligned overworld map and constant need to grind to get money to enter the ranked battles really dragged out the game without being any fun. NMH 2 eliminates both of these shortcomings, which really polishes the game quite a bit.
The gameplay of this game is mostly a mashfest, but it is absolutely a blast to play. The Wii motions in this game for the wrestling moves and the finishers are the best use of motion control I've played to date. The tactile feel or yanking the controller to execute a tombstone piledriver is pure gaming bliss. The story and signature ranked battles are also full of style and personality. While it may seem a strange comparison, I think many of the things that made Shadow of the Colossus such a great game are present here. The core gameplay is very focused, but is adapted throughout the game to constantly keep things fresh. Much like SOTC, everyone will have their favorite bosses, and those memories will stick with you long after you finish the game. The ebb and flow of the game never seems to get old, which is the mark of a great game.
While it is very mature (although juvenile at the same time), I found myself constantly laughing during the story scenes and fist pumping after finally downing one of the ranked assassins. I finished the game in 12 hours, and can honestly say it was 12 hours of fun. The retro feel of the game combined with the Travis' signature otaku persona give it a charm rarely found in games. I would encourage anyone (probably over the age of 18) to play this game and give it a try. While there are definitely technical hiccups throughout: tons of clipping issues, camera problems, and one instance where the game froze (causing me a fit of rage), this is a game I loved and couldn't put down until the credits rolled.
