And I friggin mean it.
 
Improvements in ME2 are these: Gameplay, Dialogues, Sidequests, Removal of generic loot and sidemissions like collecting badges and shit. Does anyone like that crap?
 
But the entire premise of the game is so much worse than the first one, that I simply cannot enjoy it as much as the first.
It starts of in an awesome way with the whole Normandy-sequence, but come on... Shep dies and gets revived... that's a load of crap.
 
Also, who thought loadingscenes were the better option compared to elevator-sequences?
They could improve the elevators instead, have your partybanter a bit more sociable, better radioreporting about what's going on. And not just reports on what the hell you just did, but about something entirely different going on, maybe some hints to sidequests etc. anything is better than loadingscreens.
 
Reporting to the council was one of my favorite things about the ME1, disconnecting them was a hoot. Talking to Martin Sheen however is just sad in comparison. Illusive Man, more like IlluZzzive Man.   Provoking him doesn't even result in any interesting replies.
 
The impact from the first game on the second was also a bit thin, I realise that they can't do too much, but to just remove all of the major elements of interaction from the first one just seems cheap. (Major elements being Kaidan, Ashley, Council, Anderson, Udina)
Just sad that your interaction with your 'loyal fan' had a bigger impact on your game than letting the entire Council die.
 
I still love both games, that's for sure. But I feel ME2, while being an more enjoyable game to play, removed too much of the soul of ME1 to surpass it.