I'm kinda confused about this game.  Looks bloody fantastic but also just confused if its a direct sequel or what?   And if its a sequel does the first game matter enough to play through the whole thing first?

The sequel takes place years after the first one, so I'm not sure if you have to play it to understand the story. But I definitely recommend you do, since it's a great game.
 
Edit: It seems like this one will reveal some of the events in the first one, so one reason more to play the original game first.

There is a really cool book app you can download for your ipad that fills you in on everything that happened. It's interactive and fun, and free.

Can't wait for this game.

Kinda curious about this as well. I'd rather just play the newer better game first, especially with all I've been hearing about how the first one hasn't aged well.

You should probably play it until you just can't handle its age anymore. I wouldn't force it because you might inadvertantly burn yourself on the sequal (ya know, the game you paid for) before you even start.

Since you'll already have it  I would definitely check it out at least.

Kinda curious about this as well. I'd rather just play the newer better game first, especially with all I've been hearing about how the first one hasn't aged well.

@valrog said:

@autobzooty said:

Kinda curious about this as well. I'd rather just play the newer better game first, especially with all I've been hearing about how the first one hasn't aged well.

But it's updated, so that could take care of the aging problem.

Didn't know this. Do you know what changes they made to the original? Is it just updating it for HD/Widescreen?

@valrog said:

@autobzooty said:

Kinda curious about this as well. I'd rather just play the newer better game first, especially with all I've been hearing about how the first one hasn't aged well.

But it's updated, so that could take care of the aging problem.

Didn't know this. Do you know what changes they made to the original? Is it just updating it for HD/Widescreen?

You should, man.

I will probably be doing so.

If you're going to play the original do yourself a favor and play the PC version, the port really isn't that great.... 
That being said I've been enjoying A:MR without much knowledge of the original, they explain pretty much everything you need to know.

I think I'll start with the new one, and maybe play the first