The sequel perfectly retains the groovy, funny character of the first game. It adds to the mix:

• Improved stealth. Guards will notice things that are strange in the environment (like footprints you may have left, or gasp -- other downed guards). You can use this for hiding, or you can use it to effectively draw out and pick off baddies. Alarms have consequences, but you can outwait the hubbub if need be. I think this may be the best job yet done of stealth since Thief. Thief used the light gem to provide feedback on how well hidden you were; NOLF2 has a "hiding meter", but it also does an otherwise excellent job of having reasonable & predictable guard reactions so that the hiding meter isn't necessarily necessary.
• Improved searching. Intelligence items are much more integrated into the game/story. Searching through a pile of folders can take time. There are plenty of non-obvious places to open and check for additional bonus points.
• Experience points. You can expend experience points (obtained by completing mandatory as well as optional tasks, and for finding various pieces of intel) on your character's attributes. This is similar to Deus Ex's XP system. There's a host of attributes, which include things like health, hiding ability, marksmanship, and how fast you can search.
• Multiple solutions to problems. I've been taking a kind of bloodthirsty ninja approach -- skulking and picking off guards. But it's clear you can also veer more towards the complete non-lethal approach, or the complete Rambo carnage approach, and that the levels are designed with that in mind.
• Big levels. Need I say more? There are some great, big, outdoor environments to skulk around and otherwise cause mayhem in.

The LithTech engine still seems to exhibit a kind of weird dithering effect on textures, but it's much less obvious here than in NOLF1. And except for that little caveat, the game looks freaking gorgeous, with great weather and water effects. The sound is also top-notch.

The game feels like it continues the tradition of Deus Ex, but with a more natural feeling combat element, and with a lighter style. I'm highly enjoying it. If you liked NOLF1, or DX, or Thief, you'll almost certainly enjoy this.

Update: One thing that's a little weird and potentially irritating is that on some maps (like, when you're infiltrating a base) the guards on routes will respawn after you kill them, indefinitely. This shatters the illusion, and I was pretty disappointed with it at first. Then I rolled with it, and realized it made for more of a thrilling spy experience -- you can't just clean out the level and then have all the time you like to search rooms for intel. You always have to worry that someone will stumble in on you. Makes for a tense game :).  12:44:09 PM  (comments [])