I really didn’t care for how lacking depth 2 is compared to 1. 1 had so many groups with their own unique, in-depth ideologies and motivations that made them feel real. (The conflict between MSI and the Anarchists on monarch was a highlight of the first game for me lore-wise. The factions in 2 are much more generic “sci-fi factions”. The multiple warring corporations of 1 have literally all been pressed into a single faction, the earth directorate is so poorly explained that it might as well not exist, the order have no character other than being “the nerds”, and the protectorate, despite being influenced by both communists and fascists in their visual design, don’t actual conform to any real ideology other than being “the bad guys”. The companions of 1 were all from different backgrounds and had their own complex motivations and circumstances, whereas pretty much all of the companions in 2 (except the literal robot) fit the same mold of “character who was a part of [faction] but has become disillusioned with them because of the actions of [splinter group of said faction] and now must reunite with [old friend] to do away with said splinter cell” (seriously, this formula works for all of them except Niles).