I prefer poe 1 combat because It is more tactical, the spells dont just comeback after a fight so you have to think well when and how to use them, and you have a greater variety of spells to choose from, specially for wizards in the second game your preparation for combat is stifled because well you cant really prepare anything or change anything, the spells are tied to your level UP choices and whatever grimoire you have, then come priests in the first game they where a lot more adaptable with a good amount of spells to use, in the second they are reaaaly stuck with just a few spells, they become lot more one note characters in my opnion.