Unreal 2 explains a little bit more about the lore
The problem with lore is that it's only worth as much as what it pertains to, and pretty much none of U2 lore is particularly relevant to Unreal 1 (which was good), but all of it is relevant to Unreal 2 (which is shit).
The only thing U2 may possibly explain is why U2 skaarj sluggishly run at you to be gunned down (they want to die), and why Unreal 1 Skaarj don't seem particularly fazed in the face of overwhelming flak cannon after you had already killed a lot of them later in game in Unreal 1 (they're more concerned with not becoming skaarj from Unreal 2, than with you tearing them around thirty new assholes, simultaneously, in all parts of their body).
The weapons you find, although not what you would expect from an Unreal game, are all pretty creative and versatile
I can concede about the weapons (with the exception of massively braindamaging gun shooting electrified semen spiders), they are mostly pretty ok to cool. Ok, shotgun is somewhat underwhelming and sniper rifle has idiotic scope.
You know what? I can also concede that it has some nifty and diverse environment design (not actual levels!), so that the list of all two game's upsides can be exhaustive.
I prefer calling it "Matrix ripoff gun", as it's more descriptive, but other than that it's ok.
Sniper Rifle with the most ridiculous zoom you'll ever find in any game
Have you played MDK?
It's also a more story-driven game
Which makes the story being bland and derpy all the more crippling flaw.
less exploration (as in Unreal 1)
Not just as in Unreal. If it had any less exploration, it would have to replace standard movement controls with fast forward and rewind.
The characters are somewhat likeable (not a masterpiece but it's okay)
Only applies to constantly smoking cripple mechanic to any measurable extent. The remaining characters are pair of boobs on two legs and blue fluorescent blob in a mechanized suit that tries (but fails) to be comic relief.
... Yeah. Unreal 2 is good.
Nope.
It's not what you would expect from the Unreal series
Definitely.
but i think it's worth trying out.
Yes. (You do apparently think that, alas.)
It's one of those "What if: Unreal was made by a completely different company" you know?
...and, like, wasn't Unreal at all.
It's not perfect, i know.
Me too.
I never said it's a 10/10 game.
Me neither.
But i think it's worth trying it out.
Especially when you're convinced it would be good for you if you committed suicide, but can't really put your heart behind such decision for some reason.
Just because of the "tower defense" esque missions. I fucking loved those.
Yeah, as if there were not enough tower defense games on fucking cellphones already.
(Draq throwing a tantrum because i have a different opinion in 3...2...1)
All systems ready.
Both of those games are the "black sheep" of their franchises and generally hated by the community. But if you open your mind a bit, you can have fun with both. Just lower your expectations, shrug and try it out for yourself.
And your anus. You also need to open your anus, relax and try to enjoy the experience.
Though, TBH I have no opinion on Q4. Main reason is that I haven't played it seeing it was essentially a Q2 rehash, and Q2 pretty much sucked.
It's perfectly possible that it was a far superior game to Q2 (if only because Q2 was sucky to mediocre, at least in SP).