EDIT: Having played the game more since review, while I stand by my original take, a spectacular final boss + some adjustment has at least helped alleviate some of the issues. At this stage though, while I'll change the marking to Positive, I still feel like a "Mixed" score would better align with my time with this game.

I thought the move from chance to token systems would alleviate the frustration the first game gave. Unfortunately, while it did help, the game still plays like it revels in causing anger. It's designed around failure, with what appears to be a seeming expectation that you will fail each act many, many times before beating it. Some people might find beating their head against that wall enjoyable, but I don't stand among them.

If it's the atmosphere and narrative you came for, you should note that it feels a little less present than before. The procedurally-generated locations and routes mean the world loses its coherent, fixed nature and instead feels like what it is - random. The narrator is still there and still great, the writing is still solid, but the lack of the neatly-designed locus that was the Hamlet and its surrounding environs has done damage to the setting of the game, and as a result it feels disappointing relative to its predecessor.

Overall, not a strictly bad game, and I'll continue to play it, but not one I would recommend getting to anyone like myself. There's clearly a lot here I'd appreciate, but I keep getting hit in the head trying to enjoy it.

EDIT: Having played the game more since review, while I stand by my original take, a spectacular final boss + some adjustment has at least helped alleviate some of the issues. At this stage though, while I'll change the marking to Positive, I still feel like a "Mixed" score would better align with my time with this game. I thought the move from chance to token systems would alleviate the frustration the first game gave. Unfortunately, while it did help, the game still plays like it revels in causing anger. It's designed around failure, with what appears to be a seeming expectation that you will fail each act many, many times before beating it. Some people might find beating their head against that wall enjoyable, but I don't stand among them. If it's the atmosphere and narrative you came for, you should note that it feels a little less present than before. The procedurally-generated locations and routes mean the world loses its coherent, fixed nature and instead feels like what it is - random. The narrator is still there and still great, the writing is still solid, but the lack of the neatly-designed locus that was the Hamlet and its surrounding environs has done damage to the setting of the game, and as a result it feels disappointing relative to its predecessor. Overall, not a strictly bad game, and I'll continue to play it, but not one I would recommend getting to anyone like myself. There's clearly a lot here I'd appreciate, but I keep getting hit in the head trying to enjoy it.