#2 is a bit of an odd man out in comparison to the design style of demons souls, and dark 1 and 3. However if you stop trying to compare it to the original (or 3 or whatever your first souls game was, they are almost always people's favorites) you will find that it's actually a great game in its own right. It a little slower in pace, a little more deliberate and punishing (estis takes much longer to heal for example) but it's a fantastic game, with a ludicrous amount of possibilities for builds, and the best NG+ in a souls game to date.