Bioshock 2 - Reviews @ NY Times, AggroGamer

Omega sends this pair of BioShock 2 reviews with contrasting opinions.  AggroGamer finds it emotionally compelling:

This is a must buy for anyone that loved playing BioShock the first time. Hands down and without question. It continues the story of Rapture and its inhabitants as well as what still continues to be the issues in this "Utopia," humans themselves. All in a great storytelling fashion with some heart wrenching moments to keep you enthralled to the screen and wanting just a bit more.

...but the NY Times isn't so sure this anything more than a competent sequel spin-off, despite enjoying it:

Financially, sequels are inevitable. But creatively, I am not sure that every great game is served by becoming a franchise. BioShock has gone from an auteur-driven project to a corporate asset. I enjoyed the roughly 12 hours I spent getting through the main campaign of BioShock 2, but it will not stay with me as the first game did. I know there are still fabulous stories in Rapture. But perhaps I have heard them all already.