my problem with this game was the same problem I had with Fable, the overlord himself being mute and a grunter. it seems that the overlord is an avatar somewhat separate from the rest of the game. i know he can't sing, and he can't dance but he can make sweet romance with the ladies with those brooding and glowing eyes, but not having a flushed out dialogue or real character doesn't make the whole 'be evil or really evil' that really moral decision and doesn't feel like it affects the character. the minions still have all the personality, but was that personality really that new to the game, the minions felt recycled as far as what they were doing, sure the mode of transportation might have changed. i loved the original, but the sequel seems more a re-hashing with some additions but the same essential control issues, camera problems, and plot points, perhaps i was hoping too much for the sequel...

I personally love that the Overlord himself is mute. He seems almost to begrudge his lot in life.

I agree that the game isn't really all that different from the original. The sequel is funnier, I think. It's worth picking up if only to bear witness to one of the best written games ever made.

@ScottJones:

out of interest what is the best written game that you've played or are you're playing? i loved the original just because of the Overlord being resurrected and fighting former heroes that experienced the seven deadly sins, not to mention the new take on the anti-hero role, but self-loathing kinda falls back into that template of the anti-hero, but you're right, the writing that went into the minions is still what makes the franchise good, and the saying 'running with the browns', taking on more meaning than just eating too much fast food