Some of you guys have good points and some i have to diagree with.
1st. Storyline
KH2's storyline was a it predictable and vague but I believe that is mostly because of SE's new additions to the initial gameplay. They added reaction commmands, a lot of new characters, new clothes, and had to tie this all in as a continuation to KH: CoM. Now If I had a four year deadline to start frm almost scratch(because KH2 happened a year after and ou have to foolow up both plots while making advances to everything) I'd care a little less about the plot and a little bit more about new gameplay, even if that includes taking out some features. They completley changed Sora's fighting skills, and his jump, and then had to add in forms. So I believe that people were pleased more with gameplay than plot. But hey, the Orginization and the DiZ plot leading up to Ansem was creative too.
2nd. Mickey
I actually liked Mickey's appearance at the end of boss battles. When you die, you'll have to start off from the last save point or from the beginning of the boss. If the boss is too hard, then you'll have to do it over. Not only did I like how Mickey would appear and make things less tedious, hif fighting syle was unique and cool. He could jump very high and use and unblockable Pearl move. I felt it was pretty genius. And you got to be Mickey in the jacket and the clothes. I don't understand how he knew where Sora was, but hey, if you were about to die wouldnt you want a Keyblade-weilding mouse to come save you? The only thing i didnt like is that if you die against Xemnas and Mickey appears, HE dies in like, 2 hits.
3rd. Gameplay
The gameplay was essentially easy but introducing new gameplay means it has to be easy, you don't want some hard 18 button push for a combo do you? KH2 was probably as easy as it was so if new players came to the game they wouldnt be yelling at the controller at the tough as nails gameplay. Also someone commented at the Reaction Commands, Yes, I believe they can be improved with more interactive combos with the reaction. Especially against a boss. With a boss the reaction can be a completley cool combo but the reaction commands are probably they way they are for now is so that you dont get a super easy way out to kill the boss. It is a boss after all. Yes the gaming was easy and I believe that proud mode was easy also. In Final Mix they adeed a new Difficulty level maybe that solved it?
4. Character Development
There wasn't much but there was some and there were a lot of new characters to introduce so maybe that got in the way. Someone said Kairi didnt get much development. I think she got a fair amout. They showed her going to school now, and she forgot who Sora was, then she talked to Roxas and remembered. Afterward she sent him a letter that was pretty deep. She aquired a KEYBLADE. That is a huuuuge development though it's never seen again. She found Sora and Riku and went home and was happy. Development happened. Sora didint get much besides learning who Roxas was and finding Riku. But look at all the characters who went through character development.
Roxas, Riku, DiZ, Namine, All of Organization 13. Mickey.
5. Continuation
I believe the getting the letter from Mickey wasn't the greates idea, but can you come up with any others? I can't. And how else does he contact them? Arrive at thier peaceful home in a futuristic Gummiship telling them what happens next? Mickey did it in a civilized manner. A letter in a bottle, the tradition of all contact on an ISLAND. It also gives insight that there will be future games and leaves the player wondering what those may be., I mean, Sora found his firends and are back, what else can they do? We'll have to find out. Also someone said not to continue Sora's story. I"ll have to disagree. Because he has a cast of characters that make him and his party kid friendly and cool enough to appeal to everyone. Also thier personalities are pretty good.
Compared to KH1, I don't know, KH1 had better development, storyline, creative battling and puzzles and reacton with the world around them. More colorful and creative script. But KH2 had better fighting sequences, more characters, creative bosses and weapons, more drama(SORA CRIES! Who cries in KH1? Nobody!) and and ok script. If SE adds these two together they'll have a pretty good game on the shelves.
ANYWAY sorry for the long post! Read if you want. I"ll check back here.
Peace,
Sora