If you look at extra content surrounding the original, it becomes pretty clear that BGE2 is what they always wanted BGE to be in terms of scope and theme, but after so long in development now, I can’t help but wonder if the restrictions on scope were what made the original truly great.
I hope they manage to pull it together into a cohesive product eventually-- and I will be playing it when they do-- but I would be truly surprised if the sequel is as impactful or memorable as the OG
Boss fights definitely, your sentiment reminds me of Warframe. Don’t miss farming bosses. However, there are a lot of ways randomized loot can be implemented, and I wouldn’t call all of them dark patterns