[Spoiler free] Just finished playing the original and part II back-to-back. IMO: both games are contenders for best video game of all time (and I've been playing video games religiously since the mid 1980s).
In short: incredible story, characters, voice acting, graphics, environments and combat make for a compelling and immersive experience. I highly recommend playing on a large OLED screen as the superior colour and contrast really improves all the dark scenes. The story was so good that my partner sat with me the entire time I played it.
Part II ups the ante on the misery and loss experienced in the original. Many fans were upset about this but that's on them as the tragedies and violence are executed skillfully and with purpose.
Some fans were also upset about a key event, early in the game. I found said key event was justified and set the motive for the rest of the game. It did not rationally impact negatively on the player's experience. It helped to set part II apart from the original.
Some fans were also upset about having to play a new character. Their incapacity to empathise with this new character is due to their own personal issues. I found her story was well-executed and playing from her perspective was equally enjoyable.
Loved every moment of this game. Looking forward to part III and hopefully more incel tears online.