Bottom line, while the art may have seen a drastic change the gameplay largely remains the same. The simplicity in controls allows for focus to remain on one's opponent. That simple style keeps things fun. The stages are constructed well enough that you never feel cheated by the environment, helping to zoom in even more on player vs. player combat.
I rarely talk about the music in games, but it's catchy and fits the atmosphere enough to make one feel like they are standing in front of an arcade cabinet instead of sitting at their PC.
Once the flash of executions, environment kills and the occasional stealth kill wear off, dispatching enemies becomes a chore.
The only area in which the tactics seems a bit forced was during the boss battles.
There's a whole lot to like about The Golf Club 2 but there are a few things here and there that bring it down a peg. It's still a good game, but not as great as it could be.