I just got this game...
I've played the original one, and skipped part 2 altogether, since I wasn't able to get it, and from what I heard, the port was garbage anyway.
I do like this game though. The timing seems a bit different, ultimately changing the speed of the game. There are moments in where things do get fast paced, its just not ST fast.
Haven't really dug into the game as much as I want to though, but I am glad Kamui, and Maori are still in it. I thought about picking up Kira, since I had fun practicing with her in part 1, and Petra simply because I'm naturally drawn towards (and naturally play well with) zoning and/or gunner/archer archetypes (I use Anonym, Noel, M.Gunner, Mars People, Mudman, and several other similar characters from their respective games).
I do hope to get some online (and offline) matches in eventually, but I'm still re-learning the game all over again...