The reason I didn't like R1 as much was because it seemed to repeat the same handful of scenarios over and over again for far too long of a game. Every level took place in either a field, a town, or the alien structures and the individual firefights were really predictable. R2's campaign was colorful, and did a great job of mixing in really small horror moments with incredibly large tactical warzones. Chicago stands out as emblematic of the game and one of the best shooter missions I've ever played. You start off with four buddies trying to hold back swarms of zombie-like chimera in the streets, then guide your buddy across the street as you each take turns sniping and covering the other one as you advance. You go through a hotel with limited light taking a shotgun to more zombies, until you come out on the bridge - where it's all out WWIII between Chimera and humans. That was a moment where Insomniac really showed how much stuff you can have going on at one time on the PS3, in-game and not just in the background.

I never tried the multiplayer from R1, but after scraping the bottom of the pot for what R2 had to offer, I wouldn't be surprised if the setting and mechanics actually made it a better game. Many have said R3 combines the best elements of the first two games so it sounds like they have a real winner on their hands for it.