i heard its pretty much the same game with only a few added features and a good online mode. so if u hated the first chances are you wont enjoy the second too much.
The first one didn't sell as well as it could have (due to it coming out at the end of the GC's life), so if they want to widen their audience, they will have to have it so that anybody can pick it up. so you're safe. (I hear the first one is good, just lacks multiplayer, which takes me to my question: Does anybody know for sure that the only multiplayer is online?)