Install the visible upgrade patch, and you're good to go.
I'll defend this black sheep to my grave. I replay this game every year or two, just like the original.

Compared to the original, here is what you typically hear...
Simplified inventory? Inventory management is not fun. No issue here.
Universal ammo? An interesting mechanic where different weapons consume different amounts of ammo. No issue here.
AI too dumb? They were just as dumb in the original. No issue here.

Here's what you get that's better than the original...
More side quest. That's right. Everyone loves Hong Kong in the original, but it's pretty much just the main quest there. Here, you get two hub worlds packed with things to do.
Better factions. In the original, you moved from faction to faction linear style. Here, you can play the game favoring one faction over another, and it changes progression.

Where it falters...
Small hub worlds, almost like dioramas. The illusion worked well enough back in the day. And it might even fool you now on a first play-though. But especially the first hub world, it's almost comical to think of it as a city.
Easy combat. Combat was easy in the original too, but here, even on the hardest difficulty, it's still too easy. Maybe it's just because I've played it so much. Even on realistic, 2-3 upper body shots with a simple pistol kills 90 percent of enemies. With a damage upgrade on a pistol, it's 1-2. The super soldiers later on require a lot more, but you're also OP by that point.

Where it ties the original, and the most important part... story. The story is great. In small and big ways. Two school friends interact with you throughout the game, one even offering a different ending if you keep him around. Two competing coffee shop companies enlist your help throughout the game, providing foreshadowing to the main plot. The Omar are cool. You discover plot points with your character, being just as ignorant as you.

If you optimize how you do side quest, the game is short. Very short. But that's a curse of playing the game as much as I have. It's bitter sweet.