how the fuck is 2 better than 1?
The gameplay is better.
In 1 it is like you are just randomly looking for clues to trigger the next trial. It was pretty poor even by adventure game standards. The introduction of psyche locks made the gameplay more interesting because you not only had to use the clues you find in trials, but also outside of trials to precede.
I also enjoyed the trials over all, a lot more. Cases 1-3 in PW2 out weigh majority of PW1. In PW1, only cases 4 and 5 are remotely memorable. I can't remember anything from cases 1-3 at all except that Mia dies. I can remember all the cases in PW2 because they actually had impact on me.
Also, iirc, PW1 had the most distinguished mentally-challenged "Mia comes to save Phoenix in the middle of a trial" things in the series. PW2 and 3 improves that.
I think as the series progresses the gameplay gets better, less trial and error, and the cases overall become better over time too. The only thing I prefer in PW1 over the others is music.