As a huge fan of the original game and even more so the PSP remake, I'll admit I'm actually somewhat trepidatious myself about how that matter changes up the chemistry of the whole affair because that first game really does have its narrative set up to be pretty player-driven, if mainly in terms of how you get to the preset next point, rather than writing it outright. It's hard to articulate why since you can only play it in Japanese (though I'd love to do a translation patch of the PSP game one day), but that game has a very special mix of gameplay mechanics and narrative chops that I really admire and has made it one of my personal favorites.
At the same time, I do agree that they're probably issues that will sting a lot less if you're a Western player going into this game as your entry point. I don't think it 100 percent guarantees that they won't rub some people the wrong way if those issues are as strong as some Japanese players feel they are (there were some well-reasoned Amazon reviews among the hyperbole, believe it or not), as they do, if not undermine parts of the series' premise outright, then they potentially change up how strongly parts of it are implemented at the very least. It's hard to say.
I'll almost certainly finally pick up this game at some point, especially for $20, as a show of support for the series in general. I have my trepidations, but am also ultimately the type of person that can usually enjoy a game for what it is, rather than isn't. I'll always have that first game to go back and enjoy if I don't take to this one as much; I'm not the type that feels like my love of any game is particularly tainted if a sequel isn't everything I hoped for. Shouji Masuda's games don't come out in English very often at all, so to see this localization happen at all is something pretty special. Very curious to see how you all take to his brand of writing and game design and whether you enjoy it in English for the same reasons I do in Japanese. The localization seems like it's at least solid work, like I'd expect out of Sony, so one can hope.
Very exciting to finally be able to actually talk about this series somewhat in English with other folks online, though! Not used to having that actually happen with games that seem like locks for Japanese exclusivity. c: