No doubt that article was either written by someone who didn't know what he or she was talking about, or someone who hadn't played the game. Probably both.
It is most definitely a departure from the first game. They got that part right. It's sort of like GTA but in first person, with plenty of side quests and stuff to do at your own leisure. Sandbox-style gameplay. Fun, but gets stale and very repetitive after a while if you ask me.