Between these two there's too big gap in timeline. I see only few correct branches how it should be done like advertised but nowhere found in final game:

- sequel about 10-30 years later
- preserved plot about Caleb fighting to re-take Cabal all for himself
- quest for ritual and several artifacts to resurrect the chosen
- quest for that dimension altering sacrificial dagger mentioned in unused files.

Overall basic premise reveals a title that somehow resembles Cryptic Passage addon plot (fight Cabal, capture magic artifact, kill the boss/leader).

Although questionable, the whole idea behind resurrecting other chosen was a neat route but not so hot on their corpses, one had heart taken, other burned and eaten, later cremated but since Caleb has their essence as living conduit of accumulated power and is the one that bind dimensions, the chosen coming alive could be result of these shattered boundaries the same way - through portal or something else, but intentional way, not because someone tested experimental weapon on Caleb.

Gabriel sex change could be explained with his essence infested with Shial female energy that result in Gabrielle from alternate reality.

I like meta-playing this game the way it's mean't to be but never make it, basically that:

"In a time of turmoil and decay, a dark organization with a sinister agenda casts its shadow over the world. But as their plot unfolds, an even greater evil pushes its twisted being at the very bindings of reality... Filled with hate and vengeance, Caleb has returned to face the Cabal and its minions once again - and this time he's not alone. Can he hold the Chosen together long enough to reclaim the Cabal and the heart of his one true love? Or will his actions destroy them all?" and Chosen resurrected through ritual as helping hand, whole time altering weapon/dagger and war to re-take Cabal. It seems that unreleased Revelation addon tried to follow that route but currently we can only dream on about these plot arcs setting them inside game with mentioned role playing/imagination input. ;-)

For the recall, Blood1 has often levels locked behind six keys to lock down your progress and make gameplay longer so after some time it become switch/key hunt and has no ladder functionality of other Build games (that is solved by certain slopes or portals). What was fresh in Blood2 is actual focus thing for magic weapons, leech life actually working and stealing health, also orb that wasted faces + pseudo hub idea to revisit changing location as you progress to different path feeling like actual place with connected locations. Howitzer, Minigun and Sniper Rifle is welcomed addition too. Cathedral is nice except hate-factor Naga, not quite fond of air craft but later parts in abandoned house, metro, museum with lights off, slaughter house, Cabal HQ and it's offices (up to the point being so clueless as to where find that switch for elevator to rooftops). To some degree whole Blood 2 plays like Post Mortem episode, a mixture of temples, dungeons, catacombs and urban brawl in similar proportions.