Objectively speaking it wasn't unless you're refering to H-Content specifically.
From what I can tell with the dev, it's that the first game was a "prototype" of sorts, it's shorter than this game and has less content in terms of gameplay, combat is also weaker than in Eris Dysnomia.
Obviously half the people playing are not gonna give a shit about combat mechanics, slap it on easy mode and just fuck their way to success or smth, but personally I do prefer a game to be replayable or enjoyable for that matter.
In Ayura you can only go with 4-ish kinda builds which is tech-mag-atk and a hybrid of those. Leveling up happens randomly after gaining exp and only way to choose where stats go is with those gems, meaning you could be overpowered or underpowered at the final stage, which is pretty much the end of the game too.
With Eris you yourself choose where skillpoints go and have a freedom of choice as to when you would like to spend them, giving you way more builds to play with too and never truly be underpowered.
Combat in Eris is also more developed and smooth, you can block and perfect block now, so you don't have to evade with the slide or just take a fat hit that can instakill you, instead if you manage to perfect time it get a whole "transformation"(?) skill point back if you're missing any.
From what I can tell, next game *should* be focusing on both aspects, gameplay and H-content. Should make the two of them equal now.
But yes, H-content wise Ayura was superior to some regard. Wasn't a fan of how the scenes play out though, where you had low control on when penetration happens as I like to have more control over when that happens, since it forces it once Ayura hits some arousal threshold. Otherwise I'd play a VN.
