I can see why this game is regarded as one of the best games in the series due to how well it presents itself. The animations, pixel art, music, and basically everything has nice quality. The new abilities make for a memorable experience that feels different from past entries, but it does feel like something is missing. Richter not being able to angle attacks diagonally makes gameplay feel a bit more stiff than what Castlevania 4 and Bloodlines offered. Maria being a playable character is what I personally consider the best addition. She feels extremely unique from Richter which makes the cast feel better overall than what Bloodlines offers and her inclusion does make me prefer this over 4 as well.