I genuinely think this one could be incredible if revisited by the right team, but it's curdled in its age for certain. Incredibly stiff, hard to comprehend hitboxes, and a hyper-difficult final boss that throws the previous gameplay lessons out the window, all make the other aspects feel too little to save the experience.

But the character designs? The stages? The aesthetics? And even the mixed weapon and melee combat? They could all be salvaged with modern sensibilities. It's just VERY unlikely that will ever happen given gestures to the game.