While part of the series, you can notice other influences shaping the game not like its predecessor. However the longevity of the game is merely upset by the repetitiveness of recycled boss design, non-existing plot and twice the amount of content. Expect a rough awakening going through this one if goin in order, however, it has the most experimental gameplay that will likely influence future iterations. Still fun to play tho, just will hardly come back to this one.