When I first started this game. I could definitely see the improvements over Innocence. It was definitely good, and a great 9/10. Then the ending happened

When we got off La Cuna and were on the boat, I thought it was an epilogue, like the one for Innocence. Escaping the Count was quite difficult, and I thought it was the final boss. I quit for the night and thought, I'd finish the rest tomorrow.
Then I realized I still had a while to go. And it was some of the best storytelling I have ever experienced in a game.
The hellscape that the Macula created was almost painting like. And the game asking you to go against it's rules was a really good way to close Amicia's story. She's 15, she can't go on like she did through the game. Her accepting that was beautiful.
And then the gut punch, realizing that Hugo can't be saved, and you being the one to pull the trigger to kill him was absolutely harrowing. Stuff like this is why games are the best way to tell stories. Killing a child is already heartbreaking, being the one to do so genuinely messed me up.
This game was stunning, emotionally impacting and had good stealth mechanics. It was easily the best story I've played since God of War Ragnarök