- Metroidvania. I can't stress how well done this is. The first big cohesive and fun 3D Castlevania metroidvania ever made. Finally the basic formula was nailed, this is the new SOTN in the way that future games of the series will emulate it.

- Combat. The skill trees are very long, I didn't unlock everything and I finished the game, the three weapons add variety and strategy to the game. Animations are fluid and the action is frenetic.

- Technical Aspect. The game features a dynamic resolution solution that feels weird in the demo part (pixelated enemies) but for some reason it never repeats itself latter in the game. This game is a technical marvel, almost no loading times, seamless connections, variety of textures, the most detailed enviroments you have seen this generation of consoles. There were compromises that you can feel but they are nothing compared to what is going on. Oh, and I had ZERO, and I repeat, ZERO framerate drops. I was expecting them but I didn't have them! on 360! What sorcery is this?

- The Castle. Pure porn. Lustfully designed, gothic, big, caves, forests, water streams, everything in between, Icy tops at daylight, stormy electric towers, statues and paintings everywhere. The throne room staircase is simply breathtaking. Mercury nailed the grandiosity and chaos of Dracula's Castle. Sadly, even if the game featured it prominently, I just want to see more.

- Attention to lore, travel book. MercurySteam are the best in this regard. every little item you get has a travel book page with illustrations and story. Every. Single. One. You get to know how Dracula's whip works, what's the deal with the subweapons, everything. Also every character in the game, enemy and friend has another page lustfully illustrated. Attention to detail is amazing, they didn't let a hole left filling.

- The bossfights. Not much to add here, just good. They always have you at your toes.

- The Last bossfight. The best of the western contributions to the genre this generation.

- Not trying to put the story in an historical context. The game's city knows where it came from, everyone knows Dracula existed and knows about what happened. I was afraid they were going for the "but the church hid everything from the world" IGA trope. Thank god they didn't.

- The atmospheric/calm parts. They are not many, but they are memorable, which lead me to..

- The Toy Maker Chapter. Probably the highest point in the game, the most inventive puzzle I've seen in a while, beautiful set up and resolution.

- Characterization. Each character behaves the way it should be.

- Significance. You will end the game thinking about yourself and your relationship with the series. It's an end as it is a celebration of everything Castlevania.

- Score. It was in my opinion not as good as the first one, but for some reason it's more memorable. Highlights: The rat form theme, the toymaker's theme, the Death theme.