I think this game is a lot smoother than the first, it starts to iron out the design of the first quite a bit more, and introduces things that are a bit more staple to the series like the E-Tanks. I also do like that multiple bosses have multiple weapon weaknesses, it's something rarely any other game did, and I think it makes the boss order a lot more interesting... potentially.

This game is kind of dominated by the Metal Blade, multiple bosses, including the guy you get it from, are all decimated by it. Plus it having a ton of energy to abuse, the ease of getting new weapon energy, and the ability to shoot rapidly in 8 directions just cracks the game in half for most of it. The other half is the game tanking in quality near the end of the game with it's bosses like the dragon or the Boobeam trap.

I can't say in good faith I like this game as much as used to, but it was nice to revisit it. Here's my boss order from worst to best

8 - Flash Man
7 - Bubble Man
6 - Crash Man
5 - Wood Man
4 - Quick Man
3 - Air Man
2 - Metal Man
1 - Heat Man