It's a pretty fun game in its own right, but it can't stand up to the inspirations it wears on its sleeves, not mechanically at least. The level design works quite alright, giving ample reason to use either girl and the tools at their disposal at any given opportunity. But it doesn't compare to the Classicvanias, which require precise and deliberate maneuvers to make it through various do-or-die scenarios. The gameplay here just isn't busy or demanding enough. With that being said, it was at least engaging enough to justify the mandatory second playthrough to get the ending, owed in part to the myriad of new paths unlocked in each level and the plethora of secrets to discover.

While it's no Rondo of Blood (not by a long shot), it makes up for what it lacks in mechanical brilliance with that classic Gal Gun cute and funny charm. Rescuing defenseless high school students screaming their hearts out from a whole screen away, collecting used leggings to get the Pillar Man's libido up to get to the final level, Kurona's dumbass saying HELL every sentence, it all warms my heart 😌 . I was going to give this game a 7, but after getting the bunny suit CG, I started reconsidering. Then they hit me with the alt ending, where you rescue every high school student, get to the final boss, and use the power of friendship to create the Pheromone shot, allowing you to shoot hormones at the final boss in a rail shooter minigame until she climaxes, culminating in the ending where every chick in the entire school wants to bang you due to your overwhelming hormone energy. Can't do that in Castlevania 3!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find everyone's panties in the dimensional rifts. The 'Master of Panties' achievement ain't gonna get itself, ya smell me?