First off, I haven't played the first game. Thus I receive the privilege of having an unbiased opinion about the series, but I might lose some context about what I am playing.

Interesting take on the whole fixed side-scroller beat 'em up. Good pixel art with fantastic animations. However, the gameplay here is pretty stale. All that you're really doing is stabbing things to get lifeless shards so that you can by powers to get more lifeless shards, to get more powers...and so on. There's nothing that is really keeping me playing, nothing compelling about the game. I found myself bored in under 5 minutes after finishing the tutorial. The medals will add a little to this, but not much...a game should be good without achievements. It might help if I had some sort of back story to go with, or i knew the reasons specifically why it mattered that the mortals were trying to achieve immortality (this could possibly be a link to the last game that I have missed because I haven't played it, but even then a recap might be nice), but right now the light humor of "Challenge accepted!" doesn't quite cut it was a reason to play.

Still. Fantastic art.

People shouldn't hate so much on art games

I found this game to be a well spent hour or so of my time. The atmosphere and tension builds extremely well. The writing that is intermittent throughout the game is actually well done: i believe it very well aids to the experience without shattering any fourth walls. All in all, job well done. Controls could be better, and some areas are unnecessarily punishing to the player, but I think that this can be overlooked. Sound design is fantastic. Its very fitting for the visuals...minimalist but effective. The game doesn't slap you in the face with atmosphere, it invites you into it. I was particularly taken aback during the portion about 3/4 of the way through in which the player is launched into the sky and the large triangle amidst a red background becomes visible as the character emerges from the darkness. Well done, and quite an epic set piece. Clearly, other reviewers haven't learned from games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or Penumbra. This is certainly the most absorbed I've gotten in any 8-bit side scroller.