- I bought Curse of the Moon 2 (CotM2) for PC.
- I received a free copy of Curse of the Moon 1 (CotM1) for PC as a backer of Ritual of the Night.
- I have not played the co-op mode.
- As of this writing, Ver 1.3 has been announced for CotM2.

IN SHORT
I recommend CotM2 if you enjoy challenging 2D action-platformers or the old school Classicvanias (Castlevania I/III/IV/Rondo of Blood).

If you enjoyed CotM1, I absolutely recommend CotM2. It is a better sequel compared to its predecessor, being longer, more challenging, and with more features such as having eight playable characters instead of the original’s four.

If you are choosing between CotM1 and CotM2, I would recommend CotM1 first because of its lower price and lower difficulty. Both games are excellent, and while CotM2 is bigger and arguably the better game, CotM1 delivers a shorter, but solid experience at a lower price point ($10 USD) compared to CotM2 ($15 USD).

SUMMARY
CotM2 is both a worthy sequel to CotM1 and an excellent game on its own. Like its predecessor, CotM2 proudly wears its Classicvania inspiration on its sleeve, from the visual aesthetic and chiptune soundtrack to the old school mechanics, design, and feel. Those who enjoyed the old school Castlevania platformers, its gothic feel, stiff jump mechanics, and merciless knockback will once again feel right at home with this game. For those who have enjoyed CotM1, you will find CotM2 is a bigger and better sequel.

The only complaints I have toward CotM2 are minor nitpicks. CotM2 is a challenging game, even more so than CotM1, but there are times when it becomes an exercise in frustration, especially when playing on Veteran Mode. In addition, players are expected to play through the game at least four times to completely finish the game, and while each playthrough will have its own variation, the differences don’t feel enough to justify fight your way through the entire game multiple times, especially given CotM2’s difficulty. However, once again, these are nitpicks.

I absolutely recommend this game if you enjoy 2D retro action-platformers, the Classicvania games of old, or especially, CotM1. CotM2 stands out not just as a sequel to CotM1, but a bigger, better followup.

(Pros)
+ Core mechanics and game design make it feel like a refined, modern Classicvania.
+ Character design. There are seven distinct characters, and they are all fun to play as.
+ Level design. The levels are distinct, challenging, and fun.
+ Excellent NES-inspired aesthetic.
+ Excellent chiptune soundtrack.

(Cons)
- None.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY VARY
As this is a sequel game, comparisons to CotM1 will be made.

(CotM1 or CotM2?)
Both games are excellent, but CotM1 might be the safer choice, especially if you are uncertain you will enjoy this series or genre. CotM2 might be the bigger, better sequel, but CotM1 offers a shorter and sleeker experience at a cheaper price point of $10 USD compared to the sequel’s $15 USD at this time of writing. In addition, CotM1 is an easier difficulty compared to CotM2, and depending on the person, CotM2 can feel ‘too long’.

(Story)
CotM2’s premise is simple and straightforward: Demons have returned, and so Zangetsu and some new partners fight their way to their stronghold, the Demon Castle. The story is simple enough to justify fighting through eight stages full of demons and treacherous pitfalls, but there are some twists and turns that add some extra meat to the plot.

Compared to CotM1, CotM2’s story is more complex and lighter in tone. Optional character dialogues and between-stage interludes flesh out the protagonists as they make their way to the demons’ castle, but they also inject levity and some silliness in contrast to the darker, more serious tone in CotM1. It feels as if Inticreates was more willing to have fun with the setting. Among other things, one of the playable characters, Hachi, is a Welsh corgi that pilots a steampunk mecha, and plays like a Mega Man X Ride Armor.

(Difficulty)
CotM2 is a challenging game and much harder compared to CotM1. At times, it feels like it borders on Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse level of difficulty due to a combination of its more unforgiving level design, enemy placement, boss patterns, and higher-than-expected damage. You will be expected to learn the characters, the stage layout, the enemies, and the bosses to truly succeed, especially on Veteran Mode.

(Replayability)
CotM2 once again encourages players to make multiple playthroughs, rewarding them primarily with new story modes. Each new story mode is distinct in that it offers a new set of characters, and while it is still enjoyable to play through, the experience could wear you down due to the main game’s length and difficulty. CotM2’s variations, while more numerous than CotM1’s, do not feel as impactful, so it could feel as if the game “wears you down” after several playthroughs without significant enough differences.