I first encountered this game from a bundle a long, long time ago. What made me choose to play it when it wasn't even the game I was buying the bundle for? I can't say.

What awaited me was one of the most bizarre yet fascinating experiences I've had with a game, let alone a SHMUP.

Just when you think you've finally understood how to play it, another layer reveals itself, and your mind reels at just how deep this game goes. Noticing the way the Continue system works. Learning how to control the Shrine of Farewell through TERRA. Unlocking the BEHIND/LEAD variants. Finally avoiding Rex Cavalier's memory transfer. And with each bit of progress, the main menu changes into a new form. You practically feel like an archeaologist piecing it all together, run after run.

The micro level is practically as fascinating as the macro level, with loads of very interesting and unique characters to play as, all with their own esoteric movesets, such as Minogame's focus on melee attacks and invulnerability fields, or Dead Liar's charged sword slash which can be charged to such a degree to conceivably one-shot a boss, as long as you keep it held for the entire level. There's so many mechanics to utilize as well which promote all sorts of strategies, such as how you can SEAL an enemy with proximity, or how you can slow down enemy bullets with your Suppression Radius as long as you hold your fire.

There are a lot of games with tearjerker stories, but nothing brings tears to my eyes more than thinking about the developers behind this game, how hard they worked in adding so much to this, so much that most people probably won't ever encounter, won't ever even scratch the surface of. How'd they do it?

I haven't even beaten it yet. It's my white whale.

Oh, and the soundtrack is amazing.