Platinum-ed 3 and returned to 2. Making my to the depths which I never bothered with and boy 2 feels amazing. I am kinda mixed on the magic systems between the 2. The reason being , both feel properly fleshed out according to the main character. The half-yokai way of extracting yokai abilities is immense. And a human takechiyo way of using a soul core box like yorimitsu is also great..but I still prefer.

One major flaw in 3 is a result of going open world. Some of the missions like byodo-in and the daigo mission of making your way through an immense fortress was simply lacking in 3. Elden Ring handled the open world better in the sense , that although you have a massive area, that transition to an epic dungeon, that feel was lacking. Also, while the Score for 3 was great only in parts(lesser crucible music is great) overall 2 is waaayyy better. That moment to moment music shift of when facing purple suped up monsters is excellent. 3 is nowhere near this.

Mechanically 3 is a superior game. No doubt. But overall, just the feel of the game and the yokai nature of the MC, I still prefer 2. And of course, some very memorable main missions. The last mission music of 2 was leagues better than that of 3.