I love this game. Weirdly enough, I don't think I ever did the loops, and it doesn't help that each time I've played the game lately, it's been on different formats.
Great design, fairly tough, wonderful music, good graphics. It makes me think of what Castlevania IV would have been like if it retained some of the old school design, strategy, and toughness. That doesn't make it a better game by any means, but it's a nice alternative. Rondo of Blood was the game to advance the formula that same year.