Opinions about Castlevania Judgment

Castlevania Judgment is a game that has been creating controversy in the gamer community since it's announcement, and while the reception was mostly negative, there were some that actually got excited about it, like me.

So, since Judgment's release date is today, I thought I would make my first blog entry about it, to show you guys my opinion about the game, and ask yours as well.
First of all, I'd like to ask that, before you post your opinion, you make a fair judgment (no pun intended) of the game, and not just fanboyishly stating that "It's gonna suck because it's different".

I'll start talking about the designs. People are really criticizing Obata's design because it's absurdly different from the characters' previous portrayings. And I agree, they are really totally different... But, then again, is "different" the same as "bad"? Last time I checked, it wasn't. Before thinking this redesign is bad, remember most characters have suffered huge redesigns before. Obata's Simon is different than Ayami Kojima's Simon, which in turn is different from the previous Simon. My point is that the differences should be put aside so that the designs could be better judged. Some characters have gotten really cool and beautiful designs, such as Trevor and Cornell, while some others are really horrible on their own, such as Grant, which looks like a bizarre amalgamation between Death Note's Rem and Soul Calibur's Voldo. He doesn't even look like a human.

Some people have criticized the game simply for being a fighting game. I personally love fighting games, even though I only own, and therefore am only proficient at, one: Super Smash Bros. Melee. Because there has never been a Castlevania fighting game before, people think this one will suck. Well, if you don't like fighting games, then that's just a matter of taste. But I think that this game has just the same potential to be a good game as any other fighting game has. Being a Castlevania won't change this potential.

Overall, I think most people are saying this game is going to suck because they have preemptively concluded it's going to suck. I think we should look back to the past, and remember how everyone thought Metroid Prime and The Wind Waker were going to suck, because Prime was a 3D, first-person perspective game, and because of Wind Waker's cartoonish graphic style, and they both ended up being awesome games. In fact, two of the most awesome and memorable games I have ever played.
I'm not saying that Judgment is going to be awesome as well, but I'm saying that it can, and I think it WILL, be a really cool and good game.

Your opinions, as long as they are fair and not offensive, are much appreciated. Cheers.