I understand why you added unlimited continues so we can explore the content, the game is not only hard but also quite long given the context. During my second playthrough I managed to beat the first map without using one but still needed 8 at the end, unfortunately including one after I fell after defeating the last boss.
The game looks very good and consistent. It's pleasant to control, proposes cool sequences to navigate through including the extra challenge proposed by the falling platforms (and when homing bullets come you'd better use the platforms carefully because you're going to need them) and I really like that the enemies can fall into holes too.
Great game!