Story - Hell yeah, that story was great! I loved having to choose which villager to lend my aid to. I also really appreciated the ending story that changes based on who you helped along the way.
Mechanics - Honestly, I dug the mechanics. They felt very souls-like, but in a 2D setting. Also, mad props to you guys for letting me fight the boss over and over again. That checkpoint really helped me reach the finish line (which I don't often do with Game Jam games - especially the ones that punish you by sending you back to square 1 if you die). The combat was sweet and, as long as you managed your stamina correctly, felt satisfying.
Theme - Theme was on full display when it came to choosing whether to help the villagers or spend your time/gold/health on battling your way to the end. I think it was a solid balancing act and you guys nailed it.
Audio/Visual - Really awesome retro pixel side-scroller action. The enemies were neat, the final boss was cool, and I loved the shadowy visages of all of the townspeople. The dialogue portraits were also fantastic! Mad props to the art for sure.
Overall - I'm not normally a 2d fan, but this was short, tight, and sweet, so I really enjoyed myself. The story was solid, the characters were all unique, and even though the "Chosen One vs. Demon Lord" trope can be a little overplayed, I think it worked here. I hope you guys continue to develop this game because it was a really cool experience. Great work!