I'll start with the only thing that I didn't like- I don't know if I actually finished the game. At som point my guy just sat down (like at the start of the game), but eating did nothing. Lantern didn't show any objects. So was this it? If yes- it was a bit anticlimactic. Now for the things I liked.
HOLLY CRAP! THE PRESENTATION! The combination of pixel art, and low light you made works fantastic! Simple? Yeah, but absolutely beautiful at the same time. Same goes for the sound. You start with such subtle music, that from the first second I just knew, that you get how to deliver something aesthetically great. The sound effects! Fitting the old-school vibe, crisp, just enough to give the player feedback.
Now, I'm gonna talk about the game mechanics. First thing you introduce is that you can eat stuff, and it gives you energy. Then, the actual game starts, and I noticed how tight are the controls. In platformers this is crucial, and man, you delivered! I loved the fact you could grab the edges! Again- even without other elements at this point, this would have been a great platformer.
But you didn't end here, right? After all "everything is a resource". And I'm like- everything is a resource for building towers, that you can climb. And fruit are a resource for regaining strength. And then, because you know not to give the player all the information at once, that's how I played. Until I noticed that even the inventory space is a resource, and you can eat a bench, or a lantern. I think this is exactly the moment when I realized that chances of finding better game at this jam are next to nothing. And don't get me wrong- there are some really solid entries here, but, sir, you take the cake!
Now, you know this game makes some problems for you, right? Because- it's gonna be a lot of work to make it a full release, that you can throw on Steam. Because that's what you gotta do here, man! This was awesome, and we need more!