Thanks so much for the thoughtful feedback it really means a lot and you've picked up on a lot of things we’re actively thinking about.
Right now, the game is built using a modular system to see how far we could push visual fidelity while maintaining flexibility. We've managed to hit a pretty high bar, but as you pointed out, there are trade-offs. Our plan (if funding comes through) is to use this system to build levels quickly and then I’ll go back in and fully paint over each area, treating them like bespoke illustrations while still keeping key modular elements to preserve consistency across zones.
In terms of UI the only element that's more or less final is the animal wheel. Each animal form has 20+ unique pieces of artwork tied to it, and we’re really proud of that design. Everything else UI-wise is just placeholder right now quickly polished to look serviceable but nowhere near our intended final pass.
For the animal forms: totally agreed. The raven’s changes have really helped it stand out, and you’re right that the wolf and hare still feel too similar. Realistically, being four-legged land mammals, their core movement will always be somewhat alike but we’re working on adding more flair and unique animations to differentiate them better. We also have stretch goals that include new forms like a spider and a chameleon both of which should open the door to much more interesting traversal and mechanics.
We also have a lot planned for how the forms will evolve over the course of the full game. Each animal will unlock unique abilities for example, the wolf will get bite combos that can heal your forms, and a leap-dash attack for breaking through enemies. The hare will gain abilities like a power slam, wall-jump, and a slide to give it more momentum-based mobility. So while they feel close now, the full progression system will create more defined and varied playstyles.
If you’ve got any interesting ideas or ability suggestions for the forms, I’d genuinely love to hear them we’re always open to smart mechanical input from people who’ve spent time with the game.
Thanks again for the kind words and constructive feedback we’re going to keep building on this foundation and push it as far as it can go.