A nice game within the scope of the jam (especially seeing you went at it solo)!
I really like the cutscene and the setup line!
I like most did not understand there was a button for "hitting" stuff nor that the crate could be destroyed to get a weapon. (I did wonder why there was a single crate randomly placed in the room though).
I think this is a problem of visual communication (and lack of sound cues) when you click. Since we are viewing top-down, a headbutt isn't really something that is easily seen. Same with you have the axe, it is just a small vertical hit. These does not really change the siluette of the character. It would be much more clear to do a horizontal swipe, both with the arm and with the axe.
I also would think that the way to build upon this would be to have someone chase you, and you being able to get in extra messes by throwing stuff at the things you pass but are unable to walk into. And ofc something special that you can throw back at your pursuer to make them pause for a bit.
I think compulsive mode seems like a fun idea, but I myself don't have any good suggestions currently as for how to make it work. Not that it would be the same thing, but maybe it would be easier to make that about trying to stop Bernie as another character...Nah. Not really the gameplay of compulsive then.
Viewing post in Try not to Make a Mess jam comments
Yeah, all very good points. The animations are pretty poor right now. I didn't even get around to hooking up a jump animation. And I agree that the hit animation should be more noticeable.
As you mention picking up the weapon isn't a big advantage right now, so it's not like people are missing out on much. Eventually I think it'd be good to make the crate "glow" or highlight it in some way to get across that it can be interacted with.
Thanks a lot for playing the game and the great feedback!