Enjoyment 3.5/5 / Execution 3.5/5 each. Enjoyment rounded up to 4 for charm, execution down to 3 for what feels like a lot of unfavorable player collision. - A number of issues feed into each other--there's what seems to be a big runback to a boss I only reached once (at least one of which I'll grant that's mostly on me) and at one point I even found myself respawning from a spike checkpoint into an enemy. There's some of what I call 'inadvertent frustration platforming' which is when the platforming or reflex aspects of a game in particular cause frustration the developer probably didn't intend.
Sensory 4/5 - Everything is unified except the tiles. Honestly pretty good all around on this score. Feels very Hollow Knight influenced, but that's no crime!
Metroidvania 5/5 - Upgrade/exploration on par for meeting jam genre criteria.
Minimalism 4.5/5 rounded up - I see the theming, but I don't necessarily see it borne out even meeting its stated goals. Incidentally the game probably would have had more conveyance with a more chiaroscuro-focused scheme. To honor the vibe I'm getting that this really wasn't minimalist I'm giving a symbolic half-point off but it won't affect the sort.
I know I may have said on a stream that I hated the platforming/runback a little. I did. However, the game is still very charming and definitely seems to be an accomplishment. If a version appears with slightly more generous hard checkpoints I might even see it all at some point! Until then I recomend extending the adorable art theming into the tiling and giving a little more background contrast vs the characters and enemies.