Really cool entry. Visuals and sound effects were extremely pleasing! When I realized how to unlock abilities it was a super cool moment! I really do like games where you can technically do everything from the start, you jsut don't know it yet. Unfortunately for that I doesn't really much like a metroidvania to me in the truest sense, but I guess the definition is ambiguous for the jam haha. While I do like the mechanic to get abilities, I did find it a bit annoying after a while when I only need it to get a single star. Also, maybe a way to more easily shoot up? Oh and, I wish pausing wouldn't take me back to the title screen! But regardless, I liked your game a lot!