I really like this one! The core gameplay loops feels great and the end of round ghosts are so cute! At first I thought that the tuning was off a little bit because I could by basically 2-3 upgrades every round, but after playing for a bit I realized I had completely missed the ghost trap upgrade branch. I do think having the boogaloo stop completely if it hits any suction (including traps) feels a little too easy. That ghost feels like a skill test, so I think the traps should at most slow it down a bit.
Viewing post in A Game about Sucking (up Ghosts with a Vacuum) comments
I think they are good as it is. I'd suggest to go a different route and if a player wants be less active, then they should have a path. I'd enjoy the game less if i'd have to stay active the whole time. I couldn't kill jumbo untill i started cheesing the traps, because i'd waste all power on ghost before jumbo would appear. Also i think you can unlock jumbo waaay before you can actually beat him, which is frustrating. Remember that some players like it easy and they'd rather use the garlic and play it afk. Its good to allow players find a tactic and you shouldn't punish the player for enjoying something. Traps are fun. If something is fun, then don't fix that, focus on other parts that can be as fun instead. Right now traps are the only path forward. More upgrades to electric and more mechanics (small powerful burst vacuum mode to take down bigger enemies with less energy instead of DOT/ vacuum on a string, following the cursor but attacking nearest enemies on itsown, taking away control but adding damage and wasting less energy/ arcanoid vacuum, where you cant controll it but have to bounce it around and energy gets used only when it hits the bottom and not the paddle. and so and so. There's just so much you can do to expand this.)
Of course i get it if its not in the scope of this project if you have a q1 2026 deadline, but right now you have a real gem, polish it. This really could be the new Vampire Survival if you expand it.
But i'm just a stranger on the internet. You do you.