Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such a detailed comment, I really appreciate it.
And thanks a lot for the kind words about the art, sound effects and visual feedback, I’m really happy that part comes across well.
Also good to know about the controller support, I had no clue it worked!
I'm glad that the deaths felt fair and that learning new enemies worked as intended; that’s exactly what I’m aiming for. The respawn “chapter” structure was meant to keep that learning loop engaging, so it’s great to hear it worked for you.
The downtime you mentioned when the last enemies move out of reach is a very good point. I’ve noticed similar situations and I agree it can break the pacing. I’ll think about how I can change this.
And yes, I do plan to publish on SPLORE! Once I have a more polished version of the gameplay.
Thanks again for the thoughtful feedback, it really helps!