I'm really addicted to this game. I've been playing it since the last two jams and I have to say that I always end up rage quitting, just to keep trying it some minutes later lol. Maybe I'm playing it wrong but I'll tell you my experience with your game:
I don't use the items most of the time for three reasons:
- Most of the time I challenge myself to fight without them.
- I'm saving them to use them with the boss.
- Even when I want to use them, there's not enough time to check the items that I have or where they are.
I've been trying to use them more consciously but I'm still losing lol.
Also, when choosing one of three rewards, they don't always show the description of the item.