Man, really thanks for playing and for the gameplay! Thanks for the compliments on the aesthetics and gameplay. This is literally my second finished game, so it means a lot to me! Regarding the black rectangle transitions (the fades), I tried to go for a 'classic-modern' NES-style look, which is why some aspects are a bit smoother than they would have been on original hardware. I'm really glad you liked the soundtrack! After this jam, I’m planning an update to address some of the design hurdles, so it’ll be a bit less punishing. Again, thanks for your time and for the awesome feedback! And what about the criticism? Honestly, it's totally fair, balance is everything!