Okay, while I didn't really feel the jam theme in this one, it was a fun game nonetheless.
I liked the dashing mechanic, and I also noticed that the wasps can speed up over time. Once I figured out that hitting them slows them down again, I started spamming area attacks on them XD.
The bee companions were a nice addition too, although I think all of mine died during the Wasp Queen fight. That was probably my fault, i accidentally dragged them right on top of the queen and they all got caught in the explosion. Sadge :(
The art style is charming, and the music really gave me the feeling of playing a retro shooter. After reading your game description, I think you nailed the atmosphere you were aiming for.
My main concern is the lack of direction. After defeating the wasp, I wasn't sure where to go next. I noticed the flashing indicator, but it wasn't clear to me what it meant. I eventually headed to the beach, but after finishing that area I ran into the same issue again. I tried going right, but nothing happened, and only after some experimentation did I discover that I needed to go upward to find the Wasp Queen. A clearer objective marker or some guidance would help a lot.
Overall, I had a fun time with it and enjoyed the experience. Well done!