Thanks so much for playing, and for the thorough feedback! Plenty to think about in there.
I will say that a lot of the complaints about the combat speed and enemy strength probably link back to beat-em-up games in general. That said, there's no reason I need to mimic those games so closely, so it's something I'll think about experimenting with if I make another game in this style.
As for the mana, there is another use beyond healing. Tama has a ranged attack: if you hold the attack button (instead of clicking and releasing to combo) with enough mana available, she'll launch a wave of paint in the direction she's facing. I had also wanted to include a large-scale area attack (sort of like a "panic" button) but that got cut due to time.
That's a good suggestion on the guard enemies... I'll probably go back and update when I have some time!
Glad you liked the art, that's easily where I spent the most time! I'm also happy that you appreciated the story, even if it's not your thing. Thanks again for playing, and all the great feedback! :)