The Linux version played fine on my machine using the PS3 controller.
As others have already mentioned, the music speeding up on lower health is a nice feature, giving good feedback. I like how the dashing is somewhat limited and the way it's shown.
The combat seemed a bit unbalanced at times, indeed. I could whack at a pair of bats several times for seemingly no effect and then kill them both with a single hit.
A minimap would be useful, it could be filled the more the player progresses.
I had an issue with accidentally breaking out of the game when I died, so this definitely needs some sort of safety switch..