What a fantastic vertical slice of what I hope becomes a larger game. This was like mixing the best bits of Celeste with the best bits of Metroid! Even though there were a lot of new mechanics and abilities introduced, the game never felt overwhelming because I think you doled them out at just the right place. Being able to play with a controller certainly helped and was much appreciated.
That knockback dropping you through the current level could be brutal though! Especially if you fell from tac to tac and ended up a third of the way down from where you were!
I love that you don't keep the collectibles until you're safely grounded again. It makes them more challenging to go for and more rewarding to collect. The art was cohesive and really matched the overall tone. And the opening voice acting intro scenes were great!
Some feedback:
- The top hitbox seemed a little unforgiving sometimes. I think a little buffer space would help some of the jumps feel more fair.
- The tacs could be a tough read, especially when there were only a couple placed. If you highlighted in an additional way (maybe just small shine animation looping on the tip) it would make it easier to spot them in the moment-to-moment gameplay.
Overall, this was a great jam experience. Awesome work, team!