Thank you! That was the best thing I cou've have read before going to bed yesterday (and even nicer to reread Monday morning)! :)
"i also love how much you committed to the wonderland theme, it gives the game its own unique tone."
I was always mesmerised by the Wonderland and many possibilities that it can be interpreted.
I'm fresh after reading both of the Alice books and I really loved the old American McGee's Alice games. I'm happy that I could finally express myself with this theme!
"unfortunately i could not get past level 2 as i'm not a particularly skilled gamer nor shot - perhaps it's just due to my own abilities, but i think i would've been able to continue the game further if the progress bar carried over or if checkpoints were possible!"
I've tried to balance the game around my own abilities as a playtester but then decided to make it easier because I'm aware that after so many hours I can basically play it in my sleep :P
Thank you for letting me know that this might still not be enough difficulty/wise. I have initial plans to implement difficulty options and tweak the procedural level generation to make the first levels easier and the last ones harder. I will reconsider progress/exp bar carrying over whenever you fall - maybe a new, "chill" gamemode. :)