Thank you, Mark! You're right that once you know the basics the game throws you straight into the deep end. Sink or swim haha...
I agree that there's a version of this game that could introduce certain concepts more gradually, without the immediate threat of death. I'm not sure I'll go that direction, but I do think I'll need to expand the tutorial to allow players to at least try out the abilities. That would probable help minimize the discouragement of dying repeatedly ;)