that is quite a generous comparison (thank you!) I hope it at least will bring back some of the feel
thing is I keep forgetting when I think about how others do it is that this is a solo project
so in the end I'm just getting burnt out .. made too much work for myself
for one I'm taking a too big of a step from tile based maps to fully triangle based
plus it's not linear maps or open world maps -- there are too much variables to pay attention to:
pickups, monsters, guns, difficulty levels, when to introduce them, placing too much or too little etc.
so I'm learning the hard way why people don't make games with these kind of levels anymore
it's just so much work
at first I thought it was just a question of experience - like just make more maps and get better
and that is sort of true but I had to realise that this is something one need knack for .. like it needs special talent
well I have not been in many jams either .. making a lot of small games is another talent entirely (I just like to take my time)