That's an issue with GameMaker sadly, I have no choice but to wait for them to fix it... If the workarounds in the README don't cut it, I recommend simply playing the older version (available right under the most recent ones!), it essentially has the same content!
Sorry about this, I was very disheartened myself when I found out some people had this issue...
There is no release date yet, I'm still actively working on the game! I am posting monthly devlogs on Patreon however ^^
Which, there are no cheats in this demo but the Patreon version does have a debug mode, you can find more info about the debug functions here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/119207938
Thank you for telling me! Lowering the difficulty doesn't lower the amount of EXP gained. I do plan on improving the overall balance, as well as adding more difficulty options in the next big update!
Balance has actually been a tough subject, given I've had report of both people struggling on the easiest difficulty, and other breezing through the default difficulty. At the very least, I do think the game should be easier this early on, so that's the direction I'll be going in for the next update.
That being said, it is possible to complete the demo even by avoiding most encounters! Don't hesitate to experiment with the battle systems. Combos are especially important as they'll trigger your equipped combo spells (which you can stock for later by middle clicking them), increase damage dealt to the enemy when destroying Shapes, and cause energized oyons to appear / purify cursed oyons. Equipping the right spells on the right characters depending on the area, as well as good trinkets and relics, is also very important! Don't hesitate to swap characters mid fight as well as this gives you a slight heal on top of a different spell loadout ^^
There isn't really a way to avoid grinding currently, though the Ghosts in the forest can drop a trinket that increases earned EXP when equipped!
I'm currently working on the next update, I don't have a date but I do post public devlogs monthly on my Patreon if you'd like to follow the game's development ^^
1. You don't have to stay a patron. Once the game releases, I'll have a list of everyone who donated at least $5. Whether they are still a patron or not doesn't matter for this! So a one time donation is enough to get access to the game when it releases ^^
2. It could be Steam keys or it could be something else depending on what platforms I'm on by the time the game releases and what you want!
Yeah, it's really annoying but there's nothing I can do...
That's why I chose to leave the old version up, it has almost the exact same content and doesn't have this issue. Though there are also a couple workarounds in the README, did these not work for you?
I would like to translate the game in several languages in the future, but it will be a while before it happens...!
However, there is a walkthrough available (https://www.patreon.com/posts/119207938), you might have some luck translating it to Russian using a translate tool and figuring out what to do next by using that instead ^^
These are hidden among the diamond shape patterns on the walls! ^^ They can be found in both Biscotti and the Rietti forest. Look for a diamond shape with a horizontal seam across, and a vertical seam in the bottom half
There is one at the intersection close to the west entrance of Biscotti
These puzzles are a bit complex yeah... I'm thinking about improving the hints, or maybe even giving away more of the solution for these if you ask for a hint a second time, something like that
Aah, yeah that specific one doesn't yield any reward. I actually forgot the Auria shape drop was missable in the demo (though it's not particularly useful). It won't be in the full game, but I'll see what I can do about that in a future update!
The reward is a yellow version of the boomerang spell. It will be available in other ways in the full game, but it's the only way to get it in this demo!
You don't really need it though, everything's doable without it. Also, you can press Enter + Middle click to skip a minigame attempt if you want to retry / stop faster ^^
Ah, that fight does have a lot going on. The only way forward is to defeat it! The heart does regenerate, and the regeneration gets faster the more damage you took, so don't hesitate to stop shooting and focus on evading if needed! You can also spend an attempt or two just observing the patterns to better figure out how to dodge them, nothing wrong with that ^^
I am planning a bit of rebalancing / better difficulty settings in the future, but currently that's the only way...!
You'll get to go back later, nothing is permanently missable! You'll see what these pressure plates are for later :B It's just that there are some sequences of the game where you're confined to certain areas ^^
The Thunderhorn isn't required to continue! It's just a relic you might get if you're lucky enough. You can also refight every boss as many times as you want at the end of the demo, so it's not permanently missable!
The sign at the end of the game does mention the pod and being able to go back to Sablee / Auria ^^
I actually disagree about the clouds and bricks in Auria! The bricks are slightly discolored, but also shake when hovered upon ^^ The clouds are harder to think of, until you encounter these lines of clouds jumping in the background. Although, I'm planning on giving them a better SFX when clicked, and maybe making it so you don't have to click them 3 times to destroy them, that could help.
About the fights, you can always walk back the way you came from when you encounter one, so it's possible to skip them in that sense! Smash also lets you instantly destroy fights if you're 10 lvls or more above the enemy, but yeah that doesn't work on Shape fights, you'll need a Heart dummy for these ^^
