Thank you for this detailed description of how you played and understood the game. It teaches me so much about my (wrong) assumptions about what players will understand without the game providing further explanation.
The clearest to me is how you percieved "Attack". Looking at it through your eyes, it makes totally sense. Rest for a while -> increase your attack. But it's not like that. the Attack percentage wants to signal when the next Attack will happen - so my thougths were more like: Resting for a while gives the predator a chance to catch up with your group. The label below the indicator says "Next Attack" but that's it - nothing explains this important number in more detail. "At this point I'm wondering why your energy is listed as Attack." might have its answer now? Likewise, when the Attack dropped to 0%, that meant you pursuers lost your tracks. Makes sense now?
And yes, the texts are generic - for each kind of text there are some variations, but most expect there is a group, not only the Para you are starting with.
Also your hint about missing that dinos can be befriended by clicking on them is of great value. When the first dino shows up in a scenery, there is a hint "Hey! There is a dino! It looks like it might be friendly." But theither is this hint repeatedly showing, when players do not click the dino, nor does it say something like: Click on it to befriend it. I did that for the fossile, but forgot to give clear instructions for the dino. Btw, you can collect both, you don't have to decide.
I was planning to show your pursuer in the progress bar - showing up in a seperate circle "behind" you starting from Attack 50%, catching up with this number raising towards 100%. But time ran out, and I wasn't able to implement this in time.
My music "system" is pretty rudamentary and caused some trouble in the game. I will rework it, and will try to find a way to loop thorugh tracks without the delays you percieved.
In general, I want to make Attacks happen more often, as they add a big chunk of strategy and excitement to the game. Also, the options should be more balanced.
Thanks again for describing your journey in so much detail, this was so interesting to read.