I think this game has a lot of potential! The character art and the game cover look absolutely fantastic, and they really caught my attention 👀
There are a few things I think could be worth looking into for future improvements:
- UI scaling in the browser version - The interface looks a little stretched in the web version, and some of the text appears pixelated, as if it had been scaled beyond its intended resolution. It might be worth checking how the UI adapts to different screen sizes.
- Player onboarding - The game might be intended as an exploration platformer where you navigate through the levels and look for the exit, but I think it would still benefit from a little more guidance. I found myself unsure where to go, what to do, and which controls to use. I only discovered the dash mechanic through the optional Controls button. Since it’s such an important ability, it might be worth introducing it directly into the tutorial, at least the first time someone plays.
- Heat indicator - I also had some trouble finding the heat bar that I was supposed to keep an eye on. I wonder if some interface elements might have become hidden due to the scaling issue, or if the mechanic is presented differently than I expected.
- Movement and responsiveness - The controls felt a little different from what I initially expected. For example, when I tried to perform a wall run, the character sometimes stopped instead. At other points, I expected to need to jump between walls, but holding the jump button allowed me to climb upward along a single wall. This might be intentional, but the level design gave me a slightly different impression of how the movement mechanics were supposed to work. A little more consistency between the level design and the movement mechanics could help make everything feel more intuitive.
- Progression after defeat - After completing the first level, I lost my progress when I failed on the second and had to start over from the beginning. I found that a little frustrating, and I think keeping completed levels unlocked or allowing players to restart from their last checkpoint could make the experience more enjoyable.
- Audio settings - I couldn’t find a settings menu, particularly one with individual volume controls. I might have overlooked it, but the sounds were a little loud for my taste. Being able to adjust the volume directly in the game would be a nice quality-of-life improvement.
These are just my observations from playing, of course, and I realize some things might have been affected by the limitations of the web version or the time available for development.
Overall, I think there’s a solid foundation here, and the visual presentation already makes a great impression. With some refinement to the onboarding, movement, and overall player experience, I think the game could become even more enjoyable. I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops! ❤️