Played it a bit. Mouse and keyboard. Computer details:
Firefox 153.0,
Operating System: Pop!_OS 24.04
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.12
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.115.0
Qt Version: 5.15.13
Kernel Version: 7.0.11-76070011-generic (64-bit)
- Sometimes clicking to attack.. doesn't. Not because of stamina, but feels like the input was lost. One-two-three, one-two-three, and then i can't attack anymore. It's not missing stamina, but you might want to add feedback when that is the case. Edit: Some areas might be no-combat and maybe I was on the border of one?
- Dodging is very stamina expensive
- Stamina regen is slow
- The dialogue is.. passable. I might be an outlier, but I really don't care about story until after I'm invested a little. The protagonist is kind of a weird mix of blank slate and has-a-personality, which is odd.
- Fetch quest for honey? ...okay
- Why do i have to explicitly equip the sickle and pick? they're in the inventory already. Would prefer that was automated.
- These starting bees are kind of sturdy. Seven or so whacks to finish them off seems excessive. They also have big iframes on their dodges. Even with the axe, they take quite a few hits. Feels like trash mobs should go down in at most one combo.
- Wasn't able to get the riposte to work after the tutorial
- I prefer the estus model of healing. Have a set number until you hit a checkpoint. Is this going to turn into grind-detours to get crafting materials? The signposts only heal you once?
- There seems to be no benefit to fighting. No xp, no items. Guess I'll just run past everything. Feels weird.
- Killed the big bee after getting the axe. Competent fight, but not that exciting. Not a lot of counter-play. Mostly just whacked it and walked away to let stamina recharge.
- Bandit-mook guy has incredible poise. Finishes his move even when I'm hitting him in the face with an axe. Also, like the bees, very sturdy. I only fought one because the bandits are too sturdy, and there's no reward. Feels weird, though.
- Killed big bandit by spamming attack and potions. Don't have enough dodges to feel good avoiding his smash. Not sure why I have 99 potions.
- I don't get anything for killing him? No xp, no cool sword?
- I didn't explore much because it didn't seem like there was a point
- And then I lost interest
Games I'd want more inspiration from:
- CrossCode. Similar visual style. Combat system is more robust
- Titan Souls: If you want complicated boss fights
- Valdis Story: 2d side scroller, but has a rich combat system. It has animation canceling as a core concept, which feels great.
Overall it's a very technically competent game - better than I could do - but it's not enough to make me keep going after the big bandit.

