While I happened to play this first over the span of a couple of weeks, this is absolutely a larger improvement on the dev's first project, Crowtel.

I do appreciate the more refined focus of welcoming core gameplay and wrappings, but allowing for a stronger, much more challenging post-game and completion. It admittedly is not for me, but I do think what is here will appeal a lot to fans of Cave Story and older PC indies that aim to emulate more arcade-y trappings.

I don't have much criticism on it - it could be longer, but I actually feel like it stays its welcome perfectly. There could be more "weapons" to pick up, but I feel the game is at its strongest as you learn your chosen character's attributes against levels you practice against over and over. I will say the "good ending" requirements are a bit much for me, but that's a tiny wrinkle in what is a incredibly delightful package most people should give a proper shot.