I really enjoyed this game! It got its hooks into me and I couldn't pull myself away until I'd finished it. The game delivers a very satisfying metroidvania experience: the atmosphere is nasty and compelling, movement feels really good, the navigation of the interconnected world is just about perfect, the pace is great, secrets are fun to find. Judging it specifically as a metroidvania, I think it's great. I love exploring the world, finding shortcuts and doubling back with new abilities to find hidden items.

I only have minor critiques, and those would just add up to a close to perfect gaming experience. The weapons aren't super well balanced, so the shotgun pretty much sucks compared to the pistol/machine gun. Many of the bosses just come down to circle strafe and hold down the trigger. There is one boss that requires you to use the dash to dodge one of his attacks, and that feels really good. Most of the bosses' attacks can be pretty easily avoid just by strafing. I'd love to see more bosses require you to watch for telegraphs, dodge or jump to avoid taking damage. A couple of the bosses are pretty good, but most are pretty dull. Also the map is very rudimentary and not usually very helpful. You can't look around the map, and it's hard to see the little white blip that represents where you are.

Enemies don't respawn ever, which at first I didn't like, but the experience of traversing empty areas where you've already slaughtered every monster is its own kind of unsettling. I think, however, it would be better if as you get close to late game new, stronger enemies start showing up in old areas. You'd still get those empty moments, but it would make late game item hunting more fun.

It deals with some heavy subject matter in a way that feels more edgy than profound, but ultimately it's all in service of a solid story that is all of a piece with the disturbing aesthetic.

I thought it was good! Glad I picked it up.