I appreciate it. I think difficulty modes weren't really appropriate for the NES so that's why there's cheat codes. If you beat it let me know!
I did it!!!
I gotta say, playing through the levels again, it's really clear how well thought out the level design and enemy placement is. I love how the game both rewards patience while learning and then rewards speed and confidence thanks to how the enemies load in/despawn accordingly. You introduce new level mechanics at the perfect pace and combine them in a masterful way to create a great challenge. I could definitely see myself beating this with five lives; I feel like this is the sort of game that really encourages growth in the player across the course of the game. I had such a good time playing this and I'm so glad I was able to beat it! I've uploaded my successful run as well as my second unsuccessful run beforehand. Thank you for the experience 🐦
Game over:
Thank you, I appreciate your compliments on the level design! It's awesome you were able to beat it eventually, I'm glad you enjoyed it enough to stick with it. We'll be extending this game to be a full length steam release and I hope that I can improve the level design even more when we're working on it. Thanks for sharing your gameplay as well, it's helpful and fun to watch!